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When I travel around the country, I'm constantly impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of our cultural sector.

It seems that everywhere I turn, theres another wonderful example of Australia's unique cultural expression, be it the Ribbons of Steel exhibition in Newcastle, the Queensland Heritage Trails Network or the incredible interactive science exhibits at Questacon. The National Science and Technology Centre.

And now, leaders from the Australian cultural community have endorsed a three-year strategy to promote Australia's unique and vibrant culture overseas.

I was very pleased to chair the third meeting of the Australia International Cultural Council in Darwin in September, on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer.

The Council intends to engage comprehensively with the arts industry, cultural businesses and artists to achieve its objectives.

We are in an enviable position - world events are about to get underway.

Opportunities for promoting Australian culture internationally include the Sydney Olympics, the Centenary of Federation celebrations in London in 2000 and in Australia in 2001, and the Hannover Expo in 2000.

The ABC's Millennium Day live broadcast is another excellent opportunity to showcase our culture through international television. This global broadcast will feature commissioned works at truly Australian sites such as the Sydney Opera House and Uluru.

We must seize this unprecedented opportunity to build an international profile by using major world events happening both here and overseas during the next three years.

Exports are another important area, and the Council has discussed a draft report by Government agencies on international promotion and market access for Australian cultural exports.

The report considered ways of better integrating arts exports into the Government trade promotion and trade development programs.

There's no doubt we have some very solid foundations and were positioned to maintain the momentum created by these events over the next couple of years.

 Peter McGauran

Minister for the Arts
and the Centenary of Federation

• Document ID: 11367 |
• Last modified: 5 February 2008, 6:00pm