Arts Minister establishes advisory committee

29/02/00
Some of the State's most high-profile business and art industry representatives have been brought together to form a Government advisory committee on the arts.
The Arts Advisory Committee, announced today by Arts Minister Mike Board, comprises 17 members.
They include former Art Gallery Board of Trustees member Sir James Cruthers, Perth Theatre Company Board member Diana Bliss, Western Australian Municipal Association chief executive officer and former ArtsWA Director-General Ricky Burges and Australia Council chairman Dr Margaret Seares.
Former Channel Seven executive and Screen West board chairman Kevin Campbell will chair the group.
The committee's role will be to advise on issues affecting arts and culture in WA, help with the promotion of the industry and advise on future directions and strategies.
Mr Board said the wide range of expertise contained within the group would prove invaluable to his role as Minister.
"What I wanted, and have been fortunate to achieve, is a mixture of successful practising artists, arts administrators and business representatives with the potential to contribute to the arts and cultural sector from a State, national and international perspective," he said.
"I am the first to acknowledge where and when I need advice on an issue and no one person could possibly have all the answers when it comes to a portfolio as intricate as the arts.
"This committee will help me make the most informed decisions possible to ensure the best outcomes for the arts community and the general public."
The committee memberships will be for one year and the group will operate purely in an advisory capacity with no power to make decisions or dictate policy.
Members include:

• Kevin Campbell (Chairman) - Screen West Board Chairman, non-Executive Chair Q-Multimedia Ltd;
• Zoe Atkinson - chair ArtsWA Young People and the Arts Panel, theatre designer, winner of the Young Australian of the Year Award (Arts);
• Diana Bliss - entrepreneur and theatre producer, Perth Theatre Company Board member;
• Mick Bolto - Art Gallery of WA Chairman, lawyer with Freehill, Hollingdale and Page;
• Ricky Burges - WA Municipal Association Chief Executive Officer;
• Gary Chard - Perth Awesome International Children's Festival artistic director, graphic designer;
• Sir James Cruthers - former member of the Board of Trustees Art Gallery of WA;
• Professor Brian de Garis - Library and Information Services of WA Board chairman, Professor of History at Murdoch University;
• Sandra Krempl - Community Arts Network director;
• Charles McKinnon - Auto Distributors chairman, Perth Zoo Board president;
• Dr Ken Michael - WA Museum Board chairman;
• Dr Margaret Seares - Australia Council chairman, University of WA Community Relations executive director;
• Doug Sheerer - Galerie Dusseldorf Director, Commercial Galleries Association of WA President;
• Dan Smetana - Joyce Furniture chief executive officer, WA Ballet advisor and WA Symphony Orchestra Board member; and -
• Terri-ann White - writer with the University of WA English Department, Festival Fringe Advisory Board chair.