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Heritage update
Investing in the future of Australian film
Regional arts - a changing landscape
Online collaboration promotes Federation stories

Heritage update
Through the Distributed National Collection Program, the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts works with the museums sector to improve the conservation of Australia's heritage collections, and make these collections more accessible. Through this program, the department has funded the development of a range of products for use by museums and other collecting bodies, including the following recent publications:

• The Resources Directory of the Museum Community identifies the full range of resources available to professionals and volunteers working in Australia's museum sector. It includes information about accreditation programs, advisory services, grants and assistance programs, professional development workshops and publications. For a copy, contact your local office of Museums Australia or visit the Australian Museums On Line (AMOL) website ( http://amol.org.au ).
• The Strategic Planning Handbook offers a practical tool for smaller museums and galleries to develop a strategic plan for their organisation. It provides information on critical issues, including how to develop a vision for your organisation and how to embark on a review of operational activities. For a copy, contact the National Office of Museums Australia on 03 9419 2422.

In early 1999 the Heritage Collections Council will release its national conservation guide called reCollections: Caring for Collections Across Australia . A seven-volume set of practical books, reCollections will assist non-conservators care for their collections. It's also a teacher-friendly resource which could be used in professional development workshops. One copy of reCollections is available free of charge to Australian institutions on application. Write to the HCC Secretariat, GPO Box 2154, Canberra ACT 2601, providing your name, position/title, name and description of your institution type, address, phone and fax numbers, email address.

Contact
Colin Thomas, Collections Development 02 271 1624 or email hcc.mail@dcita.gov.au

Investing in the future of Australian film
Australian films are entertaining, confronting and charming audiences around the world. The high standard and success of these films is attracting more investment interest in Australia's film industry.

Last year, legislation was successfully passed through Parliament introducing a new way of investing in the Australian film industry - the Film Licensed Investment Company scheme (FLICs).

FLICs will establish one or two Australian-owned and controlled companies to raise capital primarily from Australian investors. Licences will be granted through a competitive application process, by an expert panel representing the film and television industry, the investment sector and government.

A total of $40 million concessional capital over the financial years 1998-99 and 1999-2000 to invest in a slate of high quality, commercially viable film and television productions - feature films, mini-series, documentaries and telemovies.

Initial FLIC investors will be eligible for an up front tax deduction of 100 per cent on the purchase of shares.

FLICs recognises the importance of investing in an active, innovative and vibrant film industry for cultural and economic reasons.

The introduction of a film licensed investment company tax concession was recommended in David Gonski's wide ranging review of the Commonwealth Assistance to the Film Industry.

The new scheme will complement direct government funding and run in parallel with the Division 10BA tax concession, which will be retained while FLICs is piloted.

The successful FLIC is expected to be announced in April.

Contact
Penny Duckworth, Film Industry Section 02 6271 1062 or email penny.duckworth@dcita.gov.au

Regional arts - a changing landscape
The first national conference of Regional Arts Australia held in October 1998 in Mount Gambier, South Australia, was an occasion for professional and volunteers arts practitioners, as well as all levels of government to join together to develop a vision for the future of regional arts in Australia.

The conference provided important networking opportunities for arts workers from across the country to share knowledge, learn new skills and explore the challenges and possibilities of regional arts.

Ken Lloyd, Secretary of Regional Arts Australia and Director of the South Australian Country Arts Trust says the conference proved so popular it came very close to being oversubscribed.

'We had approximately 380 people attend the conference over the three days and the feedback we received has been terrific - there is a real thirst in regional Australia to do more in the arts and to do it better than ever,' he says.

'The delegates were particularly interested in issues of access, celebrating regional distinctiveness, touring local material and a sense of community identity in the arts.'

The next Regional Arts Australia conference will be in Western Australia in 2000.

Contact
Jacqui Triggs, Marketing Manager, South Australian Country Arts on 08 8447 8910 or email jtriggs@peg.apc.org .

Online collaboration promotes Federation stories
A group of Australia's key national institutions have come together to promote stories and images behind the Centenary of Federation.

Coordinated through the National Council for the Centenary of Federation, the Windows on Federation project has been added to the Council's website at www.dcita.gov.au/centenary . It explores Australia's history and the significance of the nation's 100th birthday, through the rich collections of 11 national institutions.

The online gallery features songs, memorabilia, significant documents, important facts and powerful images. Displayed together, they tell a story of our nation's beginnings that will appeal to people with different tastes and interests.

Lenore Coltheart, research coordinator of public programs at the National Archives of Australia, says the team approach of the institutions to this project had been stimulating and rewarding.

'The agencies of government and cultural institutions tend to operate in relative isolation from one other. The Centenary provides an opportunity for us to work together creatively and to share our resources and ideas,' she says.

Contributing institutions are: Australian National Maritime Museum; Australian War Memorial; High Court of Australia; National Archives of Australia; National Film and Sound Archive; National Gallery of Australia; National Library of Australia; National Museum of Australia; National Portrait Gallery; Old Parliament House and the Royal Australian Air Force.

Contact
Claire Tedeschi, Centenary of Federation 02 6270 8152 or email cent.fed@dcita.gov.au

• Document ID: 11519 |
• Last modified: 5 February 2008, 6:06pm