Media Release
Monday 28th February, 2011

WA Arts and Culture Chamber applauds WA artistic achievements at the Academy Awards

Chairman of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA, Sam Walsh AO today congratulated West Australian born and educated Shaun Tan who has won his first Oscar for best animated short, The Lost Thing, widely praised by critics and voiced by Tim Minchin, yet another West Australian.

“This is another shining example of the quality of  our Western Australian arts sector and underscores our State’s ability to produce outstanding and internationally acclaimed artists”, said Mr Walsh.
 
Following his graduation from the University of Western Australia (1995), Tan worked on his multi-awarding-winning illustrated children’s books, including The Lost Thing, from his studio in Mt Lawley, before relocating to Melbourne in 2007.  

It is also not lost on the people of WA that The Kings Speech, winner of Best Film, was based on the story of the actor and  speech therapist, Lionel Logue, who spent most of his early career in Perth, and who helped the current Queen's father, King George VI , overcome a debilitating stutter.

“Once again WA can be proud of its ability to produce outstanding quality in the arts that captures the imagination of the world.”

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