Arts View

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Arts View is Arts Victoria’s inaugural quarterly newsletter profiling the arts in Victoria.

Volume 1, Issue 1
July 2000

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Current issue of Arts View

Minister's Welcome

As the Minister for the Arts, it is my pleasure to introduce the first edition of Arts View for the year 2000.

It has been an invigorating first eight months with many of the Government's election policy commitments having already been delivered.

The Government has a fundamental belief in the principles of access and equity, reflected in its commitment to ensuring access to the best of the arts for all Victorians.

This commitment to connect Victorians with the arts took concrete shape in the recent State Budget. In addition to the support provided under existing programs that benefit the arts in regional Victoria, $8.1 million over four years is now pledged to:

Improve our regional cultural infrastructure
Share our major festivals with regional areas
Entice film makers to use regional locations
Upgrade cinemas in country areas
Assist youth rock bands to tour regionally

New programs such as Sharing the Festivals and the Regional Arts Infrastructure Fund are already well underway and will ensure that audiences can enjoy high quality arts experiences in facilities across Victoria. More information on the Regional Arts Infrastructure Fund is contained within this edition.

The new seed grant programs such as Performance Works and the Youth Rock Touring Initiative have also begun. These programs form an important part of the Government's strategy to encourage and develop a vibrant small to medium sized arts sector in Victoria.

As part of our commitment to consultation with the arts sector we have already implemented a series of consultative forums across the State, including an industry forum to discuss audience development, marketing, publicity, and media coverage.

For the film industry, we have established a task force, chaired by Sigrid Thornton, to review the Victorian film and television industry and determine the strategic framework for Government support.

One aspect of being Minister for the Arts I particularly enjoy is the privilege of attending an astonishing variety of performances, exhibitions, events, launches and openings. They constantly remind me of the dedication and inspiration which all who work in and for the arts in Victoria bring to their chosen field.

There has been a significant level of activity across the arts sector at both a regional and international level with many new exciting projects on the horizon.

Our Centenary of Federation celebrations are starting to take shape with a resolution being passed in the Victorian Parliament to invite the Commonwealth to sit in Melbourne on 9 May 2001. We have also seen the announcement of the first round of Victorian Federation Grants totalling $1.85 million, which will assist a range of projects at the community level to prepare for the celebrations.

In the international arena many of Victoria's artists will be performing at the Heads Up Festival during the Australia Week celebrations in London from 30 June to 9 July 2000. The program includes a range of contemporary Victorian performing and visual artists including: Ilbijerri Theatre's Stolen, Chunky Move, the Australia Art Orchestra, the RMIT exhibition Australian Silver, an Experimenta co-ordinated interdisciplinary media art exhibition, and an exhibition by regional artist, Vicki McConville. The Premier will also be in attendance and has been invited to open Australian Silver at the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum. You'll hear more about that in the next issue.

Also on the horizon is the 2000 World Expo in Hannover, Germany from 1 June to 31 October. Australia will operate a pavilion at the Expo and the cultural program will include Victorian artists such as Strange Fruit, 5 Angry Men, Not Yet It's Difficult and the Australian Art Orchestra.

I look forward to working with you all to promote the strength and diversity of Victoria's arts and cultural product to new (and existing) audiences.

The Hon Mary Delahunty MP
Minister for the Arts

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