Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

ROSALIE GASCOIGNE, INGE KING, ROBERT KLIPPEL LES KOSSATZ, ALUN LEACH-JONES, JOHN PERCEVAL GARETH SANSOM, GORDON SHEPHERDSON AND JOHN WOLSELEY. THE QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY'S COMMITMENT TO 'DIVERSE VISIONS' ORIGINATED WITH THE MANTON PRIZE IN 1987, AND THE PROJECT CONTINUED WITH THE SUPPORT OF ARCO COAL AUSTRALIA INC. It now remains for me to bring the official part of this evening's proceedings to a close by thanking the two previous speakers for the part they have played in them. Before doing so, let me just say that this exhibition, 'Diverse Visions', really marks the opening of the exhibition season. It is the first of the three major exhibitions for 1991. May will see the fifth running of the Grand Prix de Moet et Chandon, and we have already heard the good news that it has been won by a Queensland artist-the third Queenslander in those five years. Then in August comes the great French exhibition featuring the world premiere of the prints and posters of that remarkable man, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. 'Diverse Visions' is certainly a good opener, not only because it brings together a strong field of Australian artists in their mid careers, but also because it is sponsored by ARCO Coal. Jack Anderson was quick to take up the running from the Manton family when they decided not to mount the Manton exhibition this year, and for that we are most grateful. Of all our corporate sponsors, ARCO Coal is pre-eminent, both in frequency and in level of involvement in Gallery projects. This generous support goes back to 1983 when the Company sponsored the exhibition 'L. J. Harvey and his School'. In 1986 it sponsored 'The Australian Landscape' exhibition; in 1988, 'Ceramic Traditions of Japan from the Idemitsu Collection'; in 1989, 'Your Collection Revealed'--a re-hang of the Gallery's holdings; and in 1990, 'Balance ...' In all this, Mr Jack Anderson has personally played a very important role and our warm thanks go to him as well as to his Company. The presence here of the Treasurer, Mr De Lacy-this is the first time he has opened an exhibition and I hope it will not be the last-should serve to remind all of us that, in political terms, this is indeed a lucky gallery. We have a Minister for the Arts who is also the Premier, and a Treasurer who does for the economy what Dr Samuel Johnson insisted must be done for friendship, he ensures that it is kept in constant repair. If this were an unlucky gallery, we would have a Minister for the Arts who was not in Cabinet, and a Treasurer who collected antique clocks and could not care less about Dr Johnson or the economy. Both the Premier and the Treasurer have been enthusiastic supporters of the Gallery and of the Arts in Queensland. The Treasurer has worked hard to establish a Far North Queensland Regional Gallery in Cairns, and this will enable us to send our Extension Services exhibitions to that city and thus fulfil our responsibilities, not only to the inhabitants of Brisbane, but also to those of the whole State. We welcome and applaud this initiative on the part of the Treasurer. And now, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to ask you to express your appreciation for the efforts of Mr Anderson and the Treasurer in the usual way. 71