Multicultural Arts Victoria is delighted to announce the launch of the book
GIVING VOICE - A history of Multicultural Arts Victoria
by Paul Clarkson
A milestone and a springboard for the future of the arts in Australia
GIVING VOICE was officially launched on March 21s by the Hon Nicholas Kotsiras - Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Heidi Victoria - Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts and Colin Brooks - Member of the State Opposition.
The book provides the reader with a deep insight into the history of Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) that for four decades has undertaken and celebrated cultural diversity in the arts in Australia.
"Multicultural Arts Victoria is a unique and influential broker and a wonderful ambassador of diversity in the arts of Australia. It is vocal and articulate in its advocacy for the artists and the numerous communities it represents and gives voice to many different cultures through the arts."
Carrillo Gantner AO President, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Former of the President Victorian Arts Centre Trust spoke at the launch.
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Media Enquiries
For media enquiries, please contact: Deshani Wickremasinghe, Administration & Publicity Coordinator office@multiculturalarts.com.au or call (03) 9417 6777.
In the Press
Melbourne Festival's Press Release -
Multicultural Arts Victoria celebrates it's history with the launch of
'Giving Voice - A History of Multicultural Arts Victoria'
History
GIVING VOICE celebrates the history of Multicultural Arts Victoria.
A charter given in 1983 bestowed a specific responsibility to the arts - to ensure cultural acceptance and understanding in an ever-diversifying Melbourne.
Originating from the Festival of All Nations established in 1973 , Multicultural Arts Victoria received a distinct and individual mission from this charter.
Multicultural Arts Victoria has in four decades made a unique contribution to the Arts in Victoria and beyond.
In this book, Paul Clarkson tells the story of an enterprise in which generous people work to enrich our way of life by supporting talented artists and communities from many cultural backgrounds.
Through MAV's vibrant programs and policy initiatives, these artists are given their voice, and new and recently established communities are warmly encouraged to participate in a very broad, lively Arts scene.
Multicultural Arts Victoria
MAV continues to welcome diversity of culture, ethnic tradition and respect of heritage alongside contemporary practice in all disciplines of the arts.
MAV is celebrating four decades of making this unique contribution to the Arts in Victoria by launching Giving Voice - a history of Multicultural Arts Victoria author Paul Clarkson (former Director of Arts Victoria).
About the Author - Paul Clarkson
In 1980, Paul Clarkson was appointed Director of the Victorian Ministry for the Arts (later Arts Victoria), a position he held for 15 years, during which time he became closely involved with many of the new initiatives in the cultural life of the State of Victoria.
From 1995 to 1997, he was Victorian Administrator of Opera Australia and has served as an arts consultant since. He has held a number of positions on the boards of management of arts organisations and is currently Chairman of the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and a Director of the John Truscott Design Foundation.
From 1996 to 2010 he was an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University where he lectured on cultural policy. He is the author of Melbourne International Arts Festival 1986–2005: the first 20 years
Chairs of MAV (left to right): George Papadopoulos, Hass Dellal, Luciano Bini, Minister James Merlino MP (Minister for Multicultural Affairs in 2008), Stefan Romaniw, Jill Morgan, Wellington Lee, John Boglis (photograph by Georgia Metaxas)
About the Editor
Sue Hammond was born in Iran of Hungarian parents and was two-and-a-half years old when her family arrived in Australia.
In 1984, she joined a multilingual team recruited by the Victorian Ethnic Affairs Commission to undertake the 'Migrants and the Workforce' project, an investigation of the impact of structural changes in the economy on employment levels within ethnic communities.
In 1985 she became the Funding Officer for the Commission, a position she held until the end of 1986 when she was appointed to the newly established role of Ethnic Arts Officer at the Victorian Ministry for the Arts/Arts Victoria.
From 1993 until she left the Public Service in 1995, she managed Arts Victoria’s Festivals and Multi-Arts Organisations Program.
Artists & Photographers
And thankyou of course to all the artists and communities, who give Victoria such a diverse and marvellous arts scene, and to the photographers who picture it - Damian Vincenzi, Georgia Metaxas, Brad Hick, James Henry, Josh Robenstone, Henry Jolles, Bill Poon, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore, Cecilia Johnson, Sudeep Lingamneni, Jorge de Araujo, Emmanuel Santos, Hubert Weisrock, Hwa Goh, Sarah Collins and many others.
Design
Kerry Kershaw provided the design for the book.
Publishers & Printers
Multicultural Arts Victoria supported the local industry by engaging local firms to publish and print the Giving Voice history, including
Australian Scholarly Publishers (North Melbourne) and BPA printers (Burwood).
The making of GIVING VOICE
This history is a testament to the remarkable creativity, hard work and passion of many people.
We would especially like to thank author Paul Clarkson and editor Sue Hammond for their patience and belief in the organisation;
the Sidney Myer Fund,
Arts Victoria and the
Victorian Multicultural Commission for their generous financial support in enabling this book to become a reality; the City of Melbourne, the City of Yarra, Australia Council for the Arts and VicHealth for their ongoing support of the organisation.
Jill Morgan - Executive Officer
A special thanks is due to the Executive Officer Jill Morgan for her vision and belief in the importance of writing a history of the organisation; to Chair Stefan Romaniw OAM, Professor Ruth Rentschler, Dr Brad Potter and the current Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) Board and staff; and to Claudia Escobar, Deshani Wickremasinghe and Jayne Lovelock for their support in unearthing the archival records and photographs.
Thanks also to the past and present board members, executive officers, staff and others who have given their time freely for interviews. To Kerry Kershaw thanks are due for her design and advice, and to Australian Scholarly Publishing and Inez Baranez for their support and guidance.
Supporters
Partners
More Information
Phone: (03) 9417 6777
Email:
office@multiculturalarts.com.au
Pictures from the Launch
Heidi Victoria - Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts
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Stefan Romaniw - Chair of Multicultural Arts Victoria
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Hon Nicholas Kotsiras - Minister for Multicultural Affairs
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Carrillo Gantner AO, President of the Arts Centre and President of the Melbourne Festival
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Colin Brooks (Member of the State Opposition) with Hon Nicholas Kotsiras and Heidi Victoria
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Heidi Victoria - Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts speaks at the launch
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Cr Alison Clarke, Mayor of City of Yarra
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Musicians perform in front of the Fitzroy Town Hall
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Present Executive Officer and Chair
Jill Morgan, Executive Officer of Multicultural Arts Victoria
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Stefan Romaniw - Chair of Multicultural Arts Victoria
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Former Chairs
John Boglis
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George Papadopoulos
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Wellington Lee
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Hass Dellal
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Luciano Bini
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Mike Zafiropoulos
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Tony Yap performing at the launch
