Abbotsford Convent Foundation Arts Trust
Mission / Objective
People To animate the physical spaces and natural environment by attracting creative and innovative people as users, collaborators and tenants.
Culture To encourage lively dialogue about the activities and directions of the precinct in an atmosphere based on transparency, tolerance, respect and open-mindedness.
Heritage To conserve and enhance the heritage assets of the Convent in their historical context whilst ensuring maximum access and amenity to all precinct users.
Finance To ensure the continued financial strength and long term viability of the Abbotsford Convent Foundation.
Governance To provide good governance, build the public reputation and profile of the Abbotsford Convent, ensure diversity of tenancies, undertake commercial activities in an ethical and fair manner and ensure public safety and enjoyment of precinct.
Projects in Progress
Over 40% of the Abbotsford Convent's buildings still lay dormant. As part of the next five year plan, the Abbotsford Convent Foundation will restore the Sacred Heart buildings, the Industrial School and the former Magdalene Laundries so that they can be used for exciting arts and cultural uses - housing public arts classrooms, artist studios, galleries, performance spaces, social enterprises, cultural organisations, artisan workshops and more. Whilst recent works on these spaces have seen the installation of fire sprinklers and the windows restored, over 5100 square metres of interior spaces still need works to make them legally inhabitable. The Abbotsford Convent Foundation plan to restore these spaces by stage.
Other priority works include installing site wide directional and interpretive signage, works to make the heritage landscape accessible to people with all abilities, improvements to the site's environmental sustainability and garden and landscaping projects.
As an arts and cultural precinct, opportunities abound to support specific arts projects either through supporting the c3 Contemporary Arts Space, specific arts and sculpture projects, performance pieces and learning programs. Please contact the Abbotsford Convent Foundation to learn more about the exciting arts and cultural projects in the pipeline.
Board Members
Hayden Raysmith AM (Chair) Hayden Raysmith AM is one of Melbourne’s leading experts in the community and philanthropic sectors. He was the inaugural chairman of Australia’s first independent community foundation, the Melbourne Community Foundation. A former executive director of the Victorian Council of Social Service, former Director of Youth Affairs in Victoria and Director of Statewide Operations and Public Health for the Victorian Government. Mr Raysmith is Adjunct Professor in the School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning at RMIT University and Governance Patron of the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Charlotte Allen (Co-Deputy Chair) Charlotte Allen is a qualified physiotherapist and also has an Arts degree. She has worked as a physiotherapist in New Zealand, South Africa and England. After completing her Arts degree she worked as a journalist in New Zealand before migrating to Australia in 1988. She worked at the Environment Protection Authority Victoria for six years, as a journalist and Manager, Community Affairs. She runs her own company which specialises in community consultation, planning and environmental issues. Charlotte lives in Abbotsford and was one of the core members of the Abbotsford Convent Coalition.
Michael Smith (Co-Deputy Chair) Michael Smith is a former editor of The Age who had a 25-year career in journalism including appointments as a foreign correspondent, investigative reporter, medical correspondent, sports reporter and editorial writer. He now runs a consultancy specialising in media, issues management, crisis and strategic communications. He is a former John S Knight Fellow at Stanford University and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. Michael is a life member of the Melbourne Press Club and a former president of the Ardoch Youth Foundation which helps disadvantaged children stay in the education system. Michael was a member of the Abbotsford Convent Implementation Group and a founding member of the Abbotsford Convent Foundation Board. He rejoined the Board in 2010.
David Gibbs David Gibbs is a business strategist and adviser with a reputation for developing wise and practical solutions to business problems. He is interested in advising clients on asset restructuring, especially in respect to family succession planning. David currently practises as a Chartered Accountant with Mutual Trust Proprietary Limited. Prior to commencing practice, David worked as a manager with one of the world’s largest accountancy firms and developed his small business consultancy skills through ‘hands on’ experience in an import and distribution company. A committed supporter and office bearer of community based and youth organisations, David has also served as the Victorian State Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
Patricia O’Donnell Patricia O'Donnell is by training an educational psychologist and historian and has a BA(Hons) degree from the University of Melbourne. From 1978-2002 Patricia was the owner and manager of the heritage listed Mietta’s Queenscliff Hotel, which earned many hospitality and tourism awards. She also established the North Fitzroy Star as an inner city neighbourhood bar and restaurant. Patricia has been a volunteer with Lifeline, Citizens Advice Bureau and, currently, the Neighbourhood Justice Centre. Patricia was the initiator and deputy president of the Queenscliff Carnival of Words and host of the Queenscliff Music Festival and is now the host for the annual Writers' Dinner for the Melbourne Writers Festival. Patricia was a member of the Library Board of Victoria 1999-2008 and is currently a board member of the Australian Art Orchestra, the Mietta Foundation and the executive committees of the Friends of 45 Downstairs and the Mietta Song Recital Award.
Sally Romanes Sally Romanes is an artist and by training a commercial lawyer. Before migrating to Australia, she worked with the major City of London law firm Slaughter and May for 8 years and then, after a stint at the University of Melbourne law school, joined Arthur Robinson and Hedderwicks (now Allens Arthur Robinson) where she spent several years before deciding to make a radical change to painting. Her professional legal career involved wide experience of corporate and commercial law, including takeovers, acquisitions, loans and other finance and fundraisings. She was a committee member and then President of the Watercolour Society of Victoria (1996-2003) , and from 1999-2007 was a member of the core group of the Abbotsford Convent Coalition. Alongside her engagement in family pastoral interests, she is actively involved in supporting the arts and assisted in the relaunch of the Mietta Song Recital Award in 2003. She is on the committee of the Mietta Song Recital Award.
Prof Andrea Hull AO Professor Andrea Hull, AO, has been involved in arts administration and policy development at senior levels for more than 30 years. She was a long term Dean of the Victorian College of the Arts and is a board member of the NGV and the National Museum of Australia. She was Executive Director of the West Australian Department of the Arts for six years. From 1979 to 1988 she held three senior positions at the Australia Council, helping to initiate projects including Creative Australia and Women in the Arts. Professor Hull is widely published on cultural policy, cultural democracy, the arts and education. She has undertaken various international consultancies and held Federal Government appointments including part-time Commissioner of the Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission, Board member of the Australia Japan Foundation and the Australian Korean Foundation. In 2003, she was awarded the Order of Australia for services to the arts, arts education and cultural policy.
David Laidlaw David Laidlaw is a partner with a major Melbourne law firm. In his practice David acts in a wide range of large scale tort, contract and corporate litigation matters. His Board appointments have included Asian Law Centre Board University of Melbourne, Law Institute Council, the Federal Attorney General's International Legal Services Advisory Council, the ADVOC Asia Board and Inter-Pacific Bar Association Council. He is also a current Board member of the Melbourne Prize Trust. David has a keen interest and involvement in the arts which stretches back to his days as a national student arts leader. David has served on a number of arts boards and was instrumental in fostering his law firm's support of Australian artists, including its sponsorship of artists selected to represent Australia at the Venice Biennales. He was also responsible for the establishment of the Maddocks' Art Prize for emerging artists in the visual arts. He and his wife Megan also run black cattle on their farm property in Western Victoria.
Anthony Cullen Anthony Cullen recently finished a six month consultancy with the ACF where he held the role of Chief Operating Officer, aiding the Board and CEO in developing the model for the activities of the Convent. Prior to this, Anthony was with Fairfax Media for 12 years, holding various senior and executive roles in that time. As Head of Property for Fairfax Media, Anthony was responsible for over 300 leasehold and freehold sites, ranging from small suburban sales offices to the 22,000m2 Sydney head office at Darling Island. The major focus over the last 24 months at Fairfax was the relocation to Darling Island of their H/O involving a fit out of 22,000 m2 for 2000 staff. At the same time Anthony led the Media House project to develop the $140 million purpose built, sustainable office in Melbourne CBD – housing the 1300 Melbourne based staff. Anthony’s business career spans 25 years where he has held senior management and executive positions in finance and property roles.
Antonia Syme Antonia Syme is the Director of the Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW) in Melbourne. She has many years in the arts and cultural sector as a director, consultant, conservator and curator. She is Director of Syme Dodson Consulting. She was Director of Artbank, for over ten years. Her experience has spanned both the private and public sector, in Australian cultural institutions and as Co-Director of Syme Dodson Gallery in Sydney. Antonia was the Chair of Craft Australia from 2009 to 2011 and on the Board since 2007. Board and committee membership includes the NSW National Trust's Museums and Collections Committee, the Federal Government's Taxation Incentives for the Arts Committee, the Heritage Council (NSW) Maritime Archaeological Advisory Panel , the Sydney College of the Arts Board and the Camden Park Preservation Committee.
Libby Ward-Christie Libby Ward-Christie is Investment and Growth Manager with Social Traders Ltd, a social enterprise development organisation. Libby works with the community, corporate and philanthropic sectors to support commercially viable organisations that trade to achieve a social or community benefit. She has an MBA from Melbourne Business School. Libby has held a number of senior business planning, community engagement and project management roles in local government and the community sector. She also has a Master of Landscape Architecture and has worked as an environmental consultant and open space planner. Libby also lives in the local community.
Staff
Maggie Maguire - Chief Executive Officer
John Di Natale - Chief Operations Officer
John Mummery - Building and Facilities Manager
Brenton Geyer - Communications Manager
Andrew Evans - Development Coordinator
Jasmine Watterson - Program Coordinator
Naomi Velaphi - Program Coordinator
Claire Gresty - Venue Hire Manager
Chris Shah - Accountant
Mirella Zandegu - Leasing and Community Coordinator
Jon Butt - c3 Director
Leonie Wray - Administrator
Jesse Fulton - Site Coordinator
Liz Barber - Site Coordinator
Leigh Martin - Site Coordinator
Robert Currie - Site Coordinator
Marg Allan - Head Gardener
Tax Deductible
Yes
Wills and Bequests
The Abbotsford Convent is fast emerging as a premier arts and cultural precinct set on a significant heritage site in Melbourne. It is a welcoming and lively destination that is free to enter and pleasingly, the public has responded well to the site with the Convent currently enjoying over 600,000 annual visits.
As the Convent does not enjoy recurrent government funding, projects to improve the site very much rely on the generosity of the public who have helped the Abbotsford Convent Foundation restore over 10,000 square metres of buildings for community use.
All donations over $2 to the Abbotsford Convent Foundation Arts Trust are tax deductible.
With your help, the Convent will continue to grow as a dynamic hub of arts and culture, community and learning. It is people like you, who believe in this precious community asset and grasp its full potential, who can enable its success.
If you are interested in learning about exciting projects onsite needing support, please contact Andrew Evans on 94153600 or aevans@abbotsfordconvent.com.au.
Please consider the Abbotsford Convent Foundation in your will
The Abbotsford Convent is owned by the Abbotsford Convent Foundation (ACF) – charitable organisation with DGR status entrusted to manage, protect and invigorate the Abbotsford Convent as a landmark arts, cultural and learning precinct. The ACF’s income streams are diverse and healthy and sustain its operations but additional support is required to continue restoring the 7000+ square metres of buildings that still lie dormant to activate them for community use.
By remembering the Abbotsford Convent in your Will you can help make the precinct all it can be, so that this precious part of Melbourne can continue to be enjoyed now and for generations to come.
For more information please call Maggie Maguire or email mmaguire@abbotsfordconvent.com.au. Alternatively, please go to www.abbotsfordconvent.com.au
General Donations
The Abbotsford Convent Foundation Arts Trust (ACFAT) is a Tax Concession Charity (TCC) and has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. ACFAT is the funding arm of the Abbotsford Convent Foundation (ACF) - which manages the Abbotsford Convent Precinct.
The Trustee for ACFAT is a Fixed Trust. ACFAT makes contributions to the Abbotsford Convent Foundation, a company limited by guarantee (with TCC status) that is the custodian, owner and manager of the Abbotsford Convent and operates under a Deed with the State Government. The ACF’s Directors are also Trustees of ACFAT.
The Abbotsford Convent has been saved and now belongs to the people. As well as funds, many hundreds of individuals have also invested their time, expertise and money. The project is six years old yet only 60% complete. It’s time to finish the job! The Abbotsford Convent’s project of restoration and adaptive reuse for arts, cultural and learning enterprises continues as funds allow. You can support the ongoing revival of the Abbotsford Convent and assist the future of this unique community asset by: becoming a volunteer; making a donation; sponsoring a project or event; providing goods or services in-kind, or remembering the Convent in your will. You may also choose to make a donation or leave a gift in your will to a specific campaign or building project.
Volunteering
Volunteers are a vital life source of the Abbotsford Convent
The Abbotsford Convent Foundation is in need of volunteers, willing to donate their time, talent, knowledge and experience to help the project grow. Volunteers are sought to provide assistance in the following areas:
Recruiting volunteer Tour Guides now
If you have a passion for telling amazing stories with flair and conviction and if you can spare one Sunday afternoon a month, the Convent needs you.
Our guided tours re-tell the fascinating history of the Convent and promote the cultural community activity happening here today.
To be considered for a volunteer position as a tour guide please email your interest to the Tour Coordinator, Brenton Geyer on (03) 9415 3600 or bgeyer@abbotsfordconvent.com.au.
Convent Concierge Program
The Abbotsford Convent offers you the opportunity to become involved in a new volunteer program that is fun and engaging and will allow you to meet new people while providing a valuable service to the Convent, its community of tenants, hirers, event producers and visitors. You will get the chance to tell the amazing story of the Convent, help with everyday information and work within a team of other inspired, dedicated volunteers who share a love of the Convent. If you love art, culture, history, community and sharing that love with others, this role is for you! Concierge volunteers will be 'on the job' at markets, festivals and public events.
Car Park Attendants
Farmers' Markets are held every second and fourth Saturday of the month at the Collingwood Children's Farm and Abbotsford Convent respectively. During these times Convent car park spaces are at a premium and it is important that the use of car spaces are maximised and efficiently turned over. Between 8am - 12md volunteers are sought to guide cars into spaces as they become vacant. The car park is an important income stream for the restoration of the Convent. No experience is neccessary.
Gardens
The huge heritage garden at the Abbotsford Convent requires constant upkeep. Our team of volunteer gardeners meet every Wednesday and under the guidance of our staff gardeners, attend to the never-ending task of beautifying the gardens for the benefit of the whole community. Some gardening knowledge is preferred.
Grounds and Building Maintenance
If you are adaptable to diverse working conditions, have the ability to work unsupervised, under instruction and possess practical or 'handyman’ skills we seek volunteers to assist our team in the set up of events, functions, meetings and provide back up to our site coordinators with waste management, stocking of bathroom facilities, the cleaning and maintaining of the buildings on site and general housekeeping duties.
Jobs available on Pro Bono Australia
No recent jobs.
Printer-friendly version
