This month I have the pleasure of informing our membership of a wonderful new reciprocal agreement between the Friends and Musica Viva Australia. For those not familiar with it, Musica Viva Australia is the world’s largest entrepreneur of fine ensemble music, presenting each year around 2500 concerts across Australia and around the world. Our agreement with Musica Viva means that members of the Friends will receive 10 per cent off the price of regular tickets for the 2003 season, commencing in January, simply by showing their membership card or quoting their number. In return, Musica Viva subscribers will receive the Friends benefit of a 10 per cent discount at the National Library Bookshop. This agreement adds significant value to 2003 Friends memberships, with the discount applying to exciting concerts by some of the world’s leading exponents of classical music, chamber music, a capella, experimental jazz and much more! §§§ A reminder to Friends not to miss the special preview screening of Black and White in the National Library’s Theatre on 22 October. As I mentioned in last month’s news, this superb film opened the 2002 Sydney Film Festival, and was extremely well received. This special preview will be shown prior to the film’s season commencement in Canberra, so come and be amongst the first in town to see what it’s all about, and to enjoy our hospitality afterwards in the Library foyer. §§§ Last year the Friends membership set a very generous benchmark by donating $25 000 to the Library’s Treasures Gallery Fund. The aim of the Fund is to enable the National Library to create a dedicated area for the display of its own great treasures. All donations collected at Friends events for which there is no entry fee are now directed to the Treasures Gallery Fund. Ten per cent of all entry fees at Friends functions for which there is a charge are also directed to the Fund. In addition, provision exists for Friends to make significant personal contributions should they feel so inclined. Please contact me at the Friends office for details. §§§ To close, I’d like to let interested Friends know about The Black Sheep of Borroloola: An Afternoon Conversation with Nicholas Jose and John Thompson. On Saturday November 2, these two well-known authors will give a free talk in the Friends Lounge exploring themes of family, heritage, the land and belonging in discussing Nicholas’s new book Black Sheep: Journey to Borroloola (2002). This should be a lively afternoon with two prominent literary identities. James Halligan |
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