THE 10th Australian Performing Arts Market has sold out in record time, with more than 610 delegates to gather in Adelaide later this month.

APAM will host delegates from around the globe at the five-day biennial arts conference, showcasing nearly 50 Australian and New Zealand performing arts companies.

This fast-growing event began in a modest way during the now defunct National Festival of Australian Theatre in Canberra, under the directorship of Robyn Archer, who later picked the market up for the Adelaide Festival, where it has remained. Canberra’s loss having been Adelaide’s gain.

APAM producer Ian Scobie described the event as “the perfect combination of opportunities, artists and networking”.

Attendees will come from 29 countries, including contingents from South America and the UK and, for the first time, delegates from Russia, Ecuador, Chile and Indonesia will attend.

Scobie said he expected representatives from an array of major festival and venues, such as the Edinburgh International Festival and the Seoul Performing Arts Festival, Dublin Dance Festival,  Holland Dance Festival, Sadler’s Wells, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Festival Internacional de Buenos Aires and The Esplanade in Singapore.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, has funded 15 international of the delegates.

APAM 2012 will be held at the Adelaide Festival Centre from February 26 to March 1.

Featured photo by Chris Herzfeld