Creative Partnership Awards to celebrate leaders who support for the arts

Creative Partnerships Australia have announced details of their 2018 Awards, designed to celebrate leaders who encourage private sector support for the arts.

Creative Partnerships Chief Executive Fiona Menzies said the people awarded across the four categories - Arts Leadership, Business Leadership, Emerging Philanthropist, and Philanthropy Leadership - do more than just give money.

She explains “these people are highly engaged in the art forms they support. I think it is only of benefit to the arts community if they have people who want to engage with them at that really deep level.”

Creative Partnerships Australia is inviting people who work in the arts industry to nominate leaders from Australia’s philanthropic, business or cultural community. For those who know someone who meets the criteria, now is the time to recognise the contribution they make.

The awards send an important message about the value of giving in the arts, which in Menzies’ experience has a positive domino effect.

Menzies comments “I think the opportunity to promote giving to the arts is one way to grow giving to the arts.

“We call them ‘leadership’ awards because we are really looking for people who have not only been generous donors and engaged donors, but ones who encourage other people to be donors, who show leadership by introducing other people to the art form. Participating in those activities to really spread the word. We want to find those people who have shown that kind of leadership.”

As for how effective this growth is also depends on the involvement of organisations, not just donors, with Menzies adding “we want to encourage organisations to celebrate the people who have had that kind of deep engagement with arts organisations.”

In 2017, the Emerging Philanthropy Leadership Award went to Joseph O’Brien, whose enthusiasm for the arts led him to join the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Foundation. A few years later he also joined the Future Collective, a group of Brisbane professionals who raised funds for the acquisition of contemporary work for the QAGOMA collection.

Menzies said the Creative Partnerships Awards is all about this kind of proactive support of the arts through giving.

She concluded “there are so many people out there who are really generous, and I’m not just talking about the people who have a lot of wealth and are able to share that wealth, but also people who have modest incomes but still want to share part of it. We celebrate all of those people.

“That’s the other thing about the awards. By focusing on leadership, it really isn’t about rewarding the biggest donor, it’s about rewarding people who encourage others and share their love of the arts.”

Award Categories:

Arts Leadership Award for an individual working in the arts and cultural sector who through leadership, advocacy, practice and example has made an exceptional contribution to Australia’s cultural life; demonstrating vision, commercial acumen and strategic thinking in their engagement with donors and business, and encouraging increased giving to the arts.

Business Leadership Award for an individual working in the business sector who through their leadership, advocacy, practice and example has made an exceptional contribution to Australia’s cultural life by fostering increased investment and engagement between business and the arts.

Emerging Philanthropy Leadership Award for an individual who is new to the philanthropic sector (within the last five years) and whose leadership and contribution to the arts is shaping the future of philanthropy and private giving in Australia’s cultural sector.

Philanthropy Leadership Award or an individual, family, group, foundation or other entity that through their leadership, advocacy, practice and example has contributed significantly to the arts and encouraged philanthropic giving to the arts.

Nominations close at 5pm on 29th March.

For more information go to creativepartnershipsaustralia.org.au

Main image: 2017 Emerging Philanthropy Leadership Award winner Joseph O’Brien with Creative Partnerships Australia Chief Executive Fiona Menzies. Courtesy Jim Lee/Creative Partnerships Australia.

17th November 2017 - PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS GROWS TO RECORD LEVELS 

10th October 2017 - NEW ALLIANCE TO CHAMPION WELLBEING IN THE ARTS

5th October 2017 - LIVE PERFORMANCE INDUSTRY GENERATES $1.43 BILLION REVENUE AND 18.78 MILLION ATTENDANCES

27th June 2017 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BACKS REGIONAL ARTS PROJECTS AND TOURING EXHIBITIONS

13th February 2017 - ALLIANZ BACKS MENTAL HEALTH IN THE ARTS INITIATIVE 

25th October 2016 - REVIEW OF AUSTRALIAN OPERA WARNS AGAINST USE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR ‘COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES’ 

21st April 2016 - LIVE PERFORMANCE AUSTRALIA CALLS FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HAND BACK ARTS FUNDS

10th March 2016 - ARTS LEADER LYNCH LABELS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S ARTS POLICY AS A DISGRACE

21st November 2015 - SCALING BACK OF NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS A ‘BITTERSWEET MOMENT’ 

15th February 2013 - CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AUSTRALIA UNVEILED, CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED