POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Concert for Holly poster

Object No. 2008/185/22

This poster has significance as a record of music in youth culture around the turn of the 21st century. It helps to illustrate how poster art was used to communicate information to a mass audience about rock music performers and specifically to promote concerts and CDs. The Concert for Holly was organised after a brain tumour claimed the life of Holly Robinson, the 27-year-old daughter of television producer Ted Robinson and the principal of Mullinars casting agency, Ann Robinson. Holly passed away before she could stage a benefit to raise money for cancer research and treatment at St Vincent's Hospital. The concert was broadcast as a telethon on Network Ten on 3 August 2003. Most of the entertainers who took part had known Holly. Ted Robinson has produced and directed outstanding comedy and variety on Australian television, including 'The Aunty Jack Show', 'The Big Gig', 'Good News Week' and 'The Glasshouse'. Coming from a collection of posters that Peta Wilcox accumulated through her extensive contacts in the music business, this poster helps to document the work of the Australian Rock Company (ARC), which Wilcox established in 1984 as a not-for-profit cultural organisation, to develop cultural activities for young people. The ARC has promoted general access performances by professional Australian rock music artists, often in isolated suburban and regional centres that are deprived of cultural activities for youth. Since the 1980s the ARC has presented up to 500 shows and workshops, many for under 18s and all-age audiences, providing entertainment that is both contemporary and relevant. These have taken place in community venues around the country, in association with schools, community groups and local councils. Wilcox worked with a public-spirited, entrepreneurial passion to create entertainment opportunities for young people and to generate gigs for local bands. The ARC's initiatives developed leisure activities for young people in a non-alcohol environment. This has helped many young music fans experience the excitement of rock 'n' roll concerts without the presence of alcohol as a signifier of cultural status. Peter Cox Curator May 2008