Launch of Imagine Australia Website – Year of Australian Culture
Australian Ambassador Dr Geoff Raby today launched the official website for Imagine Australia, the Year of Australian Culture in China.
Imagine Australia is a year-long bilateral cultural exchange project, showcasing Australian talent in the performing arts, visual arts, dance, music, film, digital arts, literature and fashion. It is the most significant cultural presentation Australia has ever mounted in China.
“The new website will be a fantastic platform for Imagine Australia,” said Dr Raby. “It is, of course, fully bilingual so people all over China can source comprehensive information on the exciting events we are presenting from June 2010 to June 2011.”
The focus of Imagine Australia is on strengthening the cultural ties between Australia and China, developing new connections and building greater cultural cooperation between the two countries. It will be followed by a reciprocal year of Chinese culture in Australia from mid-2011.
Dr Raby also expressed appreciation to Jackie Chan, the Official Patron of Imagine Australia, for his generosity in supporting the program. “Jackie is a big name in the entertainment industry in China and internationally, but also his strong family ties with Australia are well known. So we’re delighted to have him endorse this dynamic year of cultural exchanges with China.”
“By visiting the website, everyone can find out about our other valuable supporters as well, and see the innovative Australian arts programs to be presented. We hope it will inspire audiences to attend the events and be part of this landmark cultural program” said Dr Raby.
And audience participation will be a key theme, with one segment of the Imagine Australia website devoted to pictures of events taken by audience members themselves. So send through your photos of Imagine Australia exhibitions, performances, workshops and other events – whether it’s an Australian digital arts show in a shopping centre in Beijing, or photos from the crowd at an Australian band’s rocking performance in Shanghai - and go in the draw for tickets to other events! The best pictures will also go into a special commemorative publication about the Year.
For further information on Imagine Australia see www.imagineaustralia.net
Programming Contact: Ms Katie Tian ([email protected])
Media Contact: Naihong Zhang ([email protected])
The Australian Embassy in Beijing sincerely thanks our supporters
Major Sponsors
China Minmetals Corporation * Telstra
Tsingtao Brewery * La Trobe University
Metallurgical Corporation of China * St Regis Hotel Beijing
Australian Government Supporters
Australia International Cultural Council
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade * Australia China Council Australia Council for the Arts * Tourism Australia
Imagine Australia logo designed by Yang Miao, Senior Lecturer and Designer, College of Art and Design, Beijing University of Technology (BUT). Thanks to Chen Bin, Senior Lecturer and Designer, BUT for coordination and contribution to the logo design