The Sydney Festival has appointed a new director for 2013-2015.
Lieven Bertels, currently the artistic coordinator for the Netherlands' Holland Festival, will take over from current director Lindy Hume.
New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell said in a statement that he was delighted to welcome Bertels to the festival. "I am confident that Lieven will take the helm with enthusiasm, ensuring that Sydney Festival will continue to grow under his leadership and guidance," he said.
Bertels has coordinated the Holland Festival for the last seven years, delivering a 35 per cent in turnover. He is credited with introducing popular music and visual arts into the Amsterdam-based program.
The Sydney Festival has been running for three weeks of every January since 1977. Bertels will be the seventh director in the program's 34-year run.
This year's festival contributed an estimated $50.2 million to the NSW economy.