Creative Partnerships Australia Unveiled
7 February 2013 at 9:05 am
 Fiona Menzies |
Experienced Not for Profit manager, Fiona Menzies has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the new single agency set up to drive giving and investment in Australia’s cultural sector.
And Arts Minister Simon Crean said the new philanthropy and social investment agency will be named Creative Partnerships Australia.
“Donations, social investment and business partnerships are already essential to the innovation and sustainability of the cultural industries in Australia, but there’s much more to be done,” Crean said.
“Creative Partnerships Australia is a crucial part of the strategy in the National Cultural Policy and I thank Mr Harold Mitchell who recommended this new approach in his 2012 Review of Private Sector Support for the Arts."
The Mitchell Report called for the amalgamating the Australian Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) and Artsupport into a new organisation with responsibility for encouraging and facilitating all private sector support for the arts in Australia.
“Creative Partnerships Australia has the responsibility for creating a new culture of giving and investment for the cultural industries in Australia by bringing donors, business, artists and cultural organisations together,” Crean said.
“A strong new agency requires strong and creative leadership and I welcome Ms Menzies to the role and look forward to her working together with Chair, Ms Carol Schwartz AM.
“Ms Menzies’ experience as Development Manager of Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre over the past three years, and her extensive background in arts policy provides the industry knowledge and innovative approach required to establish Creative Partnerships Australia.”
Chair of Creative Partnerships Australia, Carol Schwartz AM said Menzies is recognised within the industry as a strategic and insightful voice on cultural sector development and planning.
“She will be instrumental in leading Creative Partnerships Australia to encourage and support philanthropy and investment in the cultural industries.”
Menzies said she was excited about the challenge of redefining the way the Australian cultural sector is supported, working in partnership with government, donors, investors and the community.
“Australia’s funding landscape is on the cusp of a generational change and I look forward to leading Creative Partnerships Australia to drive this change,” she said.
Simon Crean announced the creation of a single agency in August last year.
“Private philanthropy and sponsorship is vital for the growth and durability of the cultural industries and enables artists and organisations to plan for the future and produce high-quality, challenging and relevant work,” Crean said.
Fiona Menzies starts in the new role this week.
