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Arthur Papadimitriou received the highest French award, Chevalier De Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, on the 20th April of 2006 by Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, Minister of Culture and Communication, for his contribution to French and Australian culture.

In 1994 Arthur Papadimitriou took his first professional job as a primary school teacher at Papunya, in remote NT. Arthur’s interest in indigenous art was stirred as he befriended some of the artists in the town, and as he learned more about the symbols, stories and meanings of the paintings, he began collecting artworks. These days, Arthur’s collection of Aboriginal art from the Central and Western desert regions is large, and his desire to share it has culminated in this exhibition, as well as a number of donations.

Arthur’s passion for Aboriginal art is matched by his generosity: he has donated seven works to Benalla Art Gallery over the past few years. These magnificent paintings form the core of Benalla’s burgeoning collection of indigenous art, much of which is also on display as part of ‘Connecting Collections’.

Benalla Art Gallery has acquired a number of major works by indigenous artists through donation and purchase. Through their fundraising efforts, the Friends of the Benalla Art Gallery have contributed four works by Aboriginal artists, including a magnificent Wandjina figure on bark and significant paintings by Emily Kngwarreye and Gloria Petyarre. Further donations have been made by private individuals, whose contributions cover a wide variety of Aboriginal art, and hence extend the capacity of Benalla Art Gallery to tell the story of Australia’s visual culture.

Also represented in the exhibition ‘Connecting Collections’ is the artwork donated by Arthur Papadimitriou to the Musée du Quai Branly, France’s new museum and study centre devoted to indigenous cultures of the world, scheduled to open its doors for the first time later this year. This is the first and last time the work will be publicly displayed in Australia before it is sent overseas, to become a significant component in the Musée’s display on Australian Aboriginal culture. The Cultural Counsellor from the Embassy of France in Australia, Monsieur Jean Poncet, will officially open this celebration of cultural connections.

On the 22nd June 2006, The Musee du Quai was officially open by Jacques Chirac and attending by figures such as Kofi Annan. Arthur Papadimitriou was an invited guest at the opening ceremonies, along with a delegation from the Benalla Art Gallery, with which Arthur Papadimitriou is a life member.

The Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development at the Victorian College of the Arts has an annual award titled “The Papadimitriou Inspirational Award” for students at the college.