Art & culture stories - January 2012

Foreword

Welcome to the first issue of Arts & culture stories for 2012.

We start the year with an exciting new initiative, the National Year of Reading. The aim is simple – to encourage a reading culture in every home, and to see people of all ages and from different backgrounds experience the joy of reading.

It’s not just the magical gift of reading which appeals, it is also the importance of fostering a strong reading culture for the betterment of our homes, our schools and our community.

There are a hundreds of events taking place in communities around Australia and online. You can find out more and get involved at www.love2read.org.au.

This year will also see a number of changes for the Office for the Arts. The Prime Minister recently announced that responsibility for Arts and Sport will transfer to the new standalone portfolio, the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport.

These new arrangements will ensure there is an appropriate focus on the arts in regional as well as non-regional Australia.

The Honourable Simon Crean MP will continue his important work as Minister for the Arts ensuring continued leadership in many important arts policy areas, in particular the development of the National Cultural Policy.

I look forward to keeping you updated on these developments throughout the coming year.

Sally Basser
First Assistant Secretary, Office for the Arts

Diary

In this issue

2012 to re-ignite reading love affair for Australians

The National Year of Reading has begun! Thousands of events and activities will be staged across Australia this year to celebrate reading and foster a reading culture in all Australian homes.

Australia names inaugural Children’s Laureates

Much-loved children’s authors Boori Monty Pryor and Alison Lester have been named Australia’s first Children’s Laureates. The Australian Children’s Laureate is an initiative of the Australian Children’s Literature Alliance as part of the 2012 National Year of Reading.

Are we there yet?

books Every parent who’s taken children on a road trip will be familiar with the oft-repeated catch cry ‘are we there yet?’. Alison Lester’s picture book of the same name tells the story of her family's journey around Australia in a campervan and is the theme for the National Year of Reading’s One Country Reading program for children.

Artists give new perspective on peacekeeping

Regional audiences around Australia will have the unique opportunity to see Australian peacekeeping through the eyes of two contemporary artists.

Prime Minister's Literary Awards now on Facebook

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards have launched an Awards Facebook page making it easier to stay up-to-date with all the Awards news and announcements.

Australian performers sought for Russian music festival

Australian dancers and musicians are being encouraged to participate in the Third International Music Festival of Asia-Pacific Countries to be held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

Helping Australian artists generate sound business skills

GENERATE will offer business development knowledge and skills, expert mentoring support and access to financial investment to help music businesses grow.

Protecting artists’ profits

Handprints Australia’s resale royalty scheme for visual artists has reached the incredible milestone of over $500,000 in royalty payments in just over a year since the scheme started in 2010.

Read more: Protecting artists’ profits