Culture warriors practise soft diplomacy

Aboriginal Art Directory | 12.09.09

News source: The Age

An ambitious Australian arts program aims to grab the attention of the Obama Administration. Washington correspondent Anne Davies reports.

The largest contemporary indigenous art exhibition ever to leave Australian shores will open in Washington DC this week, the first event in a cultural initiative that aims to boost Australia's profile in Washington at a critical time.

Culture Warriors, which has been curated by the National Gallery of Australia, will be opened by Australian Arts Minister Peter Garrett this week, at the Katzen Arts Centre at the American University.

The exhibition was originally assembled by the National Gallery in 2007 to commemorate the 1967 referendum, which enabled Aborigines to be counted in population statistics and gave the Commonwealth the power to make laws specifically in relation to them. Curator Brenda Croft said the exhibition offered a ''doorway'' into Australian contemporary indigenous art.

URL: http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/culture-warriors-practise-soft-diplomacy/2009/09/09/1252201264932.html

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Contact Details

Gallery: National Gallery of Australia
Contact: Tina Baum - Curator Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art
Telephone: +61 2 6240 6502
Address: Parkes Place or GPO Box 1150 Canberra ACT 2601 Parkes Parkes 2601 ACT

 

 

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