Australia Cultural Fund Donations Exceed $1m
30 January 2006 at 12:01 pm
Over the past three years, donors have provided more than $1 million for arts projects through the Australia Cultural Fund operated by the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF).
The Fund assists donors who want to make a contribution to individual artists and cultural groups, and maximises the value of their gift through a tax benefit.
Roger Benedict, the principal viola with the Sydney Symphony, received a gift of $100,000 from an individual which enabled him to purchase a 1753 Carlo Antonio Testore Italian viola.
Benedict says the benefits of having an instrument of this quality will last well into the future.
A gift of $3,500 allowed a new Australian music theatre production, Joe Starts Again, to be featured at the New York Music Festival.
Martin Croft, co-writer and performer says that having the show accepted by the New York Music Theatre Festival was an honour but a huge challenge with regard to financing the venture. To have donors support us through the Australia Cultural Fund literally made the difference between going and not going.
For more information on the Australia Cultural Fund go to www.abaf.org.au
