AGP Executive Report

Documentary Funding: Screen Australia has backed 47 documentaries with over $5.7 million, including “Saving Tuvalu,” an Australian/German co-production highlighting Tuvalu’s community-led response to climate change. Pasifika Arts & Leadership: A Hawke’s Bay academy run through Mapu Maia is helping young Pasifika build leadership and wellbeing while preserving languages, dance, performance, and identity, culminating in a packed annual concert. Voyaging Culture: The Moananuiākea Voyage by Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia has been postponed for Fiji and Tuvalu due to unsafe weather conditions, with plans potentially pushed to May 2027 to protect crews and allow meaningful community visits. Travel Policy (Arts-adjacent): Australia’s Transit Without Visa list for 2026 names 70 eligible nationalities, shaping how easier airport connections may affect regional travel and cultural exchange.

Documentary Funding: Screen Australia has backed 47 documentaries with over $5.7 million, including “Saving Tuvalu,” an Australian/German co-production spotlighting Tuvalu’s community-led response to climate change. Pasifika Arts & Leadership: A Pasifika youth academy in Hawke’s Bay is expanding fast, training young leaders through language, dance, performance, and wellbeing, culminating in a packed annual concert. Voyaging Culture: The Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia canoes have postponed their Fiji and Tuvalu engagements due to unsafe weather conditions, with plans potentially pushed to May 2027. Travel Policy (Arts-adjacent): Australia’s Transit Without Visa list for 2026 names 70 eligible nationalities, shaping how easily visitors can connect via Australian airports on the way to third destinations.

Documentary Funding: Screen Australia has approved over $5.7 million for 47 documentaries and development projects, including “Saving Tuvalu,” an Australian/German co-production on Tuvalu’s climate-change response through community-led storytelling, alongside titles like “Bondi” and disability-focused “Stella: I Am Not Your Inspiration.” Pasifika Leadership & Performance: In Hawke’s Bay, the Bay academy (run via Mapu Maia) is credited with building confidence and leadership among young Pasifika over 16 weeks, blending wellbeing with language, culture, dance, and performance; its annual concert drew a large crowd to celebrate that growth. Voyaging Culture: The Moananuiākea Voyage by Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia has been postponed for Fiji and Tuvalu due to unsafe weather conditions, with crews prioritizing safety and planning meaningful community visits for later, potentially until May 2027.

Documentary Funding: Screen Australia has backed 47 documentaries with over $5.7 million, including “Saving Tuvalu,” an Australian/German co-production spotlighting Tuvalu’s climate-change response through community-led storytelling, alongside titles like “Bondi” and disability-focused “Stella: I Am Not Your Inspiration.” Pasifika Arts & Leadership: In Hawke’s Bay, the Bay academy (via Mapu Maia) is helping young Pasifika build leadership and wellbeing while preserving languages, dance, performance, and identity; its annual concert drew a packed crowd of about 1,200. Voyaging Culture: The Moananuiākea Voyage’s canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia have postponed their planned Fiji and Tuvalu engagements due to unsafe weather conditions, with visits potentially pushed to May 2027. Travel Policy (Arts-adjacent): Australia’s Transit Without Visa list for 2026 names 70 eligible nationalities, with strict transit conditions for airport connections.

Voyaging Update: Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia have been forced to postpone their planned sail to Fiji and Tuvalu after cold fronts and gale-force winds made the route unsafe and left too little time for the voyage’s community-focused engagements; the Polynesian Voyaging Society says the visits may move to as late as May 2027, with crew and canoe safety first. Travel Policy Watch: Australia has published its 2026 Transit Without Visa list, allowing eligible travellers to transit through Australian airports without a visa if they meet strict conditions like holding an onward ticket departing within eight hours. Global Awards Transcript: A full transcript from the 2026 Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards highlights four leaders honored for efforts aimed at improving the world’s conditions, with remarks reflecting the shifting international landscape.

Voyaging Update: Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia have been forced to postpone their Moananuiākea Voyage stops in Fiji and Tuvalu after cold fronts and gale-force winds made the planned sailings unsafe and too tight for meaningful community visits; the Polynesian Voyaging Society says the canoes and crews come first, with the visits potentially pushed to May 2027. Travel Policy Watch: Australia has published its Transit Without Visa list for 2026, naming 70 eligible nationalities and setting strict rules for airside transit (including an onward flight within eight hours and no need to clear immigration). Global Spotlight: A full transcript from the 2026 Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards highlights four leaders being honored for efforts aimed at improving the state of the world.

Travel & Mobility: Australia has published its Transit Without Visa (TWOV) list for 2026, allowing eligible travellers to connect through Australian airports on the way to a third country without a visa—if they arrive by air, hold a confirmed onward ticket, and depart within eight hours, with rules tied to specific travel documents and passport categories. Global Awards & Public Life: A full transcript from the 2026 Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards highlights four leaders being honored for efforts aimed at improving the state of the world. Arts & Entertainment: AUSA’s latest graphic novel, “Medal of Honor: Eddie Rickenbacker,” turns the WWII-era Pacific survival story of the famed pilot into a new entertainment format, spotlighting the 24 days adrift and the morale behind the mission.

Global Citizen Awards Transcript: The Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards featured remarks warning that the world has moved beyond “complacency,” as power shifts and post–World War II institutions no longer match today’s geopolitical reality. Pacific Survival Story: A new AUSA graphic novel, “Medal of Honor: Eddie Rickenbacker,” revisits the WWII-era ordeal of the World War I flying ace who survived 24 days adrift after a B-17D ditched in the Pacific while en route to deliver a message to Gen. Douglas MacArthur—an arts-and-entertainment spotlight on military history and endurance.

Arts & Diplomacy: A full transcript from the Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards dinner features John F.W. Rogers urging the world to move beyond complacency as the international system shifts and power becomes more distributed. Graphic Novel Spotlight: A story on World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker recounts his 24 days adrift in the Pacific and notes that the Association of the United States Army’s latest graphic novel, “Medal of Honor: Eddie Rickenbacker,” draws from his ordeal. Creative Awards Watch: The International ANDY Awards named Chris Beresford-Hill as Global Jury Chair for 2027 and announced regional jury chairs across six territories, with free-to-enter competitions spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, LATAM, the Pacific and SWANA.

Global Awards & Arts Diplomacy: The Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards transcript spotlights leaders urging action amid shifting global power, with speakers stressing the end of complacency and the transformation of post–World War II institutions. Military History Meets Storytelling: A feature on Eddie Rickenbacker recounts his 24 days at sea after a 1942 B-17D ditching, framing his survival as the inspiration for the AUSA graphic novel “Medal of Honor: Eddie Rickenbacker.” Creative Industry Spotlight: The International ANDY Awards named Chris Beresford-Hill (BBDO) as Global Jury Chair for 2027 and announced regional jury chairs across Africa, Asia, Europe, LATAM, the Pacific, and SWANA, with free-to-enter regional competitions feeding into the global stage.

Global Citizen Awards: The Atlantic Council’s Global Citizen Awards transcript spotlights leaders pushing back against complacency as the international system shifts and power spreads. Graphic Novel & Military Storytelling: AUSA’s latest graphic novel, “Medal of Honor: Eddie Rickenbacker,” revisits the famed aviator’s 24 days adrift after a 1942 Pacific ditching, turning survival and low-morale struggle into entertainment. Creative Industry Spotlight: The International ANDY Awards named Chris Beresford-Hill (BBDO) as Global Jury Chair for 2027 and announced regional jury chairs across Africa, Asia, Europe, LATAM, the Pacific, and SWANA, with free-to-enter regional competitions. Climate Justice & Public Speech: Coverage ahead of Nepal PM Balen Shah’s UNGA address frames climate justice around recent flooding and glacier collapse, urging broader focus beyond compensation.

International Awards & Creative Industry: The International ANDY Awards has named Chris Beresford-Hill (BBDO) as Global Jury Chair for 2027, and selected creative leaders to chair free-to-enter regional juries across Africa, Asia, Europe, LATAM, the Pacific and SWANA—keeping the focus on idea and craft through its Idea, Craft, Reset and Bravery judging lenses. Arts & Storytelling (Military History): A new graphic novel, “Medal of Honor: Eddie Rickenbacker,” draws on the real-life ordeal of World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker, who survived 24 days at sea after a B-17D ditching in the Pacific—an adventure now retold for modern readers. Global Stage (Arts-adjacent Policy): A transcript from the Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards event highlights leaders arguing the international system is shifting, with power more distributed—setting a backdrop for how major public speeches are framing today’s global challenges.

Pacific Arts & Heritage: The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center reopens this weekend in Laguna Beach, reopening its “time capsule” of surf history with old boards, cameras, and exhibits tracing how surfing shaped culture, fashion, film, and music. Creative Awards: The International ANDY Awards named Chris Beresford-Hill (BBDO) as Global Jury Chair for 2027 and announced regional jury chairs across Africa, Asia, Europe, LATAM, the Pacific, and SWANA for free-to-enter competitions. Music, Film & Storytelling: A new AUSA graphic novel, “Medal of Honor: Eddie Rickenbacker,” spotlights the World War I ace’s 24 days adrift in the Pacific—an adventure that’s also being framed as a survival story for modern audiences. Sports on Screen: Global TV listings circulated for Newcastle United v Hull City, with viewers directed to local channels for the Saturday 3pm UK kick-off. Ocean Conservation (Culture Meets Nature): National Geographic Pristine Seas begins an expedition in Tokelau to map nearshore reefs, offshore, and deep-sea environments, supporting future marine protection plans and a National Ocean Policy.

Arts & Culture: The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center has reopened in Laguna Beach, unveiling a “time capsule” of surf history—from wooden boards and vintage cameras to exhibits linking surfing with culture, fashion, film, and music—marking a 30-year journey to its new oceanfront home. Creative Industry: The International ANDY Awards named Chris Beresford-Hill (BBDO) as Global Jury Chair for 2027 and announced regional jury leaders across Africa, Asia, Europe, LATAM, the Pacific, and SWANA, with free-to-enter regional competitions feeding into the global stage. Music, Film & Storytelling: A new AUSA graphic novel, “Medal of Honor: Eddie Rickenbacker,” draws on the World War I ace’s 24 days adrift at sea, turning his survival story into a visual narrative. Ocean Heritage & Conservation: National Geographic Pristine Seas begins an expedition in Tokelau to map nearshore reefs, offshore, and deep-sea environments, supporting future marine protection plans and a National Ocean Policy. Sports Entertainment: Global TV listings are out for Newcastle United v Hull City, with local viewing options highlighted for a Saturday 3pm (UK) kick-off.

Global Citizen Awards: The Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards transcript spotlights leaders pushing to improve the state of the world, with speakers arguing the international system has shifted and complacency is no longer an option. Creative Industry Spotlight: The International ANDY Awards named Chris Beresford-Hill as Global Jury Chair for 2027 and announced regional jury chairs across Africa, Asia, Europe, LATAM, the Pacific and SWANA, with free-to-enter regional competitions. Surf Culture & Heritage: The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center reopens in Laguna Beach with a new home, featuring historic boards, vintage fashion and film/music ties, plus a ribbon-cutting and Hawaiian blessing. Pacific Ocean Conservation: National Geographic Pristine Seas begins an expedition in Tokelau to map nearshore reefs, offshore and deep-sea environments, supporting future ocean policy and marine protection. Arts, Storytelling & Survival: AUSA’s latest graphic novel centers on WWI ace Eddie Rickenbacker’s 24 days at sea, linking military history to modern visual storytelling.

Surf Culture Spotlight: Surfing Heritage and Culture Center has reopened in Laguna Beach with a new home packed with vintage boards, old cameras, and displays tracing surfing’s impact on culture, fashion, film, and music—marked by a ribbon-cutting and traditional Hawaiian blessing. Pacific Ocean Conservation: National Geographic Pristine Seas begins an expedition in Tokelau to map nearshore reefs, offshore zones, and deep-sea environments, aiming to guide future protection areas, a National Ocean Policy, and marine spatial planning. Creative Awards Update: The International ANDY Awards named Chris Beresford-Hill (BBDO) as Global Jury Chair for 2027 and announced regional jury chairs across Africa, Asia, Europe, LATAM, the Pacific, and SWANA, with free-to-enter regional competitions. Arts & Storytelling (WWII): AUSA’s latest graphic novel, “Medal of Honor: Eddie Rickenbacker,” draws on the World War I ace’s 24 days adrift in the Pacific after a B-17D ditching. Global TV Listings: Newcastle United vs Hull City is set for a 3pm UK kick-off, with international channel options listed for viewers worldwide. Climate Justice at UNGA: Nepal’s PM is expected to frame UNGA remarks around climate justice, focusing on disaster impacts and the science linking warming to glacier collapse and flooding. Pacific Geopolitics: New Zealand and Australia’s balancing act with China is examined as trade stays strong but political ties strain, with new defense-linked partnerships shaping Pacific options.