On behalf of the board of Creative Partnerships Australia, it is my pleasure to present our 2020/21 Annual Report.

This year has proved to be yet another challenging one, as the effects of the global pandemic continue to be felt across all facets of life in Australia, and profoundly so by our artists and arts organisations. Adaptation has been key once more, as the arts sector has searched for creative solutions in an evershifting environment. We have seen the sector come together with compassion and innovation to address the challenges of producing and presenting work amid the restrictions of COVID-19.

While there is no doubting the difficulties of living and working during a pandemic, it has also presented many opportunities for Creative Partnerships to be more active in the online space by changing the way we deliver programs and remaining flexible and adaptable – like the sector we serve.

I would like to thank the Hon. Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, and the dedicated team at the Office for the Arts for their support. Creative Partnerships is dedicated to helping the private sector understand how they can lend their support to the Government’s backing of the arts.

I thank my fellow Directors for their focus, agility and unwavering commitment to the sector and especially acknowledge Samantha Meers AO, who retired this year, for her inspiring commitment to the arts. Particular appreciation too is due to our indefatigable and passionate executive team led by CEO, Fiona Menzies, who have done an excellent job in a challenging year.

I would also like to recognise the contribution of the 2020 Creative Partnerships Award winners; luminaries from Australia’s philanthropy, business and arts sectors whose generosity and leadership set a truly humbling example. We had a brief window of luck, in a year punctuated by lockdowns, to celebrate these dedicated supporters in-person at a special event. To this year’s winners, S Baillieu Myer AC and Sarah Myer; Lady Potter AC; Maureen Wheeler AO and Tony Wheeler AO; Andy Penn; Neil Armfield AO and Rachel Healy, and Alexandra Burt – we offer our congratulations and thank them for their visionary support.

Throughout this year, Creative Partnerships remained committed to our vision: to foster a culture of private sector support for the arts in Australia; to grow a more sustainable, vibrant and ambitious cultural sector for the benefit of all Australians.

As we assess the impact of recent months on artists, arts organisations, audiences and patrons, we are determined to position ourselves even more ambitiously to best support the sector in its recovery. We will be strategic in our efforts for further growth, exploring ways to extend our support and our reach, deepen our business engagement and leverage the resources the pandemic has inspired us to draw upon.

Though Australian artists and audiences continue to grapple with the changes the pandemic has brought us all, Creative Partnerships will continue to stand firm in its support of, and advocacy for, a rich and loyal culture of giving to the arts.

Catherine Walter AM
Chair

Read our annual report 2020-21 (PDF) or read a summary of our achievements.