Anthony Bond OAM

Assistant Director
Art Gallery of NSW

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Visitor and advisor to the Echigo Triennale

Message

The entire concept of Echigo is very special bringing artists from around the world into communities in Japan. It has always been a very special experience. Australia House was an ongoing project that provided an opportunity for collaborations and friendships to grow over time and it will be wonderful to see it reborn. I think there is already a strong friendship between our countries but we still have so much to learn. For young artists, the opportunity to see that the way we do things is a matter of choice and may in fact be done differently elsewhere is a vital lesson in life and culture.

Anne Graham

Conjoint Professor
University of Newcastle

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

In 2010, I was resident at Australia House with three students from my University and three from TAMA Art University. I have visited Echigo many times and made two temporary artworks and one permanent artwork for the Triennale.

Message

The Australia House residency in 2010, with my students and with students and staff from TAMA was a wonderful experience. We were warmly embraced by the community of Urada village and we had many visitors, both local and international. The students formed strong friendships, they worked together sharing ideas, learning about each other's culture, and exploring the Echigo region and the Triennale artworks. The exhibition at the end of the residency was a testament to the success of the Australia House project; the student works were a fantastic response to the site and clearly made evident what a valuable and enjoyable experience the residency had offered them.

In 2009, I also visited Australia House and met with the three Australian artists who presented a magnificent exhibition of their work in the beautiful old building. The village of Urada and the surrounding countryside provides an inspirational setting, and this location in the heart of Echigo is ideal for exploring the Triennale permanent artworks. These site specific works, made by artists from all over the world have formed an extraordinary multi-locational museum. Deserted buildings have been transformed into gallery spaces; artist groups have created venues for performance, restaurants and hostels for visitors. The Echigo Triennale is a welcoming, generous spirited event which continues to benefit, and give joy to participants, visitors and the local community.

The Australian connection to both the residency and the Triennale continues to flourish and I look forward with excitement to the development of the new Australia House and all the opportunities the house will provide for future collaborations between Australian and Japanese artists and communities.

Sue Pedley

Artist and Tutor
Art Workshop Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Participant in Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2006

Message

My vision for Australia House is a place where artists can work, rest and exhibit in harmony with the local community. A space made with materials and techniques that are sympathetic to the traditions of rural Japanese architecture; and sustainably warmed and cooled, as each season requires. I envisage one work place to be a 'carport' structure with a thatched roof and a solar panel, a fusion of Japanese and Australian vernacular architecture; a shield from the summer sun and cooled by the breeze of the satoyama.

In preparation for the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale 2006, before Australia House existed, I shared a house with an Australian artist and a coordinator (this sometimes included family and friends) in the village of Matsudai. In the house situated in a village, we prepared our art projects with the help of volunteers (Kohebi- tai), and the local community. It was such a pleasure to live in a Japanese house. I enjoyed sitting and sleeping on the tatami mats, the deep bath and watching the owners make their miso in the adjacent shed.

The Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale 2012 is an opportunity to create art that considers and welcomes the new residents from Fukushima Prefecture and to creatively explore alternatives to nuclear power.

Bec Dean

Associate Director
Performance Space

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Visitor to the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale in 2009

Message

From the perspective of a curator working in site-specific contexts, I was amazed by both the quality of work and the quality of community engagement and participation inherent in the Echigo Tsumari experience. This is a project that balances perfectly the desires of government in terms of tourism and economic stimulation of a region, without diminishing or 'dumping down' the contemporary art projects that take place there. I have heard its director Fram Kitagawa speak in Australia, and I know that it wasn't an easy thing to achieve, but it was possible through the persistence and support of arts workers, students, volunteers and most of all, members of the local communities that it has engaged with.

Since travelling to Echigo Tsumari I have been interested in how this model could be applied in rural Australian contexts, where there are similar concerns with ageing populations, abandoned towns and young people choosing to work in the city. A local culture is fundamentally its people, and through this project I see not only a rejuvenation of local culture and local economy through participation in art programs and installation projects, but a broadening of understanding of Japanese rural cultures and products on a national and international level. It is a rewarding and reciprocal program.

The Australia House program is so important within the fabric of Echigo Tsumari, not only because of the experience and participation of Australian artists, but because I believe that Australian government agencies can learn so much from Echigo Tsumari in terms of the ongoing success of their own social and cultural programs in regional areas.

I hope in the future that I will be able to propose a curated program of Australian Artists working in community-based visual art and participatory practise to the new Australia House. It is my dream to return there.

Lesley Alway

Director
Asialink Arts, University of Melbourne

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Support artist and arts management residencies to Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Message

On behalf of Asialink Arts I am very pleased to support the campaign to establish a new 'Australia House' and have this important facility continue to play an important role in the Echigo – Tsumari Art Triennale. Australia House has been a strong physical and emotional link for many Australian artists in Japan and it is symbolic of the strong friendship and cultural ties that have been established between the two countries over many years. A new Australia House project is vitally important to continue the important relationships and cultural engagement into the future. Japan is one of our most popular destinations for applicants to the Asialink residency program and we are very keen to maintain as many residency host opportunities as possible. Australia House will be a much sought after residency destination by Australian artists. I endorse the campaign to establish a new Australia House and fully support the project.

Zara Stanhope

Independent Curator, PhD candidate Australian National University

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Resided in house to observe artists during lead up to ETAT 2009, to review ETAT for Art and Australia magazine.

Message

My experience of Australia House during the Echigo-Tsumari Triennale in 2009 was of a very unique and productive context for artists to develop a creative project on the basis of cross-cultural interactions. The local community embraced Australia House and its residents, providing a context of engaged and supportive individuals for visitors to work with and learn from in Toyoda. Australia House offered a valuable base for artists and arts workers interested in life and the environment beyond urban Japan, or wanting to engage in the participatory creative processes with communities encouraged by the Echigo-Tsumari Triennale. A new Australia House would continue to build on the benefits of Australian and Japanese collaboration and the growth of cultural understanding that had only just begun.

Mandy Francis

Artist

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Took part in the JAAM project at Australia House 2010

Message

Experiencing the lush landscape, warm people, traditional architecture, delicious food, customs and amazing and sometimes daring array of sculptural installations in the Echigo-Tsumari region has provided me with the most rich and long lasting memories of Japan.

From the onset of the JAAM project that I was so fortunate to be a part of, the town ship of Urada where Australia House is situated, made us feel so welcome by inviting us to eat and to meet the local elders. Straight away the locals were organising ways that they could help us to create our art pieces i.e. taking us to local scrap yards, showing us logs for carving. This giving and kindness continued throughout our stay.

With this in mind, I think of the Australia House as a way of giving back to the community. The house should be sensitive to the beauty surrounding its parameters; it should look welcoming and all inclusive as well as creating a space inside that could provide an eating area that can fit the whole town for when the residence of Australia House want to reciprocate the hospitality of the locals.

During my stay at Australia House I was also lucky enough to get time to drive around and see over one hundred of the artworks scattered around the region. Seeing art in this way is fantastic, first of all; a lot of the works are by prominent artists whom I would probably never get the chance to see in real life. Secondly; the artworks are often in very small villages and out of the way areas, places that your regular traveller wouldn't venture.

I feel that I have been incredibly privileged to have worked so closely with the warm and welcoming community of Urada and to have been able to experience the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field first hand. I would recommend that anyone who loves adventure and art to go to the Echigo-Tsumari Region.

Janet Laurence

Artist
Visiting Fellow College of Fine Arts UNSW

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Participated in Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2003
Permanent work ELIXIR installed Matsanoyama region

Message

The Echigo Triennale is such a wonderful special project in the world.

Located in such a beautiful landscape, it actually transforms and regenerates its rural community whilst preserving its heritage through artwork. It is exemplary and needs to be displayed in the world for its success in this.

Its future must be secured, still maintaining the community involvement and the high standard of art so that it can attract art tourism in the way Naoshima and continue to transform this vast and beautiful area.

Even more so now considering the tragic destruction of the earthquake and tsunami that the Echigo Tsumari Triennale stands as a symbol of healing and transformation.

Andrea Kleist

Public Art Program Manager (Currently Team Leader Docklands Project Unit)
City of Melbourne

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Asialink residency at Echigo Tsumari Triennale 2006

Message

Australia House was, and will be again sometime soon, a destination, a laboratory and a home.

An art project in its own right, Australia House is an expression of a long-term and cultural exchange commitment between Australia and Japan. It is poised to become an image of resilience, as it will be rebuilt after forces of nature destroyed it earlier this year. Thus it shares the fate of many houses in Japan and equally, the spirit of looking in hope towards the future.

A base from which artists can reach out to the local community and beyond. Australia House will provide an insight into the many facets of Australian life, show casing diverse Australian art practices for years to come while enabling the artists, locals and visitors to discover connections none of them had considered before.

Australia House will provide temporary shelter to people from different places; it shall be a home to all of them. The house will accumulate many memories and while the experience might be fleeting, I hope that it will become a firm part of the journey provided by the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale.

Kim Anderson

Artist

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Participated in the Echigo-Tsumari Artist-in-Residence 2011

Message

While the destruction of the former Australia House was a terribly tragic event, the design competition for a new venue is an extremely exciting and challenging prospect, and I hope it will bring much more international attention to such a wonderful initiative.

My hope for the new venue is that it not only be a stunning architectural construction in itself as a residence, studio and exhibition space, but that it is also able to reflect the philosophy behind the Australia House project. On a practical level, as an artist the two most important elements for creation are light and space – such luxuries when one's own home studio has neither of these things. But more than this, Australia House needs be a place that freely enables cross-cultural exchange, a place where the local community can feel welcome to come and share ideas and participate in workshops and creative activities. It needs to be an open space, both physically but also in the feeling it generates, allowing the outside environment to find its way inside and influence the work taking place, and in turn the artistic energy within to project outwards. An artwork in its own right, it also needs to provide something of a ground or a canvas upon which future artists-in-residence can build and shape new ideas.

My own experience during my residency (despite it being in an alternative location due to the March 2011 earthquake) was that the people of Echigo-Tsumari are extremely resilient, hardy, and proud of their home. They are both shy yet warmly accepting of having artists living and working amongst them, and the Australia House project is a prime example of how art can transcend language barriers and take on an important role in revitalising a community. Art is perhaps the purest, most ancient and most effective way of communication between cultures, and the opportunity to live and work in the Echigo-Tsumari region is perhaps the closest one can come to realising the full potential of this.

Osamu Fukunaga

Deputy Director, The National Art Center, Tokyo

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Participated in the Australia House opening ceremony in 2009 and the JAAM Project review in 2010

Message

In 2009 and 2010, I was able to see close cultural exchanges in practice at Australia House, between the people of Urada community and many associated with Australia, such as Australian Embassy staff and artists (including student artists) who applied for the Australia House project and experienced the Artist-in-Residency program.

It was amazing for us who work in the field to see that art created such fruitful exchanges beyond the barriers of nationality, customs and language, and this was very pleasing to see.

I look forward with anticipation that the new Australia House will be a place for bilateral exchange between Japan and Australia and be seen at the forefront of new art and culture.

Souhei Imamura

Principal, Atelier Imamu Ltd / First Class Architect Office

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Coordinator of the Australia House Architecture Design Proposals Competition

Message

I think that both the Japanese and Australians have a quite magnificent sensibility towards the relationship between buildings and nature.

Both countries have much to contribute in the 21st century – which is referred to as the environmental era – and I believe the further strengthening of the cultural exchanges between the two countries will be desired more than ever before. I look forward to seeing the development of the new Australia House as a base for such relationships and hope that the house will trigger a variety of activities in the coming years.

Yoshiaki Kaihatsu

Artist

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Participated in the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale 2006 and 2009

Message

Thinking of the victims of natural disasters in Japan, I feel that I need to do something. Meanwhile, Australia House has already taken its first step towards regeneration. I look forward to the reconstruction of Australia House in a wonderful new environment in Niigata in the near future where people can enjoy the sun and beautiful rice.

Yoshikazu Kondo

President, Japan-Australia Society of Joetsu

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Participated in the cleaning of the vacant farmhouse in spring 2009 before it was transformed into the original Australia House. Since then, acts as intermediary between Urada people and Australian artists.

Message

The Australia House is a place like this...

• Days go by happily with good sake, food and cheerful company - a place where parties happen and people can enjoy international cultural exchanges every day.
• One, two, three, and go! "A kookaburra sits in the old gum tree…" – a workshop where people can not only learn English but also listen to Australian folk songs.
• Put black liquid ink (bokuju) on the soles of feet then grind a stamp! – a studio where people's hand-made felt and foot prints become a part of artworks

Now, why don't you join us?

Miyoko Shibata

Board Member of the Japan-Australia Society of Joetsu

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Supporter of Australia House and the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale
Participated in the cleaning of the vacant farmhouse before it was transformed into the original Australia House.

Message

Australia House is a place where artworks come into the world. This is a place where Japanese, Australians and anyone from around the world can meet and build strong ties. When someone stays at Australia House, they will find piles of vegetables left in front of the doorway, which neighbours grew lovingly in their fields and left without mentioning. Australia House is such a place.

Yukiko Tamaki

Supporter for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale and a member of Kohebi Tai

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Involved in the preservation of terraced rice fields in Urada community and participated in several community events.

Message

The scenery of Echigo-Tsumari is filled with jigsaw-puzzle-like curved lines of terraced rice fields and strong straight lines of traditional houses which can bear over four meters of heavy, damp snow in winter. The region is covered only in white, black and some dull colours for half of the year. However, during the other half, the region is filled with many different colours from light- to rich greens, peachy light pink to vibrant red and sky blue to indigo to name a few. Being filled with so many colours, it is impossible to name all of those we see in nature within a day. The people in the region who live with that variety of colours and shapes also have rich and varied sounds and expressions. I am thrilled that the region will be filled with many more happy conversations such as "Omesan dokkara kita? (Where are you from?)" and "Nani shii kita ya? (What are you going to do?)".

Sotaro Yamamoto

Principal, Atelier Sotaro Yamamoto / First Class Architect Office

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Coordinator of the Australia House Architecture Design Proposals Competition

Message

I think that informing people of the world about a region's climate and culture provides a basic foundation for the region's disaster recovery and revitalisation. I believe that culture is inherited and recreated though heartfelt personal exchanges between people and this would not be made possible through one-way communications. I hope that the new Australia House will become a symbol of such strong cultural exchanges in the future.

Osamu Yatou

Board member of Japan-Australia Society of Joetsu

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Supporter of Australia House and the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2009. Facilitated exchanges between Australian artists and the people of Urada community

Message

Australia and Japan have very contrasting cultures and customs - Australia is located at southern hemisphere and Japan at northern hemisphere, one has arid climate and the other humid, people of Australia speak English whereas Japanese people speak Japanese and one is a country of pastoral farming and the other is a rice-growing country. I look forward to seeing such differences between the two countries will come into contact and induce new energy in the beautiful mountainous region of Echigo-Tsumari.

Keiichi Chigasaki

Artist

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Participated in the JAAM Project 2010

Message

I am very pleased to hear that Australia House will be rebuilt. I believe that the new Australia House will become a place that, just like the former Australia House, offers wonderful experiences through art activities.

Hiroji Noda

Professor, Oil Painting Department, Tama Art University

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Participated in the JAAM project 2010

Message

Australia House collapsed. Even looking at the images of the collapsed house on the website, I could hardly believe what had happened. The JAAM project, which was held over the boiling hot month of August in 2010, meant a lot to us, thanks to the youthful energy of the Japanese and Australian student artists. The JAAM project brochure became the only thing left of our memories of the house - it became a very important record for us. The outcomes of the project won't disappear but I feel sad and frustrated that Australia House is gone as we owe the success of the JAAM project to the original Australia House.

It was great news to hear the news that Australia House will be rebuilt in the summer of 2012, and reincarnated with improvements. Above all, I was really pleased to hear that there was a strong determination to rebuild Australia House among people such as the Australian Embassy staff, those related to the Echigo-Tsumari Triennale, the people in Urada community and artists. Considering that even people like me who have only been loosely associated with the house feel this way, I am certain that many people from various backgrounds will passionately support the new Australia House.

I look forward with excitement to seeing the new Australia House.

Tamiko Takeuchi

Store Manager, Urada

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Supporter of Australia House (provider of perishable foods)

Message

I live in the hamlet of Toyoda where the former Australia House was located. I have a strong memory of Lucy-san [Ms Lucy Bleach] who lived in Toyoda for about one month prior to the 4th Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale.

Lucy took clay casts of all the villagers' ears and displayed them at her exhibition. She held workshops at the local community hall over two nights and people in the community lay down on the floor while their clay ear casts set.

We invited her for dinner and drinks twice. Despite the language barrier, we felt that we could understand each other and enjoyed the nights. We, the residents of Toyoda, were so pleased to have Australia House in the region and helped out the visitors to the house, such as mowing their grass and providing them with "Onigiri and Tsukemono", or Japanese rice balls and pickles. We were very disappointed when we had heard that Australia House had collapsed from the earthquake. But now, we are very happy again to learn about its planned reconstruction in its new location of Nakatateyama. The good news filled us with hope.

We established the merger company Urada, which is run by the people of the Urada region. We opened a small supermarket store called "Fureai (get-together) Urada" in March.

I think there will be more opportunities for us to have foreign customers visit the shop in the future. As a store manager, I would like to stock the shop with a wide range of fresh food and other goods. I will also study English a little more in order to better welcome our foreign customers.

We will do our best to assist Australia House and the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale so that we can help revitalise the Urada region.

Yuji Kubota

Vice Deputy Chairman, Urada Community Association

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Supporter of the Australia House

Message

Australia House started thanks to the kind offer of Mr Hosaka, who was the owner of the old farmhouse. Since then, thanks to Australia House, the people of Urada were able to develop close relations with Australian Embassy staff (including a Minister-Counsellor) as well as Australian students and artists. This has been an encouraging development for Tokamachi City and a new page in the city's history.

I am very pleased to hear that the new Australia House will be rebuilt in a place of scenic beauty. I feel grateful for the people related to the project, including Tokamachi Mayor Sekiguchi.

When the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale was launched at Tsunan in Tokamachi City, a boxy building made of steel was constructed as the main facility in Matsunoyama. It was called "Kyororo" (Echigo - Matsunoyama Museum of Natural Science) and was highly acclaimed across the country.

I am thrilled to think further international exchanges will take place at the new Australia House. I can see another Kyororo in the new Australia House and now have an exciting vision of the future of Tokamachi City and the Urada region.

I truly hope that many people from Australia will visit Tokamachi City, particularly to enjoy the skiing in winter. At the same time, I would also like to visit Australia. I hope the relationship between Japan and Australia will grow stronger and develop further.

Sadakazu Maruyama

Chairman, Urada Community Association

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Supporter of the Australia House

Message

The news of Australia House's collapse due to an earthquake which hit the northern part of Nagano Prefecture was an enormous shock to the community. A total of 5,000 people visited Australia House during the 4th Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. We wondered if we would ever again see the visitors and artists from Australia who had visited Urada and communicated with us closely. My heart was filled with sadness for the people in the region who have been looking forward to further exchanges at the house, and concern about whether the ongoing revitalisation plan would come to an end.

However, as a proverb says, "bad luck often brings good luck". Australia House will be rebuilt thanks to Tokamachi City and the Australian Embassy.

The place where the new Australia House will be built is along a wide road which enables a snow plough to work close to the house, so it can be occupied in winter as well. We are pleased that the wonderful location was chosen for the new Australia House and expect further developments.

We, the Urada community, are talking of our plan to build an Australian village centred around the house and develop the place as a hub for international exchange.

At any rate, once the new Australia House is completed, we will actively seek exchanges with visitors from Australia as well as the Australian Embassy staff and their families.

We would like to be well-prepared for the opening ceremony of the new Australia House at the forthcoming 5th Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale and celebrate the completion of the new Australia House in cooperation with the Tokamachi City and the Australian Embassy.

I would like to close my message with special thanks to the thoughtful consideration from the people of Australia, Tokamachi City and those related to the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale who enables the reconstruction of the new Australia House in the Urada Community.

Saeko Shimojo

Artist

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Participated in the JAAM Project 2010

Message

I was extremely shocked to see everything disappear all of a sudden due to the earthquake on 11 March.

We now have only after-images of what we used to have, since everything went all at once due to some external forces. But, we can create new images together by combining the power of people who have shared similar experiences and feelings - such as anxiousness, fear and hope for the future.

Art has always presented new ideas and forms for the next generation, even in unsettled times. I wish the very best for the reconstruction of the Australia House and its new beginning.

Hitomi Fukui

Artist

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Participated in the JAAM Project 2010

Message

The experience at the Australia House during the JAAM project is my very best memory. We worked together on arts in a mountainside village, cooked and ate both countries' dishes, had drinks, sang, danced and laughed a lot. By meeting people in Urada who were very kind and warm-hearted, as well as great Australian artists, and staying at the Australia House, I felt that I got back to my real self. I am deeply thankful to Australia House and its many supporters.

I was shocked to hear that the earthquake completely destroyed Australia House. However I am very pleased to hear that the House will be rebuilt through many people's efforts and its project will be actively continued. I look forward to seeing the future arts and stories which will be born in the new Australia House.

Andrew Burns

Principal, Andrew Burns Architect

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

Australian architect for the Australia House design proposal

Message

Australia House project represents a wonderful exchange between Japanese and Australian culture. It is very exciting to participate in this project and to create a place of artmaking, installation and community. The resolution of the design with my Japanese colleagues Souhei Imamura and Sotaro Yamamoto is proving to be a fascinating process; truly creating a synthesis between Japanese and Australian culture and construction.

The building has been designed to support site specific and community engaged artistic practice, acting as a catalyst and creating variation potentialities for response to landscape. I hope it will be a place that visitors, artists, curators and the local community will enjoy. I am honored to participate in this project with the Australian Embassy, Tokamachi City and the Echigo-Tsumari Triennale, and look forward to it opening in July.

Ulanda Blair

Assistant Curator, Australian Centre for the Moving Image

Relation to the Australia House and Echigo-Tsumari

2012 ETAT Curator in Residence, c/o Asialink

Message

In 2010, I had the privilege of working as Coordinator in Residence at the inaugural Setouchi International Arts Festival, Japan. Here, I managed the creation of three outdoor, site-specific works by Claire Healy & Sean Cordeiro, Sue Pedley and Cameron Robbins on the tiny isolated island of Teshima, in Japan's Seto Sea. This experience was absolutely incomparable to any other I have had (both in a personal and professional sense), and I feel genuinely inspired by the success of the Festival which actively engaged artists and audiences with local traditions, local people and the landscape. The Setouchi International Art Festival presented the most successful model of cross-cultural dialogue and community-cultural development that I've seen, which is why I'm so excited by the opportunity to work with Artistic Director Fram Kitagawa on the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. In 2012 will undertake a 3-month curatorial residency at the Triennale, through Asialink's Arts Management residency program.

The concept of contemporary art as a regenerative force is the fundamental principle of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial, as it was for Setouchi. Through four festivals, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial has successfully revitalised an economically and environmentally depressed region of Japan, attracting over a million visitors with its high-quality, site-specific, public art installations. The livelihood of the local residents and the preservation of the natural landscape is of upmost importance to the organisers, which in real terms has resulted in a major exhibition event that is engaging and stimulating for audiences, culturally and creatively enriching for artists, and constructive for the local people.

I am strongly committed to Asia-Australia cultural exchange and look forward to experiencing, first-hand, the inner-machinations of one of the world's leading festival presenters, in Japan. The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale is an international leader in the development of successful community-engagement strategies and I feel both excited and honoured to be part of this critical and timely event in 2012.