_2012/13 Sydney Opera House Annual Report Celebrating 40 years in 2013 2012/13 Contents 3 Letter to Minister 3 Our History 3 Who We Are 4 Our Mission 5 Elements of Our Strategy 5 Our Values 6 Highlights 7 Awards 8 Chairman’ s Message 10 CEO ’s Message 12 Element 1: Our Stakeholders 14 Element 2: The Building 16 Element 3: Performing Arts 16 Presenting Companies 20 The Opera House Presents 24 Element 4: Visitor Experience 26 Element 5: Our Business Agility 27 Organisation Chart 28 Corporate Governance 30 Trust Members 34 People and Culture 38 Financial Overview 41 Financial Statements 74 Government Reporting 97 Donor Acknowledgement 101 Contact Information 102 Index Cover Image 103 Corporate Partners Sydney Opera House opened in 1973 and celebrates its 40th Anniversary in the 2013 year. 3 Our History Who We Are _1957 _2004 Sydney Opera House is a global icon, the most internationally recognised symbol of Australia and one of the great buildings Jørn Utzon wins Sydney Utzon Room opened – of the world. Opera House design first venue at Sydney competition. Opera House designed We are committed to continuing the legacy of Utzon’s creative by Jørn Utzon. genius by creating, producing and presenting the most acclaimed, imaginative and engaging performing arts experiences from Australia _1959 Recording Studio and around the world: onsite, offsite and online. Work begins on opened. Stage 1 – building the We are one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres, with seven primary performance venues in use nearly every day of the foundations. _2005 year. In 2012/13, 1,895 live performances were enjoyed by more than National Heritage 1.37 million people. _1966 Listing achieved. Sydney Opera House is a core part of the national cultural fabric and Jørn Utzon resigns. an important piece of tourism infrastructure. More than 8.2 million _2006 people from Australia and around the world visit Sydney Opera _1973 Colonnade opened by House each year and 310,000 people take part in guided tours. A 2008 report to the Commonwealth Government (Economic Activity First guided tours of HM Queen Elizabeth II of Australia’s World Heritage Areas) estimated Sydney Opera House Sydney Opera House. – designed by Jørn Utzon, it is the first contributes $758.4m in direct and indirect household income and First performance in change to the exterior 12,165 direct and indirect jobs to the Commonwealth. Sydney Opera House of the building since its We are also a community symbol that unites Australians from all – Australian Opera completion in 1973. geographic, cultural and socio–economic backgrounds. Nationwide Prokofiev’sWar and research has shown that 95% of Australians, wherever they live, Peace in the Opera see Sydney Opera House as a national icon and a source of Theatre. _2007 national pride. UNESCO World Opening Ceremony Heritage Listing. We are a commercially run organisation that generates 85% of its and Royal Concert with operational funding through commercial and other ventures (food HM Queen Elizabeth II and beverage, ticket sales, venue rentals and associated business, and HRH the Duke of _2009 retail, tourism, and fundraising). The 15% balance of operating funding Edinburgh. Western Foyers fully comes from the NSW State Government Endowment, which also refurbished. funds the maintenance of the Sydney Opera House building. _1979 In July 2007, Sydney Opera House was inscribed on the World Concert Hall Grand _2010 Heritage list by UNESCO as a “masterpiece of human creative Organ completed. New food and beverage genius”. Importantly, our commitment to leadership in performance precinct opens on and creativity goes hand in hand with our responsibility to look after _1999 Lower Concourse level. this great building – to uphold its beauty and integrity but also to maintain it as a living, working space. Opening of The Studio venue. _2011 We have a responsibility to resident companies (Sydney Symphony Vehicle Access and Orchestra, Opera Australia, Sydney Theatre Company, The Jørn Utzon is Australian Ballet, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Bangarra re-engaged as design Pedestrian Safety project commenced. Dance Theatre), artists, audiences and the community to ensure consultant to the that this process of renewal and rejuvenation is consistent with Sydney Opera House. our role of cultural adventurer. _2013 _2002 40th Anniversary Sydney Opera House celebrations. The Hon. George Souris MP Utzon Design Principles MINISTER FOR THE ARTS published. We have the pleasure of presenting the Annual Report of the Sydney Opera House for the year ended 30 June 2013, for presentation to _2003 Parliament. This report has been prepared in accordance with the Sydney Opera House provisions of the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 and Conservation Plan (3rd the Public Audit and Finance Act 1983. Edition) published. State Heritage Listing achieved. KIM WILLIAMS AM LOUISE HERRON AM CHAIRMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2012/13 Our Mission The Sydney Opera House embodies beauty, _We will treasure inspiration and and renew the Opera House for future the liberating generations of artists, audiences and power of art visitors. _Everything we and ideas. It is a do will engage and inspire people through masterpiece that its excellence, ambition and breadth. We will belongs to all strengthen our central role in Australia’s life Australians. and identity. 5 Elements of Our Strategy _1 _4 Our Our Visitor Essential Stakeholders Experiences Values Achieving our mission requires People love coming to the greater engagement with Opera House. It is a special _Collaboration key stakeholders, including meeting place and an essential our customers and resident part of a visit to Australia. We We will work companies, government, want visitors and locals to together with a private and corporate increasingly see it as the heart shared purpose supporters, commercial of Sydney. and vision. partners, staff and the broader public. Strong, mutually We will offer a wide range of _Focus beneficial relationships are compelling reasons to come crucial if the Opera House is more often, to stay longer We will not to continue to evolve. and to enjoy the Opera House deviate from more. It will be vibrant day and night, inside and outside. our mission. _2 We will learn The Building _5 from experience. As custodians we will do the Our People and _Safety building justice, honouring Business Agility the Utzon design principles, Underlying its standing as one of the We need the best and most everything world’s pre-eminent works of appropriate people and architecture and performing systems to deliver our mission. we do is our arts venues. To do this, we will We will focus on long–term commitment to work to conserve and renew growth, underpinned by sound work safely. the building, preparing it for financial management and future generations of artists, cost-effective delivery of _Community audiences and visitors. services and we will actively We will be manage risk and safety. _3 generous Performing of spirit and Arts welcoming. The Opera House is charged _Creativity with the development and We work with promotion of artistic taste and achievement and the imagination. encouragement of innovation. The Opera House represents the peak of artistic ambition, yet is grounded in a uniquely Australian egalitarianism. As we steam into our fifth decade, we will ensure the Opera House remains a vibrant cultural landmark attracting, engaging and inspiring ever more people. 220012/12/1313 Highlights _1 _3 Our Stakeholders Performing Arts New donor group – the Idealists – 1,378,445 people attended 1,895 launched (p.13) performances – an increase of 1% in attendance and 4.8% in New corporate sponsorships with performances (p.16) Samsung Electronics Australia and Etihad Airways (p.13) 684,394 people attended 704 resident arts company Their Royal Highnesses Crown performances (p.17) Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark agreed to be Patrons 452,957 people attended 888 of the Opera House’s 40th The Opera House Presents Anniversary (p.13) performances (p. 21) New disability Access Strategic Attendance at Vivid Live in 2013 was Plan launched (p.13) the highest in the five-year life of the festival (p.21) _2 The Building _4 Visitor Experiences NSW Government announced funding of $13.7 million (2014-15) to develop a New food and beverage options capital works master plan (p.15) available (p.25) The Vehicle Access and Pedestrian 313,107 people took a guided tour – Safety project progressed while the an increase of 1.9% (p.25) site remained fully operational (p.15) New tours increased site activation Significant maintenance projects during themed festivals and Chinese completed (p.15) New Year (p.25) Safety projects totalling _5 $1 million implemented (p.15) Our People and The Opera House was chosen to be Business Agility part of the international Scottish Ten digital conservation project (p.15) New Enterprise Strategy endorsed by the Trust (p.35) New health and safety initiatives introduced (p.35) 40 training and development programs attended by 1,627 staff members (p.35) Operating revenues increased by $4.7 million or 5% (p.38) 7 Awards Sydney Design Awards 2012 Winner – Product Design – Business and Technology for Stage Management Desk Opera Bar – Winner of Australian Traveller 2012 Readers’ Choice Award for best bar Guillaume at Bennelong – Two Hats Restaurant and Excellent Wine List by The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2013 Helpmann Awards for programs and performers – Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Bangarra Dance Theatre and The Opera House Presents Stephen Page – NAIDOC Artist of the Year Australian Chamber Orchestra – 2012 Surf Culture Award – The Reef Gold Australasian Annual Reporting Award 2013 Deafness Forum’s Entertainment, Cinema & the Arts Captioning Award Vision Australia Award Precinct_Jamie Williams 2012/13 Chairman’s Message Financial and Operating Australia has a still-nascent Performance experience and approach to There were 1,895 performances managing major buildings – in staged at the Sydney Opera this case a World Heritage House this year, an increase listed one – with a view to of 4.8% over the prior year.