Two well-known members of the Aboriginal community have been appointed to the committees for the Commonwealth
Government's programs that support touring, performances and exhibitions across Australia.
Ms Sharon Firebrace has been appointed to the Playing Australia/Festivals Australia Committee and Mr Phillip Gordon
has been appointed to the Visions of Australia Committee. Both appointments are for three years from July 1999.
Ms Firebrace is the Director of Palm River Pty Ltd, an Aboriginal-focused business that is active in the Koori community
in Victoria.
Mr Gordon is the Aboriginal Heritage Officer at the Australian Museum in Sydney.
'Ms Firebrace's involvement in several key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and her role as a media
commentator on Koori affairs underscore the depth of her knowledge and understanding of Indigenous issues,' Federal
Minister for the Arts, Peter McGauran said.
'Mr Gordon's considerable experience working with Aboriginal communities in regional areas will greatly assist the
Visions of Australia Committee. He has a unique position in Australian museums, involved in liaison between the
museum and Aboriginal communities,' Mr McGauran said.
Playing Australia gives all Australians better access to some of the country's best performing arts. The program provides
Commonwealth Government grants to companies, producers, venues, presenters and tour organisers to tour performing
arts across the country.
Festivals Australia provides assistance to regional and community Australian festivals for the presentation of quality
cultural activities.
Visions of Australia provides grants to cultural and community organisations to develop and tour exhibitions of historical
and scientific material, visual arts and craft, multimedia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture throughout
Australia.
'The Touring Program Committees will benefit significantly from these appointments,' Mr McGauran, said.
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