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."