On Thursday 24 June 2021, Her Excellency Gillian Bird, Australia’s Ambassador to France formally launched the Australian Government’s major public diplomacy program Australia now France 2021-22. With over 100 events in Paris and across France, the public is invited to dare to (re) discover Australia. 

After more than a year of remote collaboration, this event was an opportunity for the many partners of the program to finally meet. Partners included RATP, Kéolis, the French Ministry for Culture, the Paris townhall, Cinémathèque Française, BHV-Marais, Paris Aquarium, Théâtre national de Chaillot, Institut des cultures d’Islam, Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, Carreau du Temple, Palais de Tokyo, Cartier Foundation, Natural History Museum of Le Havre, the Antipodean Film Festival, Maison Antoine Vitez , Baika Magazine, and Tourism Australia.

Despite the COVID measures in place, the launch was a festive affair thanks to the exclusive showcase of French-Australian duo Maxwell Farrington and the Superhomard.

Two Australian photographers, whose works will be exhibited at the Embassy until 23 September 2021 were also featured and promoted their work during a digital media preview held earlier in the day:

• Petrina Hicks’ ethereal and surrealist portraits presented in Bleached Gothic, in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria.
• Andrew Vukosav’s fascinating landscapes in Longtitude | Latitude | Solitude.

On 5 July, two new cornerstones of the program will be launched :  Australia – A journey to the heart of the reef at the Paris Aquarium and Ozploitation retrospective at the Cinémathèque française.

Australian innovation, environment, fashion, lifestyle, performing arts, Indigenous culture, contemporary arts and sports can all be experienced until June 2022!