SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 2014 His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark during the Sydney Opera House 40th Anniversary celebrations in 2013. (Photographer: Prudence Upton) ¯04 Our History ¯05 Who We Are ¯05 Letter to Minister ¯06 Our Mission ¯07 Elements of Our Strategy ¯07 Our Essential Values ¯08 Highlights ¯08 Awards ¯09 Our 40th Anniversary ¯10 Chairman’s Message ¯12 CEO’s Message ¯14 Element 1: Our Stakeholders ¯18 Element 2: The Building ¯21 Element 3: Performing Arts ¯21 Resident Companies ¯23 Artistic Partners ¯25 Sydney Opera House Presents ¯28 Element 4: Visitor Experiences ¯30 Element 5: Our People and Business Agility ¯30 Organisation Chart ¯31 Corporate Governance ¯33 Trust Members CONTENTS ¯36 People and Culture ¯40 Financial Overview ¯43 Sydney Opera House Trust Financial Statements ¯90 Sydney Opera House Trust Staff Agency Financial Statements ¯111 Government Reporting ¯135 Our Donors ¯143 Contact Information ¯145 Index ¯147 Our Partners OUR HISTORY 2014 ¯ Renewal planning begins ¯ 40th Anniversary celebrations 2013 ¯ The by-invitation group of supporters the Idealists formed 2011 ¯ Vehicle Access and Pedestrian Safety 1973 ¯ Prokofiev's War and Peace project starts by The Australian Opera is our first performance ¯ UNESCO World 2007 ¯ Opening Ceremony Heritage listing and Royal Concert with HM Queen Elizabeth II 2005 ¯ National Heritage listing and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh ¯ Utzon Room opened, 2004 ¯ Jørn Utzon resigns the only completely 1966 Jørn Utzon-designed venue at the Opera House 1959 ¯ Work begins on Stage 1 of Sydney Opera House – the foundations 1999 ¯ Jørn Utzon re-engaged as design consultant to the 1957 ¯ Jørn Utzon wins Sydney Opera House Opera House design competition 1954 ¯ The Hon. JJ Cahill, Premier of NSW, convenes a conference to discuss the establishment of an opera house in Sydney 4 For the full Sydney Opera House history, visit sydneyoperahouse.com/the_building_history_heritage “THIS S TATE CANNOT GO ON WITHOUT Together, we combine to provide rich PROPER FACILITIES FOR THE experiences of theatre, opera, contemporary and classical music, dance, Indigenous arts, EXPRESSION OF TALENT AND THE talks and children’s programming. STAGING OF THE HIGHEST FORMS OF In addition, the Opera House has an active ARTISTIC ENTERTAINMENT WHICH and growing online presence with a ADD GRACE AND CHARM TO LIVING Facebook reach estimated at 135 million. AND WHICH HELP TO DEVELOP Increasingly, the digital realm is the Opera House’s eighth stage. AND MOULD A BETTER, MORE In his 1954 speech to a conference ENLIGHTENED COMMUNITY...” convened to discuss “the question of THE HON. JJ CAHILL, 1954 the establishment of an opera house in Sydney”, Joe Cahill said it should be “a credit to the State not only today but WHO The Sydney Opera House was, from the start, a also for hundreds of years”. collective act of dreaming in public. It was brought WE “If we in our lifetime did nothing more to life by people who believed in the power of than express our love of the arts by imagination, inspiration and creativity to help mould providing a building worthy of them, even ARE a better, more enlightened nation, in the then NSW when names are forgotten, the building Premier Joe Cahill’s words. will always remain as a testimony to what It took all of us to realise that dream: visionaries and was done in the year 1954 by a group of pragmatists, politicians and architects, engineers, citizens for the encouragement of talent and artists and, fundamentally, the people of Australia. culture,” he said. Forty years after opening its doors, the Opera House Those words seem particularly prescient as has become the symbol of modern Australia. It we enter our decade of renewal to prepare encapsulates our dreams and ambitions as a nation the Opera House for future generations and represents this country to the world. of artists, audiences and visitors. Our A report by Deloitte Access Economics underlines the responsibility is twofold: to preserve the extraordinary return on investment reaped from the integrity and beauty of this architectural vision and boldness of successive generations and marvel and to take advantage of 21st- governments. century technology to ensure the living creature within the sails is as vibrant as The report, released in October 2013 as part of our possible. 40th Anniversary celebrations, valued the Opera House at $4.6 billion. It contributes $775 million each These twin strands are inseparable – the year to the economy through its activities and as a outside and the inside, the great urban tourist attraction, and supports more than 8,400 full- sculpture and the art within, reverence for time equivalent jobs. the past and ambition for the future, the $4.6 billion asset and the icon whose worth The Opera House generates 86% of its operational is incalculable. This is who we are. funding through ticket sales, food and beverage, venue rental, retail, tourism and fundraising. The NSW Government provides the remaining 14% and also funds the building’s maintenance. Since 2007, the Opera House has been formally recognised as a “masterpiece of human creative genius” and “a great urban sculpture set in a remarkable waterscape”, to quote UNESCO’s World Heritage listing. It is the youngest cultural site to be THE HON. TROY GRANT MP so honoured. MINISTER FOR THE ARTS The building draws more than eight million people a year to Bennelong Point, part of traditional Gadigal We have the pleasure of presenting the Annual Report of the land and named after Woollarawarre Bennelong Sydney Opera House for the year ended 30 June 2014 for (c 1784-1813). But the Opera House is much more presentation to Parliament. This report has been prepared in than a giant work of art. It is one of the world’s accordance with the provisions of the Annual Reports (Statutory busiest performing arts centres, presenting about Bodies) Act 1984 and the Public Audit and Finance Act 1983. 1,700 performances attended by 1.4 million people a year. It is the proud home to seven flagship resident companies – Australian Chamber Orchestra, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Bell Shakespeare, Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Theatre JOHN SYMOND AM LOUISE HERRON AM Company and The Australian Ballet. It also has its own CHAIRMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER programming arm, Sydney Opera House Presents, and hosts a wide range of other presenters. 5 THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE EMBODIES BEAUTY, INSPIRATION AND THE LIBERATING OUR POWER OF ART MISSION AND IDEAS. IT IS A MASTERPIECE THAT BELONGS TO ALL AUSTRALIANS. WE WILL TREASURE AND RENEW THE OPERA HOUSE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ARTISTS, AUDIENCES AND VISITORS. EVERYTHING WE DO WILL ENGAGE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE THROUGH ITS EXCELLENCE, AMBITION AND BREADTH. WE WILL STRENGTHEN OUR CENTRAL ROLE IN AUSTRALIA’S LIFE AND IDENTITY. 6 OUR STAKEHOLDERS VISITOR EXPERIENCES 01 Achieving our mission requires 04 People love coming to the Opera greater engagement with House. It is a special meeting key stakeholders, including place and an essential part of a our customers and Resident visit to Australia. We want visitors Companies, government, private and locals to increasingly see it and corporate supporters, as the heart of Sydney. We will commercial partners, staff and the offer a wide range of compelling broader public. Strong, mutually reasons to come more often, to beneficial relationships stay longer and to enjoy the Opera are crucial if the Opera House is House more. It will be vibrant day to continue to evolve. and night, inside and outside. THE BUILDING OUR PEOPLE AND 02 As custodians we will do the 05 BUSINESS AGILITY building justice, honouring the We need the best and most Utzon Design Principles and its appropriate people and systems standing as one of the world’s to deliver our mission. We will pre-eminent works of architecture focus on long-term growth, and performing arts venues. To underpinned by sound financial do this, we will work to conserve management and cost-effective and renew the building, preparing delivery of services and we will it for future generations of artists, actively manage risk and safety. audiences and visitors. PERFORMING ARTS 03 The Opera House is charged with the development and promotion of artistic taste and achievement and the encouragement of innovation. The Opera House ELEMENTS OF represents the peak of artistic ambition, yet is grounded in a OUR STRATEGY 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. OUR ¯ COLLABORATION We will work together ESSENTIAL with a shared purpose VALUES and vision. ¯ FOCUS We will not deviate from our mission. We will learn from experience. ¯ SAFETY Underlying everything we do is our commitment to work safely. ¯ COMMUNITY We will be generous of spirit and welcoming. ¯ CREATIVITY We work with imagination. 7 HIGHLIGHTS 01 OUR STAKEHOLDERS 40th Anniversary enriched existing relationships and inspired new partnerships (p.14) Deloitte Access Economics report valued the Opera House at $4.6 billion (p.14) Corporate sponsorship increased 57% and private giving increased 28% (p.14) New Reconciliation Action Plan launched (p.16) 02 THE BUILDING Building renewal planning commenced (p.18) Vehicle Access and Pedestrian Safety project excavation completed and good progress made on underground loading dock (p.18) $8.5 million Stage Management System delivered (p.18) AWARDS