Hugh Jackman to launch performing arts foundation

Tony Award winning actor Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness are to launch a new performing arts foundation.

The new charitable foundation, to be based in Perth, aims to support arts education in Australia.

Jackman took to Twitter to announce the Jackman Furness Foundation for the Performing Arts, posting a picture of its logo.

At @RealHughJackman, he tweeted "Announcing the Jackman Furness Foundation for the Performing Arts. We Hope it'll make dreams come true."

With  veteran actor Jack Thompson as a founding patron, the foundation has set a goal to raise at least $10 million over the next your years, according to The West Australian newspaper.

Jackman and Furness will officially launch the foundation at a special event to be held at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) on 17th May.

Foundation Trustee Geoff Michael told the newspaper "Deborra-Lee and Hugh are both passionate about supporting the performing arts, and excited to be launching their foundation in Perth where Hugh's career began."

Jackman, best known for his role as Wolverine, graduated from WAAPA in 1994. In 2004 he received a 2004 Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway musical The Boy From Oz about Australian entertainer Peter Allen.

His one-man show, Hugh Jackman - Back on Broadway in 2011 was a box office hit - routinely posting weekly grosses of $US1.5 million.

Jackman is also a founding shareholder of the Fit n Fast fitness club chain.

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