Top Australian Performers Feature at National Centre for the Performing Arts to Launch Imagine Australia, the Year of Australian Culture in China
Her Excellency the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce AC, who fulfils the duties of Australia’s Head of State, will tonight officially launch Imagine Australia – the Year of Australian Culture - at the Australia Highlights Gala Variety Concert at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (“The Egg”). A host of leading lights from China’s government, business and arts circles will join the Governor-General at the prestigious event, including China’s Minister for Culture, Dr Cai Wu, representing the key Chinese Government partner in the year of Culture project.
Imagine Australia is a year-long bilateral cultural exchange program, showcasing some of Australia’s most exciting talent in the performing arts, visual arts, dance, music, film, digital arts, literature and fashion. Imagine Australia is an initiative between the Australian Government (through the Australia International Cultural Council) and the Chinese Ministry of Culture, formalised by a government-to-government MOU signed on 19 March 2010. The focus of the program will be on strengthening the cultural ties between Australia and China, developing new connections and building greater cultural cooperation between the two countries.
As one of the inaugural launch events for the Year, the Australia Highlights Gala Variety Concert – which is a highlight of the Governor-General’s visit to China - will feature an impressive selection of Australian artists, showcasing the diversity and sophistication of Australian performing arts.
Concert performers will include Australian pop star Jessica Mauboy, the magical vocal ensemble The Song Company alongside Indigenous musician and songman William Barton, Indigenous dancers from Bangarra Dance Theatre, violinist Niki Vasilakis, the inspiring music of the Band of Brothers and a preview of an inspiring collaboration in Western-Peking fusion opera involving well-known Australian and Chinese librettists, directors, composers and performers.
“The Gala Variety Concert will be a real celebration of Australian performing arts and a fitting launch event for Imagine Australia,” said Australian Ambassador Dr Geoff Raby. “We hope to surprise and delight our audience for this event. We are thrilled with the overwhelming response to our invitations. It’s a great indication of how deep and well-established our bilateral artistic links already are, and of the strong friendships we have formed with the Chinese people. I’m confident we’ll continue to enjoy fantastic audience participation in our events as they unfold over the next twelve months.”
For further information on Imagine Australia see www.imagineaustralia.net.
The Australia Highlights Gala Concert is an invitation-only event.
Media Contact: Ms Jin Wen ([email protected])
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China Minmetals Corporation * Telstra
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Metallurgical Corporation of China * St Regis Hotel Beijing
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Australia International Cultural Council * Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia China Council * Australia Council for the Arts * Tourism Australia