2021 Creative Partnerships Awards

Revealing the leaders, philanthropists and partners advancing Australia’s arts sector

Creative Partnerships Australia announce the seven remarkable 2021 Creative Partnerships Awards recipients 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:

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.

Creative Partnerships Australia CEO Fiona Menzies:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Creative Partnerships Awards

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Its role is to foster a culture of private sector support for the arts. We grow the culture of giving, investment, partnerships, and volunteering; bringing donors, businesses, artists and arts organizations together to build a more sustainable and vibrant arts sector for the benefit of all Australians. Creative Partnerships Australia is supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.