Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01306:reg:83
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01306
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 83
Character Range: 136442–138531

83   Canberra Times, 14 September 1996; 22 December 1997, p. 10.

  The new extension was opened by Prime Minister Howard on 21 June 1999 and, at the same time, the Film and Sound Archive's name was changed to the National Screen and Sound Archive, which was abbreviated to ScreenSound Australia.

  Figure 30: ScreenSound Australia Logo, 1999 (NFSA 2018)

 A few years later, in 2003, the government decided to amalgamate ScreenSound with – or incorporate it into – the Australian Film Commission. The change occurred on 1 July when ScreenSound became a branch of the Commission, thus losing its independent status.  'Bitter controversy' and protests broke out late in the year and continued on into 2004 after the Film Commission produced a directions paper on the future of ScreenSound. The paper contemplated restructuring the organisation and, reportedly, reducing its staffing. The Commission apparently backed off with its plan, while in December of that year the name 'ScreenSound' was dropped and its former title, the National Film and Sound Archive, reinstated.84

 A new development occurred in August 2007 when the North Gallery was converted into a Cinema. It was officially opened by the Minister for the Arts, Senator George Brandis, as the Arc Cinema. It thereafter became a venue for screening old and/or rare films.

 At the beginning of July 2008, the National Film and Sound Archive was once again constituted as a statutory authority. On the occasion of the launch a smoking ceremony was held with local indigenous representatives.

 Another major change was the adaptation of the original theatre as a modern, state of the art lecture facility in 2013.

 In August 2018, after a break of five years, the NFSA recommenced exhibitions in the South Gallery and re-opened this area of the building to the public.

 Today the future spatial needs of the NFSA are being considered including the possibility of a move to its own purpose-built facility, possibly near other major cultural institutions.

Figure 31: NFSA Logos, 2007 – 2017 (NFSA 2018)