Philanthropy
Supported organisation, Kurruru Indigenous Youth Performing Arts’ Nunga Circus performers in Soaring. Image courtesy Kurruru and Come Out Festival.
Investing in the arts can bring important social change.
Yet in Australia the arts receive a relatively small slice of donations.
Philanthropy is a valuable source of income for artists and cultural organisations; allowing new works to be created and more community programs to make a difference.
There are many ways individuals, foundations and trusts, corporations and arts organisations can benefit from cultural philanthropy.
Artsupport Australia
The Australia Council for the Arts established Artsupport Australia in 2003 to grow cultural philanthropy.
Artsupport Australia works with more than 500 arts organisations across Australia and have facilitated more than $35 million of philanthropic donations to artists and arts organisations.
The following artists and arts organisations are just some who are using their creativity to make a difference.
It is vital that more Aboriginal people are engaged in the administration work in Art Centres – a role that has been denied to them through poor education and lack of opportunity. The Desart Artworker Program seeks to train and employ 60 Aboriginal people over the next three years
Euraba Artists and Paper Company
Euraba is an Aboriginal owned arts centre specialising in artworks and products from hand made paper. Through art, paper making and community programs Euraba develop the skills, self esteem, knowledge and creativity of Aboriginal people in the Boggabilla and Toomelah communities.
Gadigal Information Service is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned and operated organisation that provides a one-stop-shop for those who want to pursue a career in the media and the arts.
At a time of unprecedented threat to Australia's Indigenous languages, philanthropic support would allow IAD Press begin producing audio and other digital language resources.
It’s a belief in “the power of black voices telling black stories” that has seen Ilbijerri become the longest surviving Indigenous theatre company in Australia.
Kurruru Indigenous Youth Performing Arts Inc
Kurruru Youth Performing Arts is recognised as Australia’s leading performing arts company for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
Magabala's aims reach beyond commercial publishing to a social mandate that sees them only publish titles by Indigenous creators, or with significant Indigenous input.
Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation
To ensure the Lardil and Kayadilt cultures of Mornington Island are preserved Mirndiyan Gunana are galvanising young people through dance and visual arts.
Tandanya is a place where artistic, cultural, ceremonial, historic, geographic and political information is communicated through visual arts, cultural presentations. festivals. special events and school and visitor programs.
Tjanpi, meaning ‘dry grass’, is a program working with Indigenous women to create meaningful employment in their homelands.
Yirra Yaakin (meaning 'stand tall' in Noongar language) exists to share Aboriginal stories. Over the last fifteen years the company has delivered 36 new works, employed over 500 Aboriginal theatre workers and reached more than 400,000 people as audiences and participants.
Artsupport Australia's web presence was developed with the generous support of the Westpac Foundation.
Features
- David Gonski's speech to FIA Conference, 2009
- Tax deductible donations by profession and postcode
- Ben Cameron. On the brink of a new chapter: Arts in the 21st Century.
- New Victoria Manager for Artsupport Australia
- Weathering the storm- fundraising in gloomy financial times
- New research into workplace giving
- Richard Radcliffe on why arts organisastions miss out on legacy donations
- Australia Council for the Arts submission to Treasury: Improving the integrity of Prescribed Private Funds
- The Westpac Foundation - moving Beyond Empathy