culture.gov.au

Connecting you with Australian culture online

ausculture newsletter May 2007

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Australia's Culture and Recreation Portal Newsletter - Monthly roundup
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May sees a celebration of new and emerging inventiveness which begins with Australian Fashion Week and which is epitomised by the exhibitions under the cantilevered roof of the new Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Brisbane. This inventiveness is reflected in the richness, diversity and accessibility that is innovative Australian jazz - what was a whisper is now becoming a roar.

The GoMA can be seen as imaginative with its use of modest materials and its unity in relating the cantilevered roof and façade, internal and external spaces, with discreet fine detail and broad spaces. The changing relationships between museums and society are explored in Museums in a Changing Climate, in Canberra (17 - 20 May). The conference addresses areas of change and current issues, and reveals common problems and approaches in responding to them.

Freestyle: New Australian Design for Living (showing in Sydney, followed by Brisbane and Adelaide) brings together the work and stories of 40 outstanding Australian designers. Freestyle presents contemporary objects for the home and body, ranging from one-off pieces and limited edition objects to industrially manufactured items. The Melbourne Jazz International Festival (3 - 13 May) plays out a program of Jazz, Latin, Blues and Gospel music by celebrity world-class musicians.

The imagination and creativity of sculptors is showcased in the Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award in Sydney (until 27 May). The annual exhibition of works provokes discussion on sculpture and its meaning in the Australian cultural community. Emerging and established photographers present their images in a vibrant and diverse exhibition of Head On Alternative Portraits showing in Sydney (until 26 May) and Daylesford, Victoria (June).

Bangarra Dance Theatre's double bill True Stories, in Melbourne (17 - 26 May), explores the relationship of Indigenous people to the land and sea. The power and excitement of dances celebrate rain, wind, the hunt, desire and pleasure. The Arafura Games held in Darwin (12 - 19 May) embodies 'relationship' by being billed as a meeting of 'Sporting Neighbours' - attracting developing athletes from the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

A new literary festival, Eye of the Storm in Katherine, Northern Territory (25 - 27 May), lines up local and national writers including Kev Carmody, William McInnes and Shaun Tan. The festival will include public and school-based workshops and offers gourmet and bush cuisine.

Come Out 2007, a festival showing throughout South Australia (7 - 19 May), celebrates the arts by and for children, and entices participation by avowing that 'A story is about imagination and relationship...a stirring in the hearts, minds and imaginations of the audience' - an apt description for the Australian stories that are presented through architecture, sculpture, design, fashion, sport, dance, photography and jazz, as well as through language and literature.

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Check out our new Australian Stories:
Modern Australian architecture: http://www.culture.gov.au/articles/architecture/modern/
Innovative jazz: http://www.culture.gov.au/articles/music/jazz/innovative/
Modern Australian fashion textiles: http://www.culture.gov.au/articles/fashion/textiles/

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Featured event
Freestyle: New Australian Design for Living - Sydney, Brisbane & Adelaide
10 March - 13 May (Sydney), 1 June - 22 July (Brisbane), 17 August - 14 October (Adelaide)
http://www.freestyledesign.info

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Snippets from our regularly updated News pages
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/

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Announcements
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/announcements.htm

Intelligent Island MAPP funding

Companies from across Tasmania will share in more than $5.6 million in grants from the first round of funding under the Intelligent Island Market Access and Partnership Program (MAPP). MAPP aims to support the development of ICT product development in Tasmania, encourage partnerships for business development, provide companies with opportunities to access business and management skills and increase access to external markets. Eighty nine companies applied for MAPP funding, and projects cover a range of ICT applications, including e-learning, financial services software, web testing and improved water management.
http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/media/media_releases/$5.6_million_of_intelligent_island_mapp_funding_announced
http://www.development.tas.gov.au/intelligent/MAPP.html

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Design and architecture
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/design.htm

Freestyle: New Australian Design for Living - Sydney, Brisbane & Adelaide
10 March - 13 May (Sydney), 1 June - 22 July (Brisbane), 17 August - 14 October (Adelaide)

Freestyle brings together the work and stories of 40 outstanding Australian designers. The exhibition presents contemporary objects for the home and body, ranging from one-off pieces and limited edition objects to industrially manufactured items and prototypes.
http://www.freestyledesign.info

Gallery of Modern Art/Queensland Art Gallery - Brisbane
March

The new Gallery of Modern Art is designed by architects Kerry and Lindsay Clare of Sydney-based firm Architectus. The building is regional in its influence, but characterised by an inventiveness with modest materials, transparency, modulation of strong subtropical light and engagement with the outside. A broad and cantilevered roof unites the façade. The materials in the gallery are polished concrete floors and white walls. The insertion of zinc panelling at gallery thresholds, timber and stainless steel nosing to concrete stairs contribute to a more sensitive design.
http://www.qag.qld.gov.au/
http://www.architectus.com.au/

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Digital media and film
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/digitalmedia.htm

Head On Alternative Portraits - Sydney, New South Wales & Daylesford, Victoria
Sydney 20 April - 26 May, Daylesford 2 June - 1 July

Head on Alternative Portraits is a national annual photography portrait competition and exhibition representing a vibrant diverse cross-section of new and traditional photographic practices. Finalists will be exhibited at the Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney, and then at the Daylesford Biennale, Victoria.
http://www.headon.com.au
http://www.acp.au.com/
http://dfb05.tripod.com/07/

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Festivals and conferences
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/festivalsandconferences.htm

Come Out 2007 - South Australia
7 - 19 May

Come Out is South Australia's celebration of the arts by and for children and young people and an invitation to children and young people to view the arts made by professional artists and to get involved as artists themselves. The Festival program includes a range of regional and touring exhibitions, theatre, writing events, screen projects and forums for young people. Various venues.
http://www.comeout.on.net/

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History and identity
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/museums.htm

Museums in a changing climate: Sustainability, technology and collections - Canberra
17 - 20 May

The conference is a concentrated two days of speakers, forums and workshops. This is followed by an experience taking in the capital's rich field of national museums and art galleries, libraries, botanical gardens, heritage sites and special collections. The program aims to highlight advances in all areas of museum specialisation, expanding interdisciplinary work of museums, and their changing public position and interface with new audiences. Old Parliament House.
http://www.museumsaustralia.org.au/whatwedo.php?pageID=541&fileName=whatwedo&dispModule=twocolnav&contentID=522
http://www.oph.gov.au/

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Indigenous arts
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/indigenousarts.htm

Bangarra Dance Theatre, True Stories: A Double Bill - Melbourne
17 - 26 May

'True Stories' is a double bill program, 'X300' and 'Emeret Lu'. In the 1950s a series of atomic explosions were conducted on Maralinga Tjarutja traditional lands. The code name of the test site was X300. Frances Rings's new work explores a landscape assumed vacant and cleared of occupation but which in reality became a contaminated desert which poisoned the people. The passion and energy of the traditional people of the Torres Straits fuel the work Emeret Lu ('Very old things') by choreographer, Elma Kris. She explores her people's love of the land, the sea and of each other with an exuberance handed down from generation to generation. The Arts Centre.
http://www.theartscentre.net.au/whats-on_detail.aspx?view=1908
http://www.theartscentre.net.au/default.aspx

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Language and literature
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/languageandliterature.htm

Eye of the Storm - Katherine, Northern Territory
25 - 27 May

The NT Writers' Centre's inaugural Eye of the Storm literary festival is a cultural crossroads with a line-up of Northern Territory and interstate talent such as Kev Carmody, William McInnes, The Black Olive and Shaun Tan. Local talent includes Toni Tapp Coutts, Michael Whitting and Jill Pettigrew. The festival will take in public and school-based workshops, panel discussions and special events including a gourmet gastronomic demonstration with The Black Olive and literary lunch, and a words on water boat cruise. Various venues.
http://www.ntwriters.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=43

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Performance
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/performance.htm

Melbourne Jazz International Festival 2007 - Melbourne
3 - 13 May

From Jazz to Latin, to Blues and Gospel, Melbourne will come alive with the best in world music at the Melbourne Jazz. Music lovers will enjoy an unprecedented choice of the highest quality music. Artists include Kate Ceberano, Paul Grabowsky, Mike Nock, Joe Chindamo and the Julie O'Hara Quintet. Various venues.
http://www.melbournejazz.com/home.html
http://www.melbournejazz.com/venues.html

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Sport and recreation
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/sportandrecreation.htm

Arafura Games - Darwin
12 - 19 May

The Arafura Games is a leading international sporting competition for emerging champions of the Asia Pacific region. Held every two years in Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory, the Arafura Games is billed as a meeting of 'Sporting Neighbours' and attracts developing athletes from the Asia Pacific region and beyond. Marrara Sports Complex and other venues.
http://www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au/
http://www.darwinairportresort.com.au/attractions.asp#3

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Visual arts and crafts
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/visualarts.htm

Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award - Sydney
1 March - 27 May

Finalists in the 2007 Lempriere Award are currently on display in the surrounds of the gardens of Werribee Park. As an addition to this year's outdoor exhibition and to celebrate Helen Lempriere's centenary, a retrospective exhibition featuring 20 of her paintings, diaries and photographs from the 1940s through to the 1970s is on display in the upstairs salon of the Mansion. Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award fosters and promotes contemporary Australian sculpture. Werribee Park.
http://www.lempriereaward.com.au/
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=197

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Websites - new
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/websites.htm

eGold: Electronic Encyclopedia of Gold in Australia

This website resource tells the story of gold through images, stories and interactive multimedia. It connects individual stories to the wider historical themes of global gold rushes, global migration flows, building the Australian nation and democratic change during the gold rushes. The website is tailored to the needs of students, scholars, enthusiasts, visitors and the general public.
http://www.egold.net.au

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