Aussie org fetes 20 years of cultural and economic partnership
Variety
By Malina Saval
G’day USA, an American-based cultural and economic diplomacy program fostering creative and entrepreneurial partnerships between artists in Australia and the United States, will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Jan. 28 with a starry gala at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
John Berry, president of the American Australian Assn. and retired U.S. ambassador to Australia under President Barack Obama, calls G’day USA “Australia’s premier public, economic and cultural diplomacy program in the United States.”
“Launched by the Australian government 20 years ago, G’day USA has deepened the relationship between two great allies and showcased Australia’s creative and innovative economy by bringing together the best of government, business and non-profit sectors,” Berry says. “The highlight of course is the annual G’day USA Arts Gala in Los Angeles that honors the very best of Australian talent.”
Funds raised at the G’day USA Arts Gala support scholarships from the American Australian Assn. to emerging artists studying in each other’s country, with a special emphasis on Native American and Indigenous artists. Per Erin Gray, senior VP business engagement, partnerships & development at the American Australian Assn., $1.6 million in scholarships was awarded by the org just in 2022, and over the past 20 years, more than 570 scholarships have been given out.
R&B singer Mi-kaisha, a recipient of the 2019 American Australian Assn. Indigenous arts scholarship, will perform at this year’s fete, along with Australian musical artist G Flip. Additionally, the gala will honor three prominent Australian artists: Sydney-born supermodel-entrepreneur Miranda Kerr, honored with the Excellence in the Arts award; “Avatar: The Way of Water” star Sam Worthington, who will receive the Excellence in Film & Television award; and 19-year-old rapper the Kid Laroi, who will be honored with the award for Excellence in Music.
Aussie singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem will top off the evening with a special tribute to legendary Grammy-winner Olivia Newton-john, who passed away in August after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
“From the very beginning, she was involved with the program,” says Berry. “We honored her, but she would regularly come and she would regularly perform, even if she wasn’t being honored. And she would always be so gracious to whoever was winning that year. She was just such a bright light in the room.”
But while Australia has made vast contributions to the entertainment world — from Nicolas Roeg’s groundbreaking 1971 film “Walkabout” to the 1994 comedy juggernaut “Muriel’s Wedding” — the G’day gala is more than a celebration of performing talent.
Per Graeme Mason, CEO of Screen Australia, the event is “a wonderful opportunity to showcase just how much Australia has to offer both on and off screen.”
“Australia and the U.S. have long had an extremely successful cultural, creative and commercial relationship & collaboration,” adds Mason. “We’re committed to deepening the creative and cultural connection with our American colleagues and fostering this valuable partnership for the future and see G’day as a great part of that.”
It was during his tenure as ambassador and throughout the course of his current position that Berry has come to “appreciate just how profound the relationship is” between Australia and the United States — culturally and politically.
“There’s only one ally who has fought with [the United States] in every major military engagement since World War I — and that’s Australia,” Berry says. “It is an alliance of values. It is an alliance that’s been sealed in blood. And it is an alliance that is vibrant today, in its economic engagement as well, in that America is the largest investor in Australia, with over $2 trillion of economic activity between the two nations.”
TIPSHEET WHAT: WHEN: WHERE:
G’day USA Arts Gala 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles gdayusa.org
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