“Australians take New York City by storm”
This month’s visiting Australians add to a wealthy community of expats dwelling and dealing completely within the Large Apple who’re making waves in theatre, music, visible arts, pictures, structure, meals, movie and design.
“They’re making an incredible impact for Australia. But we’re not wearing Australian flags around our necks,” says Gantner.
Vallejo Gantner, 50, is the brand new inventive and government director of PS21, a up to date efficiency centre in upstate New York.Credit score: Ashley Gilbertson
“It is not people jumping up and down chanting, ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’,” Gantner says. “It is actually people who are wanting to come to New York and test themselves and their creative mettle ’gainst one of the most challenging and hard cities to make it in the world.”
Gantner now splits his time between town and Chatham, a city in upstate New York close to the capital, Albany, the place he was final month appointed inventive and government director of PS21, a up to date arts area on a 100-acre website removed from the bustle of Broadway.
The 50-year-old is planning a winter program that takes some inspiration from the success of Hobart’s Darkish Mofo: “Thinking of ways of embracing the cold and embracing the dark”. Hobart, he says, exhibits how artwork can drive not solely financial exercise however new concepts about how a metropolis, even a comparatively small one, defines itself.
The lighting of the Empire State Constructing in inexperienced and gold was sponsored by the Nice Barrier Reef Basis and the Australian Consulate-Common in New York. Consul Common Heather Ridout stated it celebrated not solely Minogue however the many Australians contributing to artwork music and tradition within the metropolis.
Kylie Minogue and Australian Consul Common Heather Ridout on the Empire State Constructing lighting ceremony.Credit score: John Nacion/Getty Pictures for Empire State Realty Belief
“These are some of the biggest events in New York’s arts calendar this year, and Australia is front and centre in all of them,” Ridout informed this masthead.
Casting her eyes across the ceremony, Minogue stated: “I feel like everyone’s shining in their individual ways and that’s what I love to feel and see around me.”
In a metropolis recognized for sturdy opinions, not everybody was swept up in Empire State Constructing occasion. “I had no idea and to be honest, couldn’t care less,” Gantner stated. “That is not how we advance a case that Australia is a culturally significant, vibrant, exciting place to live and work and make your way.”
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In a whirlwind go to, Minogue additionally attended the premiere of George Clooney’s Broadway debut, Good Evening, and Good Luck alongside Hugh Jackman, Uma Thurman, Jennifer Lopez and Pierce Brosnan.
Her two live shows have been successfully necessary for the 1000’s of Australians dwelling in New York. Kip Williams, who left the STC final yr after eight years as inventive director, attended and posted pictures with the celebrity within the inexperienced room.
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