Record Year for Arts Philanthropy
19 July 2011 at 5:21 pm
The Australia Business Arts Foundation is celebrating a record year for arts philanthropy, with over $1.8 million in donations received and distributed in the 2010/11 financial year by the Australia Cultural Fund.
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AbaF says the 2010/11 financial year has been the most successful year in the history of the Australia Cultural Fund, pushing the total amount distributed to Australian artists and arts organisations through AbaF’s Australia Cultural Fund beyond $8.1 million.
AbaF CEO Jane Haley says prior to 2011, the biggest year was 2008 at $1.5 million donated to the fund.
Haley says this success is consistent with the results of AbaF’s recent survey of private sector support for the arts showing that giving to the arts is stronger than ever.
Haley says the $8.1 million distributed through the fund has had a big impact on the arts, 550 artists and arts organisations benefiting from the generosity of donors.
She says grants have been made to Australian artists who are creating, producing and touring original new work in all art forms and to artists studying in Australia and overseas at all stages of their careers.
AbaF is endorsed by the ATO to operate the unique Australia Cultural Fund that allows AbaF to use its deductible gift recipient (DGR) status to receive tax-deductible donations on behalf of arts organisations and individual artists across Australia. AbaF then passes on the funds by way of grants.
The Macquarie Group Foundation supports AbaF to provide this service free of charge to the donors and recipients.
Zoe Knighton, a member of the Melbourne based Flinders Quarter and beneficiary of a one of the grants, says without the Australia Cultural Found, they simply wouldn’t be in existence today.
Knighton says through donation, the Quarter is able to commission new works and fund recording project, subsidise their ticket prices, and bring chamber music to as many people as possible.
A record number of artists have registered with AbaF this year and more than 100 projects are currently using AbaF’s online donations facility.
More information on AbaF and the Australia Cultural Fund can be found at: www.abaf.org.au
