EMBARGO TILL FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER 2009
Brisbane arts philanthropist, Philip Bacon AM wins
national honour
Brisbane art gallery owner and philanthropist Philip Bacon AM won a national leadership
award at the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) Awards, presented at the City Hall,
Brisbane on the evening of Thursday 15 October. The AbaF Awards were presented before
an audience of 700 business and arts leaders, including Minister for the Arts Peter Garrett.
Mr Bacon won the Goldman Sachs JBWere Philanthropy Leadership Award, presented
annually to a leader who has encouraged increased giving to Australian cultural life.
Mr Bacon is the owner of Philip Bacon Galleries in Fortitude Valley. He has been an
influential supporter of the arts for more than 30 years, and his personal donations have
assisted many organisations.
From the funds Philip donated to the Queensland Art Gallery in 2008, the gallery has
acquired its first Eugene Von Guerard, A view from Daylesford towards the Pyrenees and a
few weeks ago George Lambert’s Self Portrait with Ambrose Patterson, Amy Lambert and
Hugh Ramsay, c1901-03.
Major gifts of works of art to the QAG’s collection include Sir Matthew Smith’s 1920s painting
‘Tulips’, valued at $150,000, gifted this year, and the major 1966 Brett Whiteley ‘Calcutta’,
valued at $500,000.
His major sponsorships of recent performing arts productions include:
For Brisbane Powerhouse, Sylvie Guillem and Akram Khan in 2008; and Gatz
presented by the New York Elevator Repair Service in 2009.
For the Queensland Theatre Company the current production of The Crucible.
For the Brisbane Writers Festival he brought to Brisbane Simon Winchester in 2008
and Wayson Choy in 2009.
For Opera Queensland this year, the prima donna Emma Matthews in Rigoletto.
For the Brisbane Festival this year, The Actor’s Gang’s production of The Catonsville
Nine.
He made a substantial contribution ($250,000) for the William Robinson gallery at
Old Government House project for QUT in 2006.
Mr Bacon’s response to winning the Philanthropy Leadership Award is: “My entire life has
been in the arts. I truly believe art matters, and I am privileged that I can help in ways both
big and small to encourage and develop the companies and the people that make it
happen.”
winners is on the next page.
Media contact: Sue Fisher, Director AbaF – Queensland, 07 3211 5130 / 0402 367 263
LIST OF WINNERS OF THE ABAF AWARDS 2009
AbaF Partnership of the Year Award: Bangarra Dance Theatre and Boral Limited
Goldman Sachs JBWere Philanthropy Leadership Award: Brisbane gallery owner and
philanthropist Philip Bacon AM
Richard Pratt Business Arts Leadership Award: Media magnate and arts supporter Kerry
Stokes AC
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Arts Business Leadership Award: Singer, artistic director and
arts advocate Robyn Archer AO
Bytecraft Entertainment Commitment Award: Company B Belvoir and Optus
Marsh Partnering Award: Bangarra Dance Theatre and Boral Limited
Toyota Community Award: DADAA (Disability in the Arts, Disavantage in the Arts
Australia) City of Swan and Midland Redevelopment Authority (WA)
Australia Council Young and Emerging Artist Award: City of Swan and Midland Gate
(WA)
QantasLink Regional Award: Michael Leslie Foundation for the Arts and Rio Tinto
AbaF SME Award: Bendigo Youth Choir and Bendigo Community Telco
City of Brisbane Encouragement Award: Tasmanian Regional Arts and RACT Insurance
AbaF Giving Award: Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
AbaF Business Volunteering Award: Gondwana Choirs and Brent Duffy, Maximus
International.
ENDS
NEWS 
