New Board Announced For Australian Arts Council

The inauguaral Board Of The Australia Council for the Arts has been unveiled by MP Tony Burke today.

From general managers to filmmakers, there is plenty of expertise in the Arts sector within these names. Here's the full committee:

Mr Rupert Myer AM
Ms Robyn Archer AO
Mr Tony Grybowski
Mr Waleed Aly
Ms Lee-Ann Buckskin
Mr Adrian Collette AM
Mr Khoa Do
Professor Matthew Hindson AM
Ms Mary-Ellen King
Ms Sophie Mitchell
Ms Samantha Mostyn
Mr Tim Orton

Of the very diverse committee, which saw Waleed Aly as the only new face, Chair of the Australia Council Rupert Myer had this to say:

“The membership is united by a common knowledge and passion for the arts, and strengthened by deep individual experience in areas such as artistic practice, arts management, business and finance, philanthropy, legal affairs, corporate strategy and research."

Minister Burke has been caught up in the recent political in-fighting at Labor and though he was a supporter of previous Prime Minister Julia Gillard, current PM Kevin Rudd refused his resignation. Burke was previously the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and had that stripped for the Immigration and Citizenship portfolio. He retained the Arts portfolio.

The announcement of the new board comes after the Australia Council's new governing legislation – the Australia Council Bill 2013 – was passed through both the House Of Representatives and Senate last week. It received assent and was made into law Friday 28 June.