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Message from the Minister
I'd like to wish you all a happy New Year and welcome you to the first edition of Artbeat for 2003.
This year we celebrate 25 years of the Commonwealth's Cultural Gifts Program. The Cultural Gifts Program began in 1978 as the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme and, since that time, more than $270 million in gifts have been donated through the program to galleries, museums and libraries around the country.
A rare collection of drawings and records of POWs in Changi during World War II and a 1937 Lockheed Electra aeroplane were among the many highlights included in the $30 million worth of gifts made during 2002.
The generosity of Australians in their support of the arts has also been demonstrated with more than $24 million donated to organisations listed on the Register of Cultural Organisations (ROCO) in 2001-02. Donations of money and property through ROCO assist arts organisations to strengthen both their sustainability and the calibre of their creative endeavour.
As with cultural philanthropy, supporting Australia's film and television industry is a job for all of us. The continued success of our television and film industries is testament to the fact that the screen is one of the most important ways we Australians connect with our culture.
As with other artists, our film-makers need access to a variety of funding sources. Last year the Government provided $120 million in direct funding to Commonwealth film agencies like the Australian Film Commission-helping the industry at every stage from script development to post-production, distribution to archiving.
The recent Nugget Awards, which recognise excellence in arts management, are evidence that the Australian public continues to value the contribution of the arts community. With the government and the private sector continuing to contribute in 2003, we can all look forward to being involved in passing on the gift of artistic endeavour and cultural experience for future generations of Australians.
Senator Rod Kemp
Minister for the Arts and Sport