Opera Foundation Assures Long Term Future

Long-Term Future Of Opera To Be Secured The New Zealand Opera Foundation

The NBR New Zealand Opera today announced the establishment of the New Zealand Opera Foundation to help secure the long-term future of opera.

The new Foundation is headed by David Gascoigne, current Chair and Director of The NBR New Zealand Opera Board, with eleven experienced Trustees representing a range of opera, arts and business interests. They are: Gregory Aim, Donald Christiansen, Bill Falconer, Susie des Tombe, Margaret Hunn, Jenny Loosley, Athol Mann, Barry Mora, Adam Ross, Donald Trott and Gus van de Roer. The Foundation has appointed Morag McDowell as its Administrator.

The Foundation’s purpose is to support the long-term development of professional opera in New Zealand, and to help secure a solid base for opera production. Taking a lead from overseas arts organisations, the Foundation will introduce bequest funding to stand alongside benefaction and other fundraising activities, currently carried out by The NBR New Zealand Opera. The Foundation Trustees will supervise a securely managed fund, using interest earned to support The NBR New Zealand Opera activities on an independent basis.

“The New Zealand Opera Foundation offers opera lovers a new way of helping opera remain a strong, confident and exciting artform for the future," says David Gascoigne. "It will help to shelter the company from shifts in the economy as well as in sponsorship and the box office. Over time, the intention is for the Foundation's contribution to widen and vary what is performed, and create the opportunity for The NBR New Zealand Opera to present seldom-performed or more ambitious works – more Boris Godunovs, more Falstaffs – with cast and creative teams of the highest quality. Our overriding mission is to contribute towards making New Zealand's opera world even more vibrant and varied."

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