Senator the Hon. George Brandis S.C.

Minister for the Arts and Sport

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator George Brandis, today announced the appointment of Patrick Corrigan and Annette Larkin to the Committee on Taxation Incentives for the Arts, both for a three-year term.

Senator Brandis said Mr Corrigan and Ms Larkin were both longstanding members of the Australian arts community, and he was delighted to welcome them to this role.

“Their support for the arts is widely known, and I am confident their extensive knowledge of art will be a valuable asset to the Committee,” Senator Brandis said.

A successful businessman, Mr Corrigan will contribute a range of experiences that he has gained in the Australian arts industry. He has been an enthusiastic collector of contemporary artworks since the 1970s.

Ms Larkin is the founder of Annette Larkin Fine Art Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s private art dealerships specialising in contemporary, Aboriginal and modern art. Since 1985, she has worked in both commercial and public galleries.

The Committee on Taxation Incentives for the Arts oversees the administration of the Cultural Gifts program. Since 1978, the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts program has facilitated the donation of culturally significant items to Australia’s public collections.

Over $420 million worth of gifts, including visual arts, Indigenous cultural artefacts, social history and scientific collections, have been donated through the program.

For more information about the Cultural Gifts program, visit www.dcita.gov.au/cgp.

Media contact: Travis Bell 0448 950 248

16 October 2007
146/07