South Australia’s major arts venue, Adelaide Festival Centre, has announced a new partnership with Ticketek. The move signals the end of BASS, the current ticketing service for South Australia’s major arts institutions, after over 40 years of operation.
Owned and operated by Adelaide Festival Centre Trust, over the next three months BASS outlets will transition over to ticketing provider Ticketek. Current staff of BASS in permanent or temporary roles will be offered employment at Ticketek’s Adelaide office, while casuals will be offered employment in Ticketek’s casual staffing pool.
This controversial announcement has received some negative feedback over privatisation fears, but it also offers the potential for patrons of Adelaide Festival Centre to have access to national events through Ticketek’s extensive networks.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier says the partnership with Australia’s leading ticket provider will allow a better service experience and more opportunities for large-scale events in South Australia.
“As South Australia’s leading performing arts and entertainment organisation, this partnership will make it even easier for patrons to access events at our venues, as we continue to present an enhanced year-round program of shows and festivals and support the great work of SA home-companies and artists,” Gautier said.
Ticketek is part of TEG Pty Limited. Geoff Jones, CEO of TEG, shared that Ticketek is very excited by the possibilities of the new partnership expanding the events industry of South Australia.
“We are looking forward to bringing Ticketek’s world-leading ticketing technology to Adelaide Festival Centre’s venues and their faithful patrons. We put fans and innovation at the heart of everything we do. As such we will bring exciting innovations to the centre, making it easier than ever to access great shows,” Jones said.
BASS was established in 1977 and processed ticket sales for the Festival Theatre, Dunstan Playhouse, Space Theatre and Her Majesty’s Theatre. Ticketholders will be contacted directly to be informed of any ticketing changes as a result of the partnership.
