Leo Schofield AM named as new Patron of Island magazine

Island Magazine Chair Dr Polly McGee www.islandmag.com ABC pic of Leo Schofield

Australian advertising, restaurant critic, arts industry and festival director luminary Leo
Schofield AM was named as Tasmania’s literary publication Island Magazine’s new patron
yesterday.

Mr Schofield spoke at the launch of edition #134 of the magazine of his passion for
Tasmania, as well as the need to continue to be in dialogue with a global audience who were
captivated by Tasmania’s exotic and diverse arts scene.

“Island is an impressive publication. Content, design and the range of ideas expressed
therein are outstanding by any standards. It will be my mission to make it more widely know,
better appreciated and an influential voice for the arts and culture not only in Tasmania but
also for all of Australia, and even beyond.”

Island Magazine Chair Dr Polly McGee welcomed Mr Schofield’s commitment to be patron to
the Magazine, and spoke of a new era in arts organisation management that was market
driven, for a publication which was more than a magazine, and aimed to be a cultural voice
for Tasmania.

“The days of total funding dependency for arts organisations are over – that message was
very clear when Island lost funding support two years ago and had to radically revision a
market driven product that had the capacity to grow revenue and become sustainable.

“We have taken a long hard look at the place of Island in the literary magazine landscape,
and how we can integrate new forms of media, new audiences, new revenue streams and
new collaborations. Having someone of the calibre of Leo as our patron offers support,
mentoring and networks to Island to help us deliver our new vision,” she said.

Island Magazine releases four editions a year, as well as partnering with UTAS’ Inglis Clarke
Centre to produce four editions of ‘The Tasmania Papers’ in 2013.