This year marks the centenary of Australian philanthropy, with Alfred Felton’s bequeathing of £380,000 believed to be the first major philanthropic gift of its kind in the world.
Mr Felton was a Melbourne pharmaceutical and bottle manufacturer who died in 1904 and the gift he left was split between charity and the National Gallery of Victoria. With the money the gallery purchased more than 15,000 works including pieces by Rembrant, Monet, Cézanne and Van Gough, worth more than $1 billion today.
Perhaps Western Australia’s most acknowledged philanthropist is Wesfarmers managing director Michael Chaney.
Mr Chaney has been publicly recognised and awarded on a number of occasions as an outstanding patron of the arts.
Art Gallery director Alan Dodge said Mr Chaney had really driven Wesfarmers’ partnership with the Art Gallery.
Wesfarmers and Mr Chaney have made regular appearances at the State Arts Sponsorship Scheme awards since their inception 11 years ago.
Mr Chaney initiated the Wesfarmers Arts sponsorship program, with the investment has focusing on development in the arts and enabling access to arts and culture for all Western Australians through regional support projects.
Presenting Mr Chaney with an outstanding philanthropy award in 2002, Arts Minister Shelia McHale said corporate leaders were now, more than ever, aware of the importance of community investment.
“Michael’s perspective of the benefits and value of business-arts partnerships has served as a great motivator for other corporations engaging with the arts,” Ms McHale said.
“The business arts partnerships Wesfarmers has engaged in, under the guidance of Michael, demonstrate how innovation, creativity and commitment to partnerships can deliver strategic benefits – both economic and social – to not just those organisations directly involved, but for the communities in which we work and live.”