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Business jumps on board with the arts
An active, skilled board or management committee is a must-have for any arts organisation. But many find it hard to attract the business expertise they need. The Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) has a new program to bridge the gap.
boardBank, launched earlier this year, will operate in both Melbourne and Sydney. It encourages business people to volunteer their time and apply their expertise in finance, marketing, law and governance to the worlds of dance, film, music, and the arts generally.
Arts organisations that have looked at their board and identified skill gaps can turn to AbaF, who will introduce them to possible board members from the business world. The arts organisation then takes responsibility for selection and appointment.
Many arts organisations are looking to business to add skills and experience to their boards. 'As a small company, Arena values the big picture perspectives brought by our corporate board members. We aim to attract a diverse, high-calibre mix of professionals,' said Catherine Jones, General Manager of Arena Theatre Company.
Volunteering is not a one-way street. Business people are keen to put up their hands for boardBank, recognising that it is a great opportunity to develop their experience of governance while applying their knowledge in a different creative environment.
'My role on the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) board merges many years of business experience with my passion for music and respect for the ACO,' said Kathy Keele of Siemens, who is giving the ACO the benefit of her marketing and communications wisdom.
Two AbaF Councillor companies-Marsh and Mercer (part of Marsh & McLennan Companies), the principal partners of the new program-are enabling AbaF to deliver boardBank in New South Wales and Victoria.
For more information, contact AbaF's National Volunteering Manager, Elizabeth Gomm, on 03 9616 0300 or email gomme@abaf.org.au Visit the AbaF website at www.abaf.org.au
adviceBankers recognised
boardBank is AbaF's second volunteering program, complementing the established program adviceBank. Through adviceBank, business advisers work with arts managers on specific projects. With the support of KPMG, an AbaF councillor company and National Principal Partner for adviceBank, 80 projects have been completed around Australia. adviceBankers in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne received Certificates of Appreciation in May.
Dr Helen Light, Director of the Jewish Museum of Australia described how an adviceBank placement led to a seat on the board for Andrew Plaskett from Freehills.
'We hoped to find someone who could offer an independent view on strategic planning and marketing. Meeting Andrew was a blast of fresh air for us and we hope for him, as he had not before been so closely involved with a museum,' she said.
'Andrew proved to be such a great sounding board for me and our new Development Manager that we decided we couldn't let him go when his placement was completed, and he was invited to join the Museum's Executive Committee-the first person outside the Jewish community to do so.'
Inset at top: Andrew Plaskett, Senior Manager Business Development, Freehills and Dr Helen Light, Director, Jewish Museum of Australia. Photograph: Ari Hatzis
Above: Genevieve Morris, Christopher Brown and Lucy Taylor in Arena Theatre Company's production Play Dirty. Arena's involvement in adviceBank has led to their appointment of a new board member.Photograph: Jeff Busby