House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Art Gallery of South Australia Art Gallery of South Australia The Hon. S.W. KEY House of Assembly Ashford Art Gallery of South Australia The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:53): My question is directed to the Minister for the Arts. How is the Art Gallery of South Australia working to make Adelaide a more vibrant city? The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly Playford Minister for Health Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister for the Arts Minister for Health Industries Art Gallery of South Australia The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:54): I thank the member for Ashford for her question and, in particular, acknowledge her personal commitment to our cultural sector. The Art Gallery of South Australia is a fine example of how traditional art spaces can maintain relevance in a contemporary society. We all know people are becoming increasingly time poor. It is important that, as with the business community, our arts institutions look at how they can be more accessible outside of the traditional nine to five. The Art Gallery has over the last few years trialled opening late for special exhibitions, and I am pleased to inform the house it has been so well received that I recently had the privilege of joining with Art Gallery Director, Nick Mitzevich, and Petrina Coventry, Vice President of Santos, a great South Australian firm which is well regarded on this side of the house. If only it had bipartisan support, but nonetheless used to have bipartisan support, but certainly is well loved on this side of the house. I joined Petrina Coventry, Vice President of Santos, to launch First Fridays. First Fridays will see the gallery stay open from 5pm to 9pm on the first Friday of every month. This will give the public more opportunity to see exhibitions and displays in the gallery's permanent collection, as well as twilight tours with guest speakers and other entertainment. While I was at the launch of First Fridays I had the privilege of viewing the Fashion Icons exhibition. Exclusive to Adelaide, the magnificent fashion— Mr Marshall interjecting: The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Sorry? Mr Marshall House of Assembly Mr Marshall: It doesn't show! The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Oh, come on, don't be so rough, Basil! Exclusive to Adelaide, the magnificent Fashion Icons represents a rare opportunity for Australian audiences to experience French fashion from the 1940s to the present day. Fashion Icons has been drawn from the most comprehensive collection of French fashion in the world at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs— Members interjecting: The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Thank you, I have been practising that, I have been listening—and on behalf of the government, I would like to put on record— The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting: The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Museum for Decorative Arts, I understand is the English translation. On behalf of the government, I would like to put on the record the government's sincere gratitude to Olivier Gabet, the Director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, for allowing this iconic collection to tour to Australia, and our thanks to Nick and the staff at the gallery for bringing this incredible exhibition to our state. Not only does Fashion Icons allow the people of South Australia to experience a little bit of Paris but their own gallery will no doubt draw an interstate crowd creating an economic return for our state. Fashion Icons is on show until 15 February. I encourage everyone to view this iconic exhibition and, of course, support one of our best cultural institutions, the South Australian Art Gallery. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is slipping.