Official opening of 'Where Nature and Civilisation Meet'

The Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Assistant Minister of State, Ms Jennifer Howard MP; Queensland State Chairman of KPMG, Mr Michael Hiller; Access Arts CEO, Ms Pat Swell, and members of Access Arts Board; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for such a warm and enthusiastic welcome this evening.

It is an honour to be with you as we mark Disability Action Week by launching two wonderful initiatives – the 2018 KPMG exhibition and the Access Arts Achievement Award.

After 35 busy and highly rewarding years, Access Arts continues to thrive, thanks in no small part to the dedicated team I gratefully acknowledge here this evening as your proud Patron.

I also congratulate KPMG and Access Arts on their ongoing commitment to this annual exhibition.

And, of course, I thank Peter Vance – a Life Member of Access Arts – for the extraordinary generosity he has shown in again supporting the Access Arts Achievement Award in 2018. 

This is the sixth year of the artists’ exhibition at KPMG, which will be displayed for three months and be seen by about 15,000 people – a tremendous achievement!

For 2018 the theme is, Where Nature and Civilisation Meet, which has no doubt inspired some highly imaginative interpretations that we are all eager to see.

Last year a remarkable 70 per cent of the artists’ work was sold at the private viewing, so let’s see if we can break that record this year. 

Now in its fifth year, the Access Arts Achievement Award has proved enormously successful for its past recipients, all of whom have taken the opportunity to generate works of immense power and creativity.  

I am in no doubt that this year’s award-winner – whomever they may be – will be keen to do the same.

I certainly don’t need to tell you what a very special service Access Arts provides. 

Creativity, in all its manifestations, has the power to transform lives and give voice to the seemingly voiceless.

In embracing both this exhibition and award, we celebrate the work of those whose voices are now heard – loud, clear and thoroughly original – thanks to their individual courage and the support of this outstanding organisation.

And so it is now, with the greatest of pride and pleasure, that I declare the exhibition, Where Nature and Civilisation Meet, officially open.

Thank you.