Hon. Sandra Nori MP - Introduction

There is a law inscribed in the constitution of the Regione Liguria that entitles people of Ligurian descent living abroad - migrants - to a small annual stipend. In the past the NSW branch of the Ligurian Association has used this small annual stipend to organize outings and dinners for the community of Ligurians migrants in NSW.

As the Ligurians migrant community grows older, the committee made the decision to look for activities that would include young people, most of them from second and third generation background.

To attract the interest of those generations who don't have a memory of either the country of their forbears or the emigrant experience, Carmen Lavezzari proposed an annual art exhibition to the committee of the Ligurian Association. And so with their support and encouragement 'Artist on Norton' opened for its first year in 1999.

As the Ligurian migrant community has become increasingly assimilated into 21st century Australia, 'Artists on Norton' has been expanded to include the work of any artist of Italian background.

One way to remind the succeeding generations of their ethnic roots is through language and culture. So an artist painting, sculpturing, taking photos, will often find, consciously or unconsciously, much of themselves in their work. Whether their work reflects their distinctive Italian-Australian heritage will be for other to judge. But I do know that any artist, who explores their heritage through their work, will discover a rich vein of inspiration.

Despite the small size of the NSW Ligurian Association, their work has traveled far. I was pleasantly surprised when I met Carmen Lavezzari at the Genova Città della Cultura 2004. I was even more surprised to discover that she had traveled there with work of 12 Italo-Australian artists, some 366 kilos of art! And I am proud to say, that the NSW Ligurian Association was the only foreign body with the initiative to actually bring some art to Genova. I am sure that they will be taking much more art in the coming years.

This is the seventh year of 'Artists on Norton' and while each year is a struggle to find the financial backing, the generous spirit and hard work of the committee has ensured that this event continues to be a success. I look forward to its continue presence in the halls of Parliament.

Hon. Sandra Nori MP
Minister for Tourism and Sport and Recreation,
Minister for Women, and Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development>