Adelaide Festival Centre has announced that it will build a Hollywood-style Walk of Fame, as part of the Festival Centre redevelopment project that will commence in 2016.

The star-studded walkway will initially include more than120 names of some of the great artists that have graced the stages of the Adelaide Festival Centre. From Paul Kelly to Natalie Cole, Reg Livermore to Mel Gibson, Jimmy Barnes, Anne Wills and Dame Joan Sutherland to Geoffrey Rush – all of these artists will be in the running to have their very own star set in stone.

The Walk of Fame will act as an East-West promenade along the River Torrens side of the complex, providing pedestrian access to the Dunstan Playhouse and the Festival Centre. The walk is set to become a major attraction in Adelaide’s revitalised Riverbank precinct.

Douglas Gautier, Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director says “the redevelopment of the Riverbank Precinct will enhance current attractions and create new ones for South Australians and visitors to enjoy.  As such, we are delighted to be creating the Walk of Fame project which will celebrate and recognise the great artists and stars, past and present, who have performed at the Adelaide Festival Centre. There will be some very famous names featured, reflecting the Festival Centre’s position as a major arts and entertainment hub.”

The public can directly get involved in the selection of the artists, who will be recognised with stars embedded on the walkway.  Artists from each year of the Festival Centre’s operations (1973-onwards) have been listed for voting, with one star to be selected from each of these years, to be chosen via public vote for inclusion in the Walk of Fame.

The Walk of Fame is supported by News Corp Australia and will be launched today, accessible for voting at advertiser.com.au.

In addition to the public choice, an additional two stars will be selected for each year, one by the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust and one by a panel of critics, focusing specifically on Australian artists.

Looking to the future, the Walk of Fame stars will be extended annually, with the public again being able to vote for their favourite performer at the end of each year.

Lists of artists have been compiled by the Performing Arts Collection of South Australia in conjunction with partnering arts organisations.  The lists are not exhaustive and should any member of the public want to nominate another artist they may do so, subject to verification that their nominated artist did perform at the Adelaide Festival Centre.

Adelaide Festival Centre is South Australia’s principal performing arts venue.  Established in 1973, it is Australia’s first capital city arts centre, hosting more than 828,000 people and 1,400 events annually.  As well as presenting theatre, dance, music and exhibitions, Adelaide Festival Centre produces four international Festivals – Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Adelaide Guitar Festival, Come Out Children’s Festival and OzAsia Festival.