NIDA Foundation Trust

To support NIDA is to demonstrate commitment to ensuring NIDA continues to thrive as Australia’s national performing arts educator and innovator, providing students from across Australia access to its acclaimed education.

The NIDA Foundation Trust (NFT) is exceptionally fortunate to have a growing bedrock of loyal donors and supporters who share NIDA’s aims, and I extend my sincere thanks to each of them for their continued support and the responsibility they vest in us to steward these gifts for the long-term benefit of the students. In another challenging year of further COVID-related disruption, the generosity of our benefactors and the growth of our NIDA giving community was especially inspiring.

Financial statement

At the end of 2021 the net assets of the NFT have grown to $13,785,368. The total comprehensive income for the financial year was a surplus of $1,928,767. During 2021 the NFT disbursed $474,407 to support students in their studies and the presentation of new and innovative productions, in accordance with the NIDANFT Memorandum of Understanding. Scholarships The NFT contributed $457,838 in scholarships support during 2021. The scholarship program, through the wonderful gifts from donors and bequests, provides our students with essential financial assistance and assists with important national and international industry placements. The Future Fund Scholarships, available to applying students, aim to remove financial barriers to attending NIDA. In 2021 NIDA and The Balnaves Foundation, Principal Patron of NIDA’s First Nations Program, announced a significant new philanthropic commitment to enable NIDA to welcome more First Nations students and encourage and support them through their journey and study at NIDA. Tim Fairfax AC provided major additional support specifically for students experiencing hardship during COVID. The Penn Foundation continued their support through NIDA Corporate’s online Storytelling course and the June Penn Scholarships. There are many others who have given generously over many years in support NIDA’s scholarship program and information about all our wonderful supporters is on the NIDA website.

Bequests The NFT was the recipient of a major new gift from the Australian Hellenic Education Progressive Association from a bequest they are administering on behalf of NIDA alumna Tessa Mallos and her mother. The bequest will support a BFA Indigenous student, a BFA student from an Hellenic background, and an MFA Writing and MFA Directing student.

Fundraising events To support our fundraising efforts, we were delighted to connect with our supporters and meet new supporters at two successful major dinners before Sydney went back into lockdown. The dinners provided an opportunity to hear from some of our talented and successful alumni and guests, as well as enjoying performances from our talented students. In 2021 we also launched our Behindthe-Scenes Annual Giving Program and held small bespoke events such as a tour of the newly renovated STC Wharf facilities and a talk by NIDA alumni and STC Artistic Director/NIDA Board member, Kip Williams. We continued to host supporters at special events during the June and endof-year student production seasons. When we could not enjoy face to face events at NIDA during lockdown, we launched NIDA Nights, a virtual Behind the Scenes live event series featuring a range of special guests across the arts and culture industries as a way of engaging online with our donors, corporate and government supporters, NIDA alumni and students.

Australian Production Design Guild Awards The NFT was delighted to sponsor the NIDA Foundation Trust Award for an Emerging Designer for Live Performance at the 10th annual APDG Awards, a combined event for 2020/2021 held virtually in November 2021. Congratulations to the recipient Morgan Moroney (Technical Theatre and Stage Management 2020) who won the award for Ghosts, the October Student Production at NIDA in Morgan’s final year. I would like to acknowledge CEO Liz Hughes for her continuing excellent leadership of NIDA, Lisa Hamilton, Head of Development and Alumni, and the entire organisation for their wonderful achievements to support our fundraising. We welcomed two new directors in 2021: internationally recognised performing arts educationalist, administrator, researcher and practitioner, Dr Peter Cooke AM; and corporate communications executive, Victoria Buchan. They join NFT directors Andrew Banks, Garry McQuinn, Alex Pollak, Noel Staunton and Catherine West, and I thank all my fellow NFT directors for their commitment and enthusiasm which is integral to our fundraising efforts. Finally, my thanks to all who continue to passionately support the Trust’s fundraising goals. There is a strong vision for the future of NIDA, and we look forward to the challenge of bringing this to life. Peter Ivany AO Chairman NIDA Foundation Trust