News
NGV Italia Launched
The Italian Australian Foundation have entered into a new partnership with the NGV to present NGV Italia, a new three-year series of learning and community programs that celebrate the indelible contribution of Italian artists and designers to global and Australian history and culture.
Drawing inspiration from the NGV’s leading collection of Italian art and design, which spans from the early Renaissance period through to the twenty-first century, NGV Italia offers all audiences the chance to engage with Italian creativity, history, language and culture.
NGV Italia will introduce audiences to triumphant works by great eighteenth-century Venetian painters Tiepolo, Canaletto and Bellotto; Old Master drawings and prints; vibrantly colourful Venetian glass from the island of Murano; icons of Italian modernist design from the twentieth century, including Ettore Sottsass and Massimo Vignelli, through to contemporary practitioners.
‘NGV Italia, a collaboration between the Italian Australian Foundation and the National Gallery of Victoria, is best represented by GiambattistaTiepolo's monumental The Banquet of Cleopatra. This 18th Century painting by a Venetian artist made its long and circuitous journey to Australia and has now become a part of the story of the NGV, as one of the most famous works in the gallery’s collection. In many ways, the painting’s story mirrors the journey of the Italians who have migrated to Australia and are now an integral part of contemporary Australia. We are excited by this new three-year partnership, which will provide creative learning and social experiences, foster connections between the NGV and Victoria’s Italian community, including families, students, seniors and community groups.’ Rhonda Barro, President, IAF
‘The NGV Collection is home to rich stories of Italian art, culture and life, as told through art and objects spanning two millennia. Through this brand-new program, produced in collaboration with the Italian Australian Foundation, we are delighted to be introducing new audiences to Italian culture and language, as well as fostering deep and ongoing connections with our local Italian-Australian community.’ Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV
2023 Sir James Gobbo Legacy Fellowships Announced
The Italian Australian Foundation has shared a longstanding partnership with the International Specialised Skills Institute (ISSI) and over many years have supported over 20 fellows to travel to Italy and learn valuable skills.
The IAF and ISSI are pleased to announce the new 2023 Fellows: Thomas Lentini, Laura Galati and Katia Punaro. Also pictured is Bobby Corica (second from left) who received a 2022 Fellowship.
Thomas Lentini (furniture maker & designer)
Thomas is a bespoke furniture maker and designer specialising in solid timber dining tables. Thomas will travel to Italy and gain first hand experience from master makers to enhance and diversify his practice in timber. He will engage with specialist woodcarvers and furniture makers from the Lombardy and Tuscany regions. He will incorporate these skills within his practice and apply them to custom design pieces for clients, architects and designers. The Fellowship will also provide Thomas the opportunity to engage with the master marble workers of the Carrara region, and consider its applications within his furniture practice.
Laura Galati (fashion & knitwear designer)
Laura will undertake an immersive research trip to delve into the rich heritage of Italian knitwear design and production. The fellowship will provide her with the opportunity to visit leading knitwear design studios and manufacturers that are at the forefront of addressing critical fashion system issues. Through exploring traditional Italian craftsmanship, circular and material-driven design approaches and minimal waste production techniques she aims to enhance her local practice as a designer and maker. Laura intends to share her knowledge and engage the wider fashion community through collaboration, exhibitions, and education, with the ultimate aim of revitalising local industry practices.
Katia Punaro (genealogy researcher)
Katia is a librarian who teaches people how to trace their Italian ancestry. This Fellowship will allow her to connect with archivists, memory keepers and genealogists in Italy in order to better understand Italian vital record keeping and relay this information to the participants in her Italian family history workshops. She says “people driven to family history research are often seeking revelations about the self by understanding the lives/connections to those that came before them. When Italian Australians embark on this journey, it also sparks a re-connection with language, with history, with culture, and with family – hopefully leading towards an enlightened understanding of the self and their place in the world”. Image credit: Italian sailors on ship at Port Melbourne, 1938, State Library of Victoria.
IAF provides funding for two Italian Teacher’s Scholarships
Congratulations the winners of the 2024 Dante Alighieri Society Melbourne - Scholarships for teachers of Italian: Enrique Espinel (Galen Catholic College in Wangaratta) and Ellie Murphy (Hoppers Crossing Secondary College). Enrique and Ellie have shown deep commitment to Italian teaching in Victoria and the scholarships will make an important contribution to their teaching careers and have a lasting impact on their students and school communities.
“The Italian Australian Foundation is pleased to support this initiative for teachers, which will enable them to travel to Italy and study intensive Italian courses, form new networks and strengthen the ties between Australian and Italy. We are impressed by the calibre of teachers who applied and we are confident Enrique and Ellie will return to Australia with rich experiences that will greatly benefit their school communities.” – Rhonda Barro, President Italian Australian Foundation
“The Dante Alighieri Society in Melbourne exists to celebrate and promote Italian language, culture and literature. We are grateful to the Italian Australian Foundation for providing the financial support to enable these two important scholarships to be provided. This “training the trainer” program will provide many ripples of benefits in the years to come and I am confident it will provide unforgettable experiences for Ellie and Enrique and help strengthen the teaching of Italian in Australia.” – Dr Dominic Barbaro AO, President Dante Alighieri Society Melbourne
