The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

Appointments to Visions of Australia Committee

The Minister for Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced appointments to the Visions of Australia Committee, which oversees the Australian Government's grant program supporting touring cultural exhibitions.

'Mr Bill Bleathman has been appointed Chair of the Visions of Australia Committee. I am delighted to welcome him to this role,' Senator Kemp said.

Mr Bleathman is Director of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Prior to this appointment in 2002, he was Director of the Office of Antarctic Affairs in the Tasmanian Department of State Development. From 1993 to 2000, he was the Manager Public Programs and Operations at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. He has served as a member of the Visions Committee since November 2002.

The outgoing Chair, Mr Alan Dodge, Director of the Art Gallery of Western Australia, is retiring from the Committee.

'Mr Dodge has done an excellent job on the Committee, having served for four years as member, followed by two years in the role of Chair,' Senator Kemp said.

'I am also delighted to welcome Mr Mark Lennard to the Committee. Mr Lennard has had a long association with the arts in regional Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and is currently the Manager of the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery.

'Mr Lennard has served as the Director of the Carnarvon Arts Festival and Development Manager of the Carnarvon Aboriginal Heritage and Culture Centre.'

Visions of Australia supports travelling exhibitions by providing funding assistance to cultural and community organisations to develop and tour exhibitions of historical and scientific material, visual arts and craft, and Indigenous cultural material throughout Australia.

31 August 2004

---

Media contact: Adrian Chippindale, 02 6277 7350 or 0407 208 743