THE Sydney Symphony Orchestra yesterday posted its third successive deficit and reappointed chairman John Conde for another three years, despite concerns about possible conflict of interest.
Orchestras worldwide are under threat, with one of the US’s top-five orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra, last month filing for bankruptcy.
Mr Conde has served on the orchestra’s board since 2001, the same year energy company Ausgrid, which he has chaired since 1997, began sponsoring orchestra programs. Last year Ausgrid (formerly Energy Australia) directed $522,000 to programs to enable remote and regional audiences to see the orchestra, but the funding is now under scrutiny after price hikes drove the NSW government to announce a review of energy company activities.
Mr Conde told The Australian that Ausgrid sponsorships were decided by a group of Ausgrid employees and he had never helped introduce either party to the other. “I have nothing to do with the decision at Ausgrid,” he said; the timing was coincidental.
“The initial support (Energy Australia) gave for the symphony was for a concert in Newcastle,” he said, which was staged at a time when electricity deregulation meant Energy Australia was eager to promote itself to audiences there.
Media buyer Harold Mitchell, a veteran of numerous arts boards who was last month appointed by Arts Minister Simon Crean to chair a review of private sector support for the arts, said he was always careful to direct private support and not the support of companies associated with him towards the arts companies on whose boards he has sat.
Mr Mitchell declined to comment on Mr Conde’s relationships specifically but said each director must act as they saw fit.
“Arts organisations always need support from the corporate world,” Mr Mitchell added.
Mr Conde has donated about $50,000 of his own money each year to the Sydney Symphony, which last year lost $236,769 despite attracting its largest audience ever and increasing self-generated revenue by 3 per cent.
The deficit was viewed as a triumph by the company which posted a $1 million loss in 2009.
Orchestras worldwide are under threat, with one of the US’s top-five orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra, last month filing for bankruptcy.
However, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has defied the trend and expects to report a surplus at its AGM next month.
Sydney Symphony loyal to chairman despite losses
THE Sydney Symphony Orchestra yesterday posted its third successive deficit and reappointed chairman John Conde for another three years, despite concerns about possible conflict of interest.
Orchestras worldwide are under threat, with one of the US’s top-five orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra, last month filing for bankruptcy.
Mr Conde has served on the orchestra’s board since 2001, the same year energy company Ausgrid, which he has chaired since 1997, began sponsoring orchestra programs. Last year Ausgrid (formerly Energy Australia) directed $522,000 to programs to enable remote and regional audiences to see the orchestra, but the funding is now under scrutiny after price hikes drove the NSW government to announce a review of energy company activities.
Mr Conde told The Australian that Ausgrid sponsorships were decided by a group of Ausgrid employees and he had never helped introduce either party to the other. “I have nothing to do with the decision at Ausgrid,” he said; the timing was coincidental.
“The initial support (Energy Australia) gave for the symphony was for a concert in Newcastle,” he said, which was staged at a time when electricity deregulation meant Energy Australia was eager to promote itself to audiences there.
Media buyer Harold Mitchell, a veteran of numerous arts boards who was last month appointed by Arts Minister Simon Crean to chair a review of private sector support for the arts, said he was always careful to direct private support and not the support of companies associated with him towards the arts companies on whose boards he has sat.
Mr Mitchell declined to comment on Mr Conde’s relationships specifically but said each director must act as they saw fit.
“Arts organisations always need support from the corporate world,” Mr Mitchell added.
Mr Conde has donated about $50,000 of his own money each year to the Sydney Symphony, which last year lost $236,769 despite attracting its largest audience ever and increasing self-generated revenue by 3 per cent.
The deficit was viewed as a triumph by the company which posted a $1 million loss in 2009.
Orchestras worldwide are under threat, with one of the US’s top-five orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra, last month filing for bankruptcy.
However, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has defied the trend and expects to report a surplus at its AGM next month.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/sydney-symphony-loyal-to-chairman-despite-losses/story-e6frg6nf-1226048722234
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