Creative Partnerships Australia have announce the seven remarkable recipients of the 2021 Creative Partnerships Awards who generously provide support to enhance arts and culture across Australia.
The Awards recognise passionate Australians who are dedicated and invested allies helping create an impact within Australia’s vibrant and adaptable arts sector. The 2021 Creative Partnerships Awards recipients are:
• Philanthropy Leadership Award – John Wylie AM and Myriam Boisbouvier-Wylie
• Business Leadership Award – Scott Hutchinson
• Emerging Philanthropy Leadership Award – Nick and Sophie Dunstone
• Arts Leadership Award – Chris Howlett and Adele Schonhardt
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the Awards honour recipients who have given leadership in the provision of philanthropic support to the arts.
“The arts of course receive substantial funding from government – over $1 billion of Commonwealth funding in 2021-22.”
“But there is much outstanding work that cannot be funded within the available government resources – which is why it is so important that philanthropic support for the arts continues to grow in Australia.”
“These Creative Partnership Awards are very important – to honour those who have provided support, and to show the way and in turn inspire others.
“The net result of all of this activity is that more Australians are able to enjoy the enriching and stimulating benefits of seeing a production, visiting an exhibition or enjoying a performance,” said Minister Fletcher.
Creative Partnerships Australia CEO Fiona Menzies said the Awards recipients are committed to make the arts accessible for Australians: “The recipients of this year’s Awards all embody a genuine love of arts and culture, and a desire for them to be ambitious and to be shared as widely as possible,” she said
“While we were all managing the various challenges thrown at us by the pandemic, supporters of the arts continued to stick by the sector that they value and enjoy, to ensure that the artists, creatives, crews and companies they love could and would be there when restrictions were eased,” said Ms Menzies.
Philanthropy Leadership Award:
John Wylie AM and Myriam Boisbouvier-Wylie have been active arts donors over a long period of time. They lead by example and often encourage other philanthropic support for the arts. They provided significant contributions towards the redevelopment of State Library Victoria and helped establish the Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature with the University of Melbourne.
The Philanthropy Leadership Award is bestowed on an individual, family, group or foundation that through their leadership, advocacy, practice and example has contributed significantly to the arts and encouraged philanthropic giving to the arts.
Past recipients include Andrew Cameron AO & Cathy Cameron, Tim Fairfax AC & Gina Fairfax, John Gandel AC & Pauline Gandel AC and Maureen Wheeler AO & Tony Wheeler AO.
Business Leadership Award:
Scott Hutchinson has played a key role in the preservation of live music in Brisbane, in particular through the construction of the $43 million Fortitude Music Hall.
The Business Leadership Award recognises an individual from the business sector who, through their leadership and advocacy, has made an exceptional contribution to Australia’s cultural life by fostering investment in and engagement with the arts.
Past recipients include Adrian Fini OAM, Helen Carroll, Ian Kew and Andy Penn.
Emerging Philanthropy Leadership Award:
Nick and Sophie Dunstone established the Light Cultural Foundation in Adelaide, to provide artists and creatives an opportunity to harness immersive technologies that connect with audiences in new and meaningful ways, linking hospitality and cultural experiences.
The Emerging Philanthropist Award is presented to a new philanthropist whose leadership and contribution to the arts is shaping the future of philanthropy and private giving in Australia’s cultural sector.
Past recipients include Joseph O’Brien, Mark Rubbo OAM & Beau Neilson, Terry Wu and Alexandra Burt.
Arts Leadership Award:
Chris Howlett and Adele Schonhardt created the Melbourne Digital Concert Hall, which used philanthropic funds as seed funding to establish a platform that has generated over $1.6 million income for Australian musicians and arts workers since the beginning of the pandemic.
The Arts Leadership Award recognises advocates working within the arts and cultural sector who have demonstrated a sound vision, commercial acumen and strategic thinking through their engagement with donors and business by encouraging increased giving to the Australian arts sector.
Past recipients include Sheena Boughen OAM, Richard Gill AO, David McAllister AM and Rachel Healy & Neil Armfield AO.
Creative Partnerships Australia has led the Creative Partnerships Awards since 2013, embracing the legacy of the Australian Business Arts Foundation Awards, which celebrated excellence in partnerships and private sector support to the arts for more than a decade.
The Award recipients advocate and champion passionately for the arts and demonstrate qualities of inspiring leadership – they strengthen and enrich the creative sector through their generosity and commitment. For more information, visit: www.creativepartnershipsaustralia.org.au for details. View the Awards recipients videos.
Images: John Wylie AM and Myriam Boisbouvier-Wylie – photo by SDP Media for State Library Victoria | Nick and Sophie Dunstone – photo by Jack Fenby | Scott Hutchinson – photo by Jack Harlem | Chris Howlett and Adele Schonhardt – photo by Albert Comper