Gallery director gets glamorous gong

ART Gallery of Western Australia director Alan Dodge has been awarded France’s Order of Arts and Letter, a decoration that recognises artists, writers and other individuals who have contributed significantly to the arts in France.

French Ambassador to Australia Patrick Hénault said the award was recognition for the significant role Mr Dodge had played in the promotion of the arts in Australia and, through that, the promotion of French culture.

Mr Dodge labelled the gallery’s Monet and Japan exhibition as a highpoint of his work in organising major touring French exhibitions.

The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres was established in 1957 and is awarded twice annually to just a few hundred individuals world wide.

Past recipients include Paul Auster, Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.