MEDIA RELEASE

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ALEXANDER DOWNER

FA75

5 June 1998

AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL COUNCIL

Following a Cultural Relations Summit which I hosted in Adelaide on 25 February I announced that I had decided to establish an Australia International Cultural Council to improve the overall coordination and effectiveness of Australia's cultural relations program overseas.

I indicated that I expected the Council would be a consultative group and that it would meet every three months. I will chair meetings of the Council.

I am pleased to announce that the following people have accepted my invitation to serve on the Australia International Cultural Council:

Ms Robyn Archer, Artistic Director, 1998 and 2000 Adelaide Festivals

Ms Jennifer Bott, General Manager, Musica Viva Australia

Mr Michael Chugg, General Manager, Frontier Touring Company

Mr Carrillo Gantner, Chairman, Asialink Centre

Mr Anthony Gould AM, Director, Queensland Performing Arts Trust

Mr Douglas Hail, Director, Queensland Art Gallery

Mr Timothy Jacobs, Chief Executive, Victorian Arts Centre

Mr Jonathan Mills, Artistic Director 2000-2001, Melbourne International Festival of the Arts

Mr John Moriarty, Chair, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board, Australia Council

Mr Barry Plews, Producer, Reckless Moments

Mr Richard Pratt AO, Chairman, VISY Industries, Chairman, The Australia Foundation for Culture and Humanities

Ms Catherine Robinson, Chief Executive, Australian Film Commission

Dr Margaret Seares, Chair, Australia Council

Mr Timothy Walker, General Manager, Australian Chamber Orchestra

I have also invited the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Cultural Ministers Council to represent the interests of the States and Territories on the Council. Currently the Chairman is Mr Evan Williams, Secretary, NSW Ministry for the Arts.

Council membership will initially run until the next Cultural Relations Summit which I intend to host in a year's time.

Representatives of DFAT will attend meetings of the Council as observers. Representatives of Austrade and the Department of Communications and the Arts will also attend in the same capacity.

The inaugural meeting of the Council will be held in Melbourne on 26 June 1998.

Arrangements for the inaugural meeting are being made in close consultation with the Victorian Government. Following the meeting in Melbourne there will be an opportunity for selected members of Victoria's cultural and artistic community to meet members of the Council.

For further information: 

Innes Willox 0411414695

Tony Melville (02) 6261 1555