Press Centre

Media release From the Minister for Women's Affairs

Sunday, 4 March 2001

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S 'WEEK' LAUNCH

MINISTER LAUNCHES WEEK-LONG ACTIVITIES CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY WITH WOMEN ARTISTS' WEBSITE LAUNCH

The Minister for Women's Affairs, Ms Sherryl Garbutt, today launched the beginning of a week of activities around International Women's Day on March 8, with the launch of a women artists' website.

The website opens the door on the lives of five Victorian women artists of the turn-of-the-century Heidelberg School.

The artists were: Clara Southern, Jane Price, Jane Sutherland, May Vale and Elizabeth Parsons.

The launch was held at the Warrandyte Historical Society in the area where the artists lived and painted. The initiative is part of the Bracks Government's contribution to the celebration of International Women's Day.

The website, 'In the Artists' Footsteps', profiles the work, life and times of the artists of the Heidelberg School.

"While artists such as Sir Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, Walter Withers, Charles Conder and Frederick McCubbin, are household names, there has been little recognition of the women of the Heidelberg school," Ms Garbutt said.

"Women in art, as in every walk of life, have always struggled to have their work recognised and valued."

"Too often they have not received the rewards and the acknowledgment that their efforts deserved."

"These women were fine artists and struggled all their lives for professional recognition, not only for themselves but for all women artists. It is important that, in the year when we celebrate 100 years of Federation, we recognise the contribution that women have made in every sphere of life."

The website will provide a valuable resource and introduction to the work of these women for both students and the public.

It can be viewed at:

http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/WomenofHeidelbergSchool.htm

Media contact: Sally Gibson (03) 9651 5799 Mobile 0407 530 473 www.vic.gov.au

Left: Arthur Streeton - Above Us The Great Grave Sky, 1890
Collection: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.