Chile’s Division of Culture recently hosted a series of Cultural Council meetings in Australia during late April, in a move designed to unite Chilean artists and artsworkers living in Australia and re-establish links with their country of origin.

Following a similar initiative which took place in Sweden in May 2001, thousands of Chileans met in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide to discuss cultural co-operation, dual nationality, the right to vote and Chile’s Law of Reconciliation.

The Chilean delegation holding the council meetings was led by Division of Culture Chief, Claudio di Girolamo. Additional activities included the inauguration of an exhibition of Chilean Plastic Artists in Sydney and the launch of a new international literary prize, the Pablo Neruda Literary Competition, amid the final days meetings in Adelaide.

The delegation of Chile’s Division of Culture is set to return to Santiago on 2 May.