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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (24 May) . . Page.. 1688 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

Tonight, if the sittings allow, Mr Speaker, I will track out to Crafts ACT. They have an exhibition by Canberra and district artists and craftspeople of household items, things we can really buy and use. When I spoke about one of their publications recently I was delighted to hear the Chief Minister say that the government has purchased a scarf for the Queen from there. So tonight I hope to get to that. Tonight also there is the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, if members allow us to go there.

Ms Carnell: You can pair with me so that we can both go.

MR WOOD: All right, we will get a pair. We have got that deal done free of the whips. There is so much happening. At the weekend Gaudeamus, Music for Everyone, is putting on Brundibar, so that will be wonderful to see. I have indicated a limited range of activities that I and others can see in the space of just a week. So it is a vibrant community out there, and I now look forward to talking to Mr Hird at the intervals of some of these events.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister) (4.25): I thank Mr Wood for his comments. The problem is that there is actually an embarrassment of riches. There are often things that are impossible to get to see simply because there are too many things on, and I think that is a wonderful situation for all of us.

Mr Speaker, there are a number of triennially funded organisations that have demonstrated extraordinary examples of innovation and artistic excellence. I am sure Mr Wood would agree that the Choreographic Centre, a national centre for development of choreographic practice for the dance profession, attracts dancers and choreographers from all over Australia. In the last week I expect that Mr Wood would have seen On the Shoulders of Giants at the Playhouse, which was absolutely a stunner. It was done by the Choreographic Centre, using young dancers, many of whom have had no training at all. They have been brought on by the centre and they provide a level of energy that is really quite stunning.

The Choreographic Centre has quickly gained quite a national reputation and recognition as the leading centre of choreographic development. It is probably one of the leading centres in Australia. The centre has also been very successful in forging strategic partnerships. Last year the centre embarked on an outstanding partnership with Melbourne University to conduct research into the nature of choreographic thought and practice. Funded through the Australian Research Council, it has been a groundbreaking project for the dance profession. The centre has also been successful in achieving a two-year contract with the Australia Council to deliver a residency for a new media artist, another first for a Canberra organisation. Subscribers to the Canberra Theatre 2000 subscription season can now enjoy Risky Manoeuvres, three performances of new choreographic work, developed and presented by artists working through the Choreographic Centre.

The Choreographic Centre, as we know, does have triennial funding and will continue to do so. The thing that allows them to continue to plan for the future is triennial funding, and it shows the benefit of that. They really create some serious innovation. The Choreographic Centre has also been successful in winning contracts from other state governments to do work in other areas.

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