Page 1380 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 9 April 2013
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I commend the exhibition and also congratulate CMAG as one of Canberra’s cultural gems, along with ANCA, for hosting this retrospective showing the depth of talent within the national capital’s artistic community. The completion of 35 purpose-built artist studios and their Dickson gallery 21 years ago followed substantial lobbying and submissions developed by artists and consultants between 1985 and 1988.
The committed and determined individuals who laid the foundations for ANCA’s conception included David Williams, Jan Brown, Michael Le Grand, Bruce Townsend, Bruce Radke, Meredith Hinchliffe and Mary Meadows. Former federal Labor Minister for the Arts and Territories, the late Clyde Holding, approved funding for the ANCA works from the community development fund reserve, prior to the ACT Legislative Assembly’s first election held on 4 March 1989. After the initial government allocation of $1.9 million to build these studios, ANCA has maintained its financial independence. In 1989, ANCA was incorporated as a not-for-profit organisation. In 1991 artist studios were completed at Mitchell, and in 1992 the Dickson campus was opened.
This exhibition, just across the way there, is beautifully curated by CMAG’s Allison Bell and celebrates just some of those ANCA achievements. The 23 artists chosen for the 21st birthday celebration are just a small representation of the artists who have had an intensity of purpose in their time at ANCA and since in their careers both nationally and of course internationally.
ANCA has enabled several generations of Canberra artists to stay in our town, in the nation’s capital, and continue to practise their art and contribute to the story of the arts here. The Intensity of purpose: 21 years of ANCA exhibition coincides with the exhibition ANCA NOW! at the ANCA Gallery in Dickson. That exhibition presents the work of 27 of ANCA’s current studio artists. Together, the two exhibitions demonstrate how ANCA continues to nurture Canberra artists and nurture the role of art in the national capital to delight, to engage and to question.
National Youth Week
Youth homelessness
MR WALL (Brindabella) (4.25): I rise this evening to acknowledge National Youth Week, which runs from 5 April until 14 April. The theme of National Youth Week this year is: “Be active. Be happy. Be you.” National Youth Week is an annual event that celebrates and recognises the contribution made to our society by young people.
In the ACT, our week-long celebrations kicked off on Friday with the National Youth Week festival in Garema Place. A number of stalls and activities were set up, highlighting a number of initiatives available from a diverse range of community groups and organisations who provide services for young people in the ACT. Live music and performances, along with art activities and sporting demonstrations, featured at the festival. I would particularly like to acknowledge the hard work of the Youth Coalition in coordinating the calendar of events, along with the various participants who have been and will be contributing throughout the week.
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