Sydney’s arts and cultural community gathered at our Consul General’s Residence last week to say farewell to outgoing British Council Director Nick Marchand.
The British Council do a fantastic job as the UK’s organization for international cultural relations. They support the third pillar of our relationship with Australia – people to people links – alongside the close political and economic ties we enjoy. When I headed the FCO’s Public Diplomacy Department in London a few years ago, I oversaw our relationship with the Council, including the grant in aid which is currently around £170 million a year.
Nick’s four years as Director here produced some notable successes. He devised and orchestrated the GREAT Britain Arts 13 Festival last year, which brought together a wide range of events, from the Francis Bacon exhibition to a National Theatre Company tour. He has also worked closely with indigenous cultural and creative leaders, through the Accelerate programme, which has taken a number of up and coming practitioners to broaden their experience in the UK.
As a former theatre producer, Nick brought to the role a combination of passion and the ability to get things done. He has strengthened the Council’s local partnerships, not just with the High Commission and associated British bodies, but also with the private sector and with a wide suite of local organisations. These skills will be put to good use in his new role as Director of the British Council’s Art programme in China.
Fortunately we have found an excellent successor for Nick. The new British Council Director in Australia is Helen O’Neill. Helen has an impressive pedigree in the Australian arts scene. Most recently she was senior adviser to the Australian Arts Minister; she was previously Executive Director of the Australian Major Performing Arts Group and the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and Chair of the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals. We look forward to working together.