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.

New Deputy Chair appointed to the Australia Council

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced the appointment of Mr Joe Gersh, AM, as Deputy Chair of the Australia Council for the Arts for a three-year term.

“I am delighted that Joe Gersh has agreed to become the new Deputy Chair of the Australia Council,” Senator Kemp said.

Mr Gersh has shown a high level of commitment to the arts in Australia. He is the Chairman of both the National Institute of Circus Arts, Australia’s centre of excellence in contemporary circus training, and Chairman of Artbank, the Federal Government’s art rental scheme which supports emerging Australian artists.

Mr Gersh is the Managing Director of Gersh Investment Partners Ltd, Director of the Payments System Board for the Reserve Bank of Australia, and Chairman of the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation. He has extensive experience at the top of Australia’s legal and corporate worlds.

Mr Gersh is a Director of the Sydney Institute, a former President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, and former Vice President of the Australian Institute of Jewish Affairs.

Senator Kemp also paid tribute to retiring Deputy Chair, Mr Terry Arcus.

“Mr Arcus helped steer the Council through a period of significant change and I would like to thank him for his outstanding contribution over the last four years.” Senator Kemp said.

The Australia Council is the Australian Government’s principal arts funding body. It encourages the creativity and development of Australian artists and aims to increase access by all Australians to arts and cultural activities.

CANBERRA

16 June 2006

Media contact: Michael Christo 02 6277 7350 or 0409 040 276