4 September 2008

Melbourne set for Winter Masterpieces double in 2009

Melbourne is set for a blockbuster 2009 with A Day in Pompeii spending winter at Melbourne Museum and Salvador Dali: Liquid Desire coming to the National Gallery of Victoria. 

In a real coup for Victoria both of these exhibitions will feature in the successful Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series.  Premier John Brumby said the two exhibitions are set to raise the bar again, confirming the series as one of the cornerstones of Victoria’s major events calendar.

Since starting in 2004, more than 1.1 million people have attended the arts-cultural series with over 25 per cent of visitors coming from interstate or overseas.  It’s estimated that the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces has injected more than $80 million into the Victorian economy. 

Salvador Dali: Liquid Desire is drawn from the holdings of the two largest collections of Dali in the world, the Fundacio Gala – Savador Dali in Figueres in Spain and the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Florida.  The exhibition includes more than 200 works – paintings, drawings, sculpture, fashion, jewellery, cinema and photography. 

A Day in Pompeii is an exhibition depicting the daily life of one of the world's most extraordinary cities: Pompeii.  The exhibition takes visitors back in time to experience life and death in this cosmopolitan city.  It features hundreds of exceptional objects that laid buried in Pompeii’s ruins for over 17 centuries including room-size frescoes, marble and bronze sculptures, jewellery, gold coins and everyday household items – all of which evoke the richness and culture of daily life in the Roman Empire’s favourite vacation resort.

The National Gallery of Victoria, Museum Victoria, the Victorian Major Events Company, Arts Victoria and Tourism Victoria have worked together to secure these latest exhibitions for Melbourne.

The 2008 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Art Deco: 1910-1939, is currently running at the National Gallery of Victoria until 5 October 2008.

A Day in Pompeii will be on display at Melbourne Museum from 26 June to 11 October 2009. For further information, visit museumvictoria.com.au.

Salvador Dali: Liquid Desire will open at the National Gallery of Victoria on 13 June, 2009 and run until 4 October, 2009.  For further information visit ngv.vic.gov.au

Victorian wildlife better protected

Whales, dolphins and seals in Victorian waters will be better protected through amendments to the Wildlife Act passed in Victorian Parliament recently.

The modernisation of this legislation aims to improve the way we manage these species which is crucial for their future and the future of the tourism industry that depends on them. 

Some of the key amendments to the Act include:

• The introduction of a permit system for commercial air-based whale tourism operators;
• Increasing permit lengths for whale and tourism operators to a maximum of 10 years to give business greater certainty; providing improved protection for seals in Victorian waters; and
• improving arrangements for the protection of whales in emergency situations.

These new management measures will ensure that marine mammal tourism provides opportunities for people to view and enjoy these magnificent animals, without jeopardising their long-term survival.

Reducing disturbances to whales, dolphins and seals in sensitive areas will help to improve their protection and improve their presence in Victorian waters for generations to come. 

For more information visit http://www.dse.vic.gov.au 

 
Melbourne named a city of literature

Australia and Victoria’s literary scene has received a resounding endorsement with the announcement by the United Nations that Melbourne has been named a City of Literature and joins UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.

Melbourne joins Edinburgh as a City of Literature and now sits alongside other cities in the network including Berlin, Buenos Aires and Montreal as Cities of Design and Bologna and Seville as Cities of Music. 

In addition to the UNESCO designation, the initiative includes support for the expansion of the Melbourne Writers’ Festival, enhanced Premier’s Literary Awards and the establishment of the Centre for Books, Reading and Ideas which will begin construction at the State Library of Victoria later this year. 

The Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas will be an Australian first.  The Centre will ensure that the role and profile of literature in Victoria will continue to grow. 

The UNESCO bid was part of the State Government’s City of Literature Initiative, announced in the 2007-2008 State Budget, which aims to increase the profile of literature in Victoria. 

Japanese horses out of spring

Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) has received official notification from Bio-security Australia that they will not allow Japanese horses entered for this year’s Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival to travel directly to Australia.

Since the outbreak of Equine Influenza last year the pre and post arrival quarantine protocols have been strengthened. 

“We are working through all the issues that have the potential to affect the participation of international horses in our carnival,” said Racing Victoria Chief Executive Officer Rob Hines.

“We’re obviously very disappointed that an arrangement couldn’t be reached which would have seen 2006 Emirates Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues and runner-up Pop Rock return to Melbourne for the Spring Racing Carnival.”

The next step for the Victorian Tourism Awards

Entries have now been received for the Melbourne Airport 2008 Victorian Tourism Awards. Congratulations to all businesses who submitted an entry.  A list of entrants will be available on the awards website from early September. Visit victoriantourismawards.com.au for up-to-date information on everything awards.

Now that submissions are in, it’s time to think about the fun part of the awards - the Presentation and Gala Dinner.

Mark Monday 17 November in your diaries and keep an eye open for your invitation in the mail this month. Tickets sell fast for the biggest tourism industry event of the year, so make sure you get your booking in early.

For the latest Awards news click here.

Destination Melbourne’s new address

Destination Melbourne has relocated into the heart of Melbourne.  This move heralds a new chapter for the organisation and they are delighted to be closer to their city customers.  Their new location is 290 Collins Street, next door to the Block Arcade.

Destination Melbourne is also revamping their website to make it more user friendly for the industry.  Visitors will find concise information on how best to access tourism marketing program and get connected within the industry.  Visit destinationmelbourne.com.au

Travellers aid returns to Flinders Street station

Tourist will now have access to travel and tourism information at one of Melbourne’s most iconic and historically rich centrepieces with the opening of a Travellers Aid Centre at Flinders Street Station. 

The new Flinders Street Station facility will be staffed from 8.00am to 8.00pm Sunday to Thursday and from 8.00am to 10.00pm Friday to Saturday. 

Services provided by Travellers Aid at Flinders Street Station include travel and tourist information, personal care and support, parental needs and internet access.

This service is located within the ticketed barrier area of Flinders Street Station and offers a comfortable lounge, amenities, rest area, and practical assistance to the travelling public, through a number of services.

Victorian venues and personalities take out top honours

Close to 20 venues and industry personalities have taken out top honours at the Hotel Motel & Accommodation Association (HMAA) Victoria Awards for Excellence. 

The awards recognise the outstanding contribution made to the industry by businesses and individuals who work to achieve a standard of excellence within the accommodation sector.

Congratulations to the following HMAA award winners: