The United Kingdom continues to play host to a wide and diverse range of Australian arts companies as a part of the two-year Undergrowth program.

Undergrowth is an initiative of the Australian Arts Council and included over 20 major Australian arts events touring the UK as part of the Australian Arts UK 2005 program. Further events are also scheduled for 2006.

The program has been designed to demonstrate the standard and diversity offered by Australian artists and art companies within all major art forms, including performing and visual arts, literature and film. One of the features of the program is The Touring Australian Film Festival which finished last week after presenting 15 of Australia’s most recent feature films.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer explained that Undergrowth presents some of Australia’s most celebrated arts companies and artists. “Many are making substantial inroads into key international markets, like the UK. The strategy is to increase demand for Australian contemporary work by building strong and effective relationships with key international festival directors, venue programmers, curators, promoters and presenters.’

Australian arts are being showcased at some of the country’s most prestigious venues and festivals. The Australian Ballet will take the stage in July at the Millenium Centre, Cardiff and the Coliseum, London with the critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning production of Swan Lake, choreographed by Graeme Murphy.

The Goldner String Quartet which will also tour in July, performing at the Lichfield Festival.

The Victoria and Albert Museum, London will be host to Object, an exhibition from the Australian Center for Craft and Design which will run from September to December. Director Steven Pozel said: “Over the years Object has continued to encourage the creative flow between Australia and the UK to deepen the understanding of Australia’s excellence in the area of design.”

The two-year program of Underground includes a program design which has already attracted sell out audiences, following the highly successful tours by Australian Dance Theatre and Legs on the Wall at Brighton earlier this year.

Australia Council CEO Jennifer Bott said: “Australian artists and companies have been consistently winning praise in the UK… The time is right for us to build on this interest in Australian work to ensure long-term artistic engagement for our artists in the UK and in Europe more broadly.”