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C ' II
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PRIME MINISTER,\, 4I
CHECK AGAINST nrELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELITVPRY
SPEECH FOR THE PRIME MINISTER
OPENING OF NOMURA COURT
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL GALLERY
CANBERRA 27 MARCH 1991
This function marks a very significant date in the
development of the Australian National Gallery: the opening
of Nomura Court, the permanent home for the Gallery's
magnificent collection of Asian art.
Nomura Court has been made possible by a generous donation
to the ANG Foundation by Nomura Securities Company Ltd, one
of the world's leading investment banks.
want to express, on behalf of the Australian National
Gallery, the Australian Government and the Australian
people, our collective and heartfelt gratitude for this
superb gift : by Nomura.
In particular I want to thank the President of Nomura
Securities, Mr Tabuchi, who has travelled from Japan to be
here for this opening, for his generous support and
encouragement for this venture.
It needs to be emphasised that the gift by Nomura is the
largest single donation ever made to the ANG and the only
donation to ' be made for a construction project.
As a result of this unprecedented generosity, Australians
will for the first time be able adequately to appreciate the
Gallery's Asian art collection a collection that has been
assembled over a number of years, and which is still
. growing,-but-which. has so far-either been in storage or
dispersed in displays elsewhere in the Gallery.
With this consolidated and coherent display area, an
exciting future lies ahead for Asian art at the ANG.
Nomura Court, and the collection it now holds, demonstrate
in a tangible way Australia's growing involvement in the
Asia-Pacific region, our increasing enmeshment in the
dynamic economies of the region, and our determination to
strengthen the links between, and our understanding of, the
peoples and cultures of the region.
The ANG itself is working to establish closer links of
co-operation and exchange with other national cultural
institutions in the region.
At the same time, Nomura Court testifies to the depth and
strength of the relationship between Australia and Japan,
reflecting the close and enduring links between our two
countries and the confidence with which we look forward to
the future as constructive partners and friends.
Australia's relationship with Japan has long been
underscored by the strength of our trade and commercial
ties. Japan is by far Australia's largest trading partner,
taking over 25% of our exports.
But our relationship is a much richer and more diverse one
than this. Australia and Japan are becoming closer as
countries because Australians and Japanese are becoming
closer as people.
In 1990 more visitors came to Australia from Japan than from
any other country and by the year 2000 it is estimated
that a million and a half Japanese visitors will come each
year to Australia.
So it is very heartening, and very proper, that we should
see here in the Australian National Gallery this proof of
the deep and diverse friendship between Australia and Japan.
In every respect this new gallery accords with the ANG's
goal of providing greater access for all Australians to a
world class national collection, and to do so on the basis
of secure and broad based financial support.
The Federal Government, of course, has been the major
financial supporter of the ANG from its earliest days well
before the opening of this building in 1982 to its
operation today as a nationally and internationally renowned
art institution.
We will continue to play our part in the ANG's future.
At the same time there is an ever-present need for the
private sector to play a role in supporting our national
. cultural-. institutions, including the ANG, for the benefit of
the whole community.
The Nomura donation is a magnificent example of the kind of
support which the private sector can provide and as art
prices and other costs rise, this sponsorship will become
even more necessary.
Let me in closing congratulate everyone involved in the
Nomura Court project here at the Gallery; the professional
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work of the entire ANG staff, led by Betty Churcher, is
readily apparent tonight.
In particular, let me pay tribute to the Council of the ANG,
and not least to its former Chairman, Gough Whitlam, whose
long-held desire, and long-sustained efforts, on behalf of
this project are today brought to a triumphant conclusion.
It now gives me much pleasure to declare Nomura Court open.