Australia's largest presentation of contemporary art in the UK, Undergrowth - Australia UK, was launched by the Hon John Howard MP, Prime Minister of Australia, at a reception in London to coincide with the London premiere of Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake by The Australian Ballet. Undergrowth is a two-year program of Australian contemporary arts in the UK, that will see more than 20 world-class Australian contemporary arts companies appearing at the UK's most prestigious venues and festivals during 2005 and 2006.

Global Local, the popularly acclaimed exhibition of contemporary Australian design, is being presented as part of the Undergrowth festival. Global Local reflects the distinctive qualities and idiosyncrasies of Australian design, presenting the personal stories of 12 contemporary Australian designers working in various media including glass, fashion, furniture and jewellery.

Engaging with issues of cultural diversity, enhanced mobility and global connectivity, Global Local was developed by Object in response to the contemporary British design exhibition, Import Export. The exhibitions were presented concurrently in Sydney in early 2005, and will be reunited at London's Victoria & Albert Museum in September 2005.

Global Local features the creative talents of acclaimed furniture designers Berto Pandolfo and Johan Larsson; impressive fashion and textile newcomer High Tea with Mrs Woo (preview); internationally renowned glass artist Emma Varga; jewellers Mari Funaki and Joungmee Do; and innovative product designer Simon Lloyd.

Object Design Exhibition Global Local will be showing at the V&A Museum from 20 September until 4 December, 2005

Undergrowth - Australian Arts UK is an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This project is a two-year Australian contemporary arts promotion program in the United Kingdom in 2005 and 2006.