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Beyond the cheque book
Business takes a fresh look at arts sponsorship
By Virginia Cook
Businessman Dr Ed Tweddell has been known to scribble the odd cheque or two during his lifelong support of the arts. Yet he is adamant it is probably the least efficient way of supporting the sector.
Dr Tweddell is Managing Director and CEO of the Adelaide-based Faulding pharmaceutical company. He's a cultured man, who by his own admission finds the symphony more relaxing after a week at the office than a trip to the footy-although he enjoys the latter.
He was recently appointed to the Major Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council.
Dr Tweddell is part of a new breed of business-arts aficionados who are looking for a more focussed and logical approach to assisting arts companies.
'What we have tried to do is make our contribution to the arts really work,' he told Artbeat.
'We don't think we only have an obligation to scribble out a cheque occasionally to support the arts in an impersonal way. Rather, we want to do two things. Firstly, make our contribution in a modest but meaningful way here in South Australia, and try to target areas where we can do the most good. And secondly to try to match what we bring to the arts with something of our corporate philosophy.'
'Obviously, being in the pharmaceutical world, we are big on developing projects, and that's what we have done with our support for the arts.'
'I insist that all projects we get involved with assist with the development of a function within an organisation not cover a deficit or put a show on tour.'
An early project was sponsoring a resident scholarship scheme over five years for the Adelaide Central School of Art-a scheme created after discussions with the management about what the real needs of the school were.
Later came the Assistant Directors Program at the State Theatre of South Australia, to introduce new and upcoming directors to work with established directors on a particular program.
'A couple of these young directors then went on to put on their own plays and we were also happy to support them through modest financial backing. We saw that as a continued commitment to them. If you don't take a long-term interest you really undermine the development and investment you've put in.'
'The State Theatre Company then came back to us and said following on from the Assistant Directors Program, the next obvious step would be to sponsor workshops exploring new material and involving some of the people who had come up through the scheme. That workshop program has just begun.'
Dr Tweddell believes there is an obligation for companies who draw benefits from the community to give something back.
'I don't see it as either philanthropy or guilt; I see it as an investment in the further progression of a developing society-which is in our interest both personally and from a business perspective,' he said.
Dr Tweddell is currently a member of the Australia Business Arts Foundation and believes the emphasis on business skills is vital.
'If you can help an arts organisation become more business-like and to run their organisation more efficiently that might be better than writing out a large cheque.'
As Chairman of the Adelaide Arts Festival he has drummed home this concept and believes the festival is now better run as a result.
He has also nominated a number of his executives to assist the business skills of arts organisations. He recalls a young Faulding accountant who had absolutely no interest in the arts being asked to assist a small arts organisation with their bookkeeping. He ended up being so involved he joined their board.
Faulding have also sponsored a contemporary South Australian artists acquisition program at the State Gallery, and a recent exhibition.
'We had a Faulding night at the gallery and I invited our suppliers and customers. One of them told me it was the first time he had been in a gallery. But they asked the Gallery staff to give them an in-depth tour of the exhibition, and some of our suppliers who attended that night have since rung me and asked how they can make a contribution.'
It might be a small revolution, but through the work of one company, a number of business people who, hitherto, had no interest in the arts, have now been excited by the possibilities of being involved.