Welcome to Giving Culture’s July 2025 update!
Earlier this month we caught up with Trump’s latest “wisdom”, showing abject contempt for culture and the arts sector. Unbelievable. According to Variety, in prioritising big business over the rights of the creator and the value of their work, Trump said “you can’t be expected to have a successful AI program when every single article, book or anything else that you’ve read or studied, you’re supposed to pay for. You just can’t do it, because it’s not doable.”
Of course it’s doable – and not just that; if AI developers aren’t paying to use this content it’s theft, pure and simple. If it’s too expensive to do it, then they just have to find another way to train their models.
On another note, the great thing about attending live performances or seeing real actors up on screen is that you know they haven’t been created by AI – which is where Giving Culture’s partners come in. Here’s the latest news from Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Theatre for Young People, Australian World Orchestra and Sydney Film Festival!
If you’d like more information about Giving Culture, contact us or sign up to our monthly emails at givingculture.com.au/contact. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn for other updates and posts on what’s happening at Giving Culture, and in the arts and culture scene in Australia.
Travelling Film Festival
Following the highest selling Festival in its history, Sydney Film Festival is taking highlights from its June program to eight regional cinemas around NSW, over the month of August with the Travelling Film Festival. Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Orange, Warrawong, Mount Victoria, Huskisson, Wagga Wagga and Tamworth – the Festival is coming to you! Highlights of this year’s TFF NSW program include Cannes and Sydney Film Festival winner IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT, the charming THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND starring Carey Mulligan [our favourite from the Festival – GC], and the heartwarming DJ AHMET screening at every centre.
You can redeem your Culture Vouchers for TFF NSW tickets here (also coming to QLD and NT later in the year) – or choose either the Silver or Gold donate options.
Australian World Orchestra: Daniel Dodds and Rebecca Chan to feature
AWO is delighted to announce the concertmasters for its upcoming Australian World Orchestra performances of Mahler’s 4th and 5th Symphonies: Daniel Dodds and Rebecca Chan.
Both Daniel and Rebecca are celebrated Australian violinists with flourishing international careers. Daniel Dodds returns as Concertmaster for Mahler’s 5th Symphony, bringing his dynamic leadership and unmistakable charisma. Based in Europe, he is the Artistic Director and Leader of the Festival Strings Lucerne, and has led ensembles including the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Salzburg Camerata, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Leading Mahler’s 4th Symphony is the exceptional Rebecca Chan, Associate Leader of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra. Rebecca brings a wealth of experience as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader, and has appeared as guest concertmaster with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
With these two extraordinary musicians at the helm, audiences can expect performances of Mahler’s 4th and 5th that are emotionally profound, musically expansive, and technically electrifying.
You can redeem your Gold or Silver Voucher for MAHLER 4&5 concerts now!
Australian Theatre for Young People: Curious about screen acting?
Explore the fundamentals of screen acting in ATYP’s six-week course for 18-26 year olds with professional actor and acting coach Ana Maria Belo.
Perfect for both beginners and actors wanting to refine their technique, participants will develop essential skills to create compelling, believable performances for the screen!
Learn how to break down a script, hit your mark, adjust to camera angles, make strong character choices, adapt your performance for commercial and narrative-driven scenes, and develop confidence on camera. The Screen Acting Fundamentals course starts on 14 August 2025 (6:00pm-9:00pm weekly) and bookings can be made here.
You can redeem your Culture Voucher towards Screen Acting Fundamentals by choosing either ATYP – SCHOOL’S OUT for silver vouchers or ATYP – GET DRAMATIC for gold vouchers.
Australian Chamber Orchestra
ACO Up Close: Shostakovich, Silvestrov & Bach
- ACO On The Pier – Sat 23 Aug, 7pm
- Melbourne Recital Centre – Mon 25 Aug, 4pm & 7pm
ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä leads an ACO ensemble with guest pianist Konstantin Shamray in this moving concert featuring Shostakovich, Silvestrov and JS Bach.
More details on the performances can be found here.
To take advantage of ticket prices, it would be best to redeem either an ACO – Gold Voucher or ACO – Silver Voucher for these performances.