Belvoir 2012 Donor Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Belvoir 2012 Donor Report i Dear Friends Many stories were woven together to make In 2012, philanthropic giving contributed to Ralph’s second season as Artistic Director Belvoir’s various patron programs, including the CONTENTS another year of vibrant creativity. We collaborated B Keepers, Chair’s Group and Creative (I’m Your Man, Thyestes); broke barriers between Development Fund. Donors to our patron 1 Dear Friends theatre-dance art forms (Food, Conversation programs gain a unique insight into script and 2 Thank you from Ralph Piece); took classics to new heights (Death of a performance development, as well as life 3 Board of Directors Salesman, Private Lives); told true and compelling backstage. Through our events and activities we 5 The Andrew Cameron Family Foundation Indigenous stories (Beautiful One Day, Don’t Take aim to foster a connection both to the programs 6 Creative Development Your Love to Town); strengthened our audience our donors support, and to like-minded people 9 Indigenous Stories 11 The Balnaves Foundation connection with tours at home and beyond (The who share their passion for theatre. Book of Everything, The Wild Duck, Summer of 13 B Keepers I love stories that inspire, challenge and produce the Seventeenth Doll); and broke new ground 14 Hitting The Road strong emotions whether on stage, in a book or a 15 The Hive with The Balnaves Foundation Indigenous conversation. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first 17 Investing in Youth Playwright’s Award. year at Belvoir to see stories come to life and to 18 My Belvoir Experience 20 Belvoir Donors As a not-for-profit organisation, Belvoir relies on hear your individual stories of what motivates you the support of you, our donors, to supplement the to give and be in our theatre. income earned through subscriptions, ticket sales Enjoy this report – our news, latest developments and government support. Thus, our comparatively and some reflection on the last 12 months. You low ticket prices cover 50% of what it costs to have all played your part. bring our productions to stage. Whatever your reasons for giving, whether it is for our education programs for young people, providing community access or just enriching our cultural environment, these are important to all of us. Without your additional support, we would be unable to sustain the calibre of our programming and performances that we do. Retha Howard We are truly grateful for the support from all of Development Manager you. Each gift, large and small, is appreciated and helps Belvoir continue to create great theatre. Image opposite. Clockwise from top left: Harry Reuben, Magdalena Blackley, Kylie Doomadgee and Rachael Maza in rehearsals for Beautiful One Day. Photo: Heidrun Löhr ii 1 Thank you from Ralph Board of Directors Dispassionate aliens looking down on our planet and money making art, and who thrill in coming Belvoir’s Board of Directors come from a wide variety of careers and backgrounds. What they from above, watching and documenting our every along, again and again, and watching and share is a passion for great theatre, a desire to contribute to and inspire others, and an appetite move would be deeply puzzled by what we do listening to the works we make on our stages. for success. Our Board works tirelessly to create an environment conducive to delivering on here at Belvoir. The production of art in general Belvoir’s vision. They are our lead givers: of their time, contacts and money to support our And thank heaven there is a group among those would confuse them, but surely theatre would mission. We thought you’d like to meet the team behind the scenes: believers, a generous sub-set, who believe so really have them scratching their heads (assuming passionately in art, and the necessity of it in a city they had heads). ‘What are they doing spending like ours, that they give their hard-earned money Anne Britton Gail Hambly all that time and money,’ they would say to each to companies like Belvoir, to allow us to make the Member – HR sub-committee Deputy Chair, Member – Finance sub-committee other in alien-speak, ‘on something so ephemeral, theatre that we do. Andrew Cameron Brenna Hobson so fleeting and so peculiar? What a waste!’ Chair Executive Director & General Manager This report lays bare the generosity of those Horrible as it is to admit, there are beings here on Peter Carroll Ian Learmonth people and foundations. It’s been a great year earth – nay in our very city – who agree with those Member – Artistic sub-committee Member – Development sub-committee here at Belvoir. The generous donations detailed hard-headed aliens. Perhaps they are extra- Tracey Driver Ralph Myers in this report have made it possible. terrestrials, pretending to be human. Who knows. Member – Finance sub-committee Executive Director & Artistic Director But they’re out there. In numbers. But thankfully, Let’s not listen to the aliens. They’re wrong. I think Richard Evans Olivia Pascoe there are an equal number of people who what we do is of vital importance. Member – Development sub-committee Member – Development sub-committee understand exactly why we spend all this time Thank you. Ralph From left: Richard Evans, Peter Carroll, Ralph Myers, Brenna Hobson, Olivia Pascoe, Andrew Cameron, Tracey Driver, Anne Britton and Ian Learmonth. Absent: Gail Hambly. Photo: Brett Boardman 2 3 In 2012 we had four new additions to the Board. We asked them what inspired them to join the Belvoir family… The Andrew Cameron Tracey Driver Ian Learmonth (KPMG Audit Partner) (Social Ventures Australia) Family Foundation Despite being an accountant, I My first association with Belvoir like being around artistic was in the early 90s during the I have been interested in the visual and My wife Cathy and I make our financial endeavours and have been time of Richard Roxburgh’s performing arts all my life. I believe art enriches contributions to Belvoir through the Andrew passionate about the theatre Hamlet. I thought it was a great the society that we live in and allows personal, Cameron Family Foundation. Since its inception from childhood. I look forward to getting my space and producer of great shows. After spending human stories to be told that resonate widely in 2005, the Foundation has disbursed grants to young children started in the theatre. It’s 15 years living overseas in London and Asia, with audiences. My personal interest and the arts sector totalling more than $2.5million. important to have some philanthropic involvement working in investment banking, I came back to mission is about ‘enabling’ – projects to start, In 2013, the Foundation is supporting the because it rounds you out as a person. I enjoy Australia wanting to be a part of the theatre scene. I tours to happen – especially where they may Creative Development Fund, the Downstairs being involved and giving back to local felt I could make a great contribution to Belvoir by not otherwise occur. I do this by contributing Theatre production of Small and Tired and community and the arts because they are being on the Board and lending my skills and funds where I can or through using my skills some of Belvoir’s international touring. important to society. Being on the board and contacts. I’m really passionate about this theatre. Its and connections. the finance sub-committee, I would say that our uniqueness comes from playing to both mainstream Belvoir is unique in the Australian performing funds are effectively used and are quite and adventurous theatre goers. If you’re in a position My association with Belvoir began initially as a arts landscape for its distinctive culture of considered in how they are spent. to donate, it’s important to support the artistic subscriber over 20 years ago, although I recall creative risk-taking. It’s very rewarding to be institutions that create Australian works – to keep coming to Belvoir and Nimrod before that when able to support Belvoir in such adventurous Richard Evans the Australian creative writing spirit alive and well. I was a student at Sydney University. More theatre making and storytelling. (CEO BridgeClimb) recently I have been a B Keeper, then a Creative Olivia Pascoe Development Fund supporter and Building I grew up in a musical family (Consultant) Donor. My involvement with the Board began and have worked in the arts my with the redevelopment of the theatre and entire career. I’ve admired For anyone who’s had the refurbishment of the warehouse. During that Belvoir for many years – for me pleasure of immersing in the time I chaired the Belvoir Street Theatre Board Andrew Cameron is currently Executive it has been perhaps the most important theatre Belvoir world, they come away that undertook the building works. It was hugely Chairman of a group of privately owned company in Australia. It was the voice of knowing how exceptionally satisfying to witness the transformation of companies with interests in engineering, Australian playwriting long before there was a special and progressive a theatre company it is. Belvoir once we had the new buildings and wholesaling and distribution, private Sydney Theatre Company, and who can forget For me, Belvoir’s artistic edge, playful re- functions – theatres, rehearsal and warehouse investment and winegrowing. In addition he the many remarkable productions mounted over imagining of works, and commitment to emerging space – all on one site. I was appointed to the is Deputy Chair of the Biennale of Sydney, the years. Becoming a Board member is my way artists, stood out. It was an experience and Belvoir Board in 2007 and as Chair in 2011. Board member of the Art Gallery of NSW of having a deeper association.