State Theatre Company of South Australia

'Philanthropy mentoring means we're taking risks that are paying off. It's easier to be courageous when you know there's someone supporting you.' Irene Jones, development consultant, State Theatre Company of South Australia.

The State Theatre Company of South Australia (STCSA) is a member of the Australia Council’s major performing arts board and in 2005 was invited to participate in Artsupport Australia’s philanthropy mentoring program for MPAB companies. This program has helped STCSA to more than double their philanthropic funding in the first two years of their mentorship, including receiving their first major bequest.

Their mentor Mary Jo Capps, general manager of Musica Viva has assisted STCSA to develop donor materials, establish a philanthropy sub-committee and engage staff and their board in their aims.

In 2006, the STCSA premiered a new Australian work at the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Honk If You Are Jesus, by the South Australian writer, Dr Peter Goldsworthy. As part of its fundraising strategy a new support membership group 'Doctors in Theatre' was launched and was instrumental in raising the money to bring a major new work to the stage. Following this very successful campaign, STCSA was able to rely solely on philanthropic support for the fundraising component for their 2007 production of Hamlet. 'Doctors in Theatre’ supported the production, major individual donors supported Cameron Goodall’s performance as the troubled Prince of Denmark and a special committee formed to coordinate a Shakespearian banquet that raised $50,000.