Acclaimed film director Peter Weir will announce the establishment of a new $25,000 art award in honour of Anne Landa on 11 February 2004 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Initiated by her daughter Sophie Landa and Edmund Capon, the award will be an exciting addition to the country's contemporary arts calendar. Anne Landa, who passed away in 2002, was a trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The award will acknowledge Anne's exceptional support of the visual arts in Australia.

"Anne was a woman of great passion, energy and courage. This Award will honour a truly remarkable Australian who was a great supporter of the arts in this country," said Edmund Capon, Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
 

The late Anne Landa

The Award will be part of a biennial curated exhibition of innovative film, video, and photomedia. It will also be the first acquisitive award in Australia to focus on this area of practice. One work will then be selected to enter the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

The inaugural exhibition is to be curated by Wayne Tunnicliffe, Curator of Contemporary Australian Art.

Apart from her commitment to the Art Gallery New South Wales, Anne was co-ordinator of the Landa scholarship for young pianists, a member of the committee of the Sydney piano competition, an advisory council member for the College of Fine Arts and a director of Greater Union.

"Anne was a very important part of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, her influence going way beyond just that of a Trustee. We welcome the establishment of the award in her name as it will perpetuate an association between our Gallery and Anne, sadly not in person but in spirit," said Mr David Gonski AO, President, Board of Trustees, Art Gallery of New South Wales.

The inaugural Anne Landa Award exhibition will open at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in November 2004.

Further information 
Jan Batten Press Office 
Telephone (02) 9225 1791 or 0418 279 348
janb@ag.nsw.gov.au