Western Australia’s status as the state where business contributes the most to arts has been highlighted by the announcement of several new sponsorship agreements in the past week.
Western Australia’s status as the state where business contributes the most to arts has been highlighted by the announcement of several new sponsorship agreements in the past week.
Macquarie Bank, in its first foray into arts sponsorship, has partnered the Western Australian Youth Music Association (WAYMA) with the bank to have naming rights for the orchestra and all its concerts.
Also announced was the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra’s (WASO) partnership with North West Shelf Venture participants to tour China in 2006 to coincide with the first Western Australian LNG shipment.
Last week WASO also announced a new partnership with Hawaiian Management Group, making it the major sponsor of the Morning Symphony Series in 2005.
WAYMA is no stranger to partnerships with business having last year won the WA best regional partnership at the state business arts awards for its partnership with Woodside. This agreement was also named the best long-term business arts partnership in 2002.
WAYMA executive director Geoffrey Lowe said the sponsorship agreement with Macquarie Bank, worth $30,000, would offer members of the orchestra an opportunity to perform in venues not normally available and to engage artists who can mentor and inspire the players.
“We are hoping to develop a real partnership with Macquarie Bank, whereby staff can feel that the orchestra is ‘theirs’ and take ownership of the group,” Mr Lowe told WA Business News.
Macquarie Bank executive director James Mactier said Macquarie Bank had long recognised the need for companies to give back to the communities in which they operated, and that the arts was an important part of any thriving community.
Launching the announcement of the WASO China tour, the first overseas tour for the group in 22 years, president of North West Shelf Australia LNG, John Banner, said all seven North West Shelf participants were corporate partners of WASO.
WASO CEO Keith Venning said the growing trade links between WA and China made the fostering of both business and cultural relationships important.
Mr Venning said the partnership with Hawaiian would allow the morning symphony series to target a wider clientele.
Hawaiian CEO Russell Gibbs said the company had a holistic philosophy in relation to involvement with the community and believed a vibrant arts scene was an important part of a healthy community.
