Around the world in different cultures there is a connecting thread when we welcome the arrival of the New Year.
In every tradition, celebrating the new year arriving is about looking forward to a fresh start with the prospect of enjoying happiness, prosperity and good luck

Ramingining artists’ ‘Aboriginal Memorial’ (1987-88), an installation featuring 200 hollow log coffins from central Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory, courtesy National Gallery of Australia
The gift of creativity, one that is both living and changing, ensures we all have an opportunity to enjoy a robust cultural life here in Australia.
To that end a group of arts and cultural institutions and organisations are joining forces under a new initiative to present the best of Australia’s cultural offering to the world.
Co-operation cross-culturally, is vital for the well-being of our community, our common humanity and its survival. Cultural Attractions of Australia will provide a single point of contact for travellers, trade partners and the media to access premium behind-the-scenes experiences, to be held in iconic locations.
To ensure it happens we need to continue to expand our intercultural communication skills, so we can create, co-operate and collaborate with others as well as possible.
The value of the arts and creativity in Australian life is today way beyond just life style choices.
It is very much about inspiring and challenging audiences, stakeholders and supporters to foster business and community relationships, which will lead to both academic and economic benefits for all.

WA Maritime Museum
Founding members of Cultural Attractions of Australia are Adelaide Oval, Arts Centre Melbourne, Australian War Memorial, WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle Prison, Melbourne Cricket Ground, MONA, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Opera Australia, Parliament House, Port Arthur Historic Site, Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach Queensland, Sovereign Hill and the Sydney Opera House.

Director NGV, Tony Ellwood, at the announcement for 2019 Winter Masterpieces exhibition
They will all offer premium experiences; accessible through their website following the Official Launch of Cultural Attractions of Australia on April 8, 2019.
In community or corporate life investing in people and quality processes produces sustainable and superior business performance. This is proven and as important in an everyday business context, as it is in a social environment, if the aim is to produce the best results.

oung children enjoy the first-look at the new Escher x Nendo | Between Two Worlds exhibition at NGV International on November 30, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images for NGV
The opportunity for international visitors to experience “… a range of unique and interesting experiences as part of the new Cultural Attractions of Australia collective will only further enhance the visitor experience for international travellers and create memories to last a lifetime” said John O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Tourism Australia.

Andrew Moran as Geronio, Samuel Dundas as Prosdocimo & Shane Lowrencev as Selim in Opera Australia’s THE TURK IN ITALY MS14_ Photo credit Jeff Busby
Culture is about a concern for what is regarded in our society as excellent in arts, music, letters and manners. It is also about inspiring the members of any group to bring about harmony within a group; communicating well so we can all endeavour to understand each other.
We also need to appreciate the fact our Australia is one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world today, which gives us an asset to be built upon for economic advantage. We have enormous economic potential linked to our society as a whole, which we need to harness for the greater good. Respect for difference is the key to success.

Roof climb Adelaide Oval, courtesy of SA tourism
Jennifer Ganske, Chair of Cultural Attractions of Australia says,… “we look forward to …infusing the thrill of discovery with learning and participation, providing visitors with memorable insights into what it means to be Australian, through the lens of both our history and our contemporary life” Ganske said.
Carolyn McDowall, The Culture Concept Circle, 2019

Albert Namatjira (1920 – 1959) South MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory
Cultural Attractions of Australia
Official Launch, 8 April 2019