Welcome to our May 2025 update!
Earlier this month it was great to hear about significant government arts funding announced by both Creative Victoria and Create NSW. While it’s important for governments to fund the arts sector due to the economic, educational, health and community benefits it generates, we shouldn’t be relying on their support alone! Corporate support also goes a long way to securing the future for our creative industries, as well as enriching the lives of staff, clients and their families and friends.
Most importantly, art isn’t created for its own sake – it’s created for us to see it and experience it – so the best way for us to support the arts is to do exactly that! On that note, don’t forget to book now for Australian World Orchestra’s ‘Mahler 4 & 5’ in Sydney and Melbourne in September; Australian Chamber Orchestra’s June-July national tour featuring acclaimed violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja*; the Sydney Film Festival which, kicks off with the Australian supernatural body horror film TOGETHER; and Australian Theatre for Young People’s upcoming Winter Holiday Drama Workshops!
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.
Here’s the latest news from our partners.
Australian Theatre for Young People: Winter Workshops
ATYP has just launched its line-up of Holiday Drama Workshops from 7-18 July 2025 and there’s so much on offer to keep young, curious creatives busy this school break!
Keep warm this Winter with ATYP’s action-packed workshops for K-9 students of all experience levels.
You can redeem your Culture Voucher towards this Acting Fundamentals workshop by choosing either ATYP – SCHOOL’S OUT for silver vouchers or ATYP – GET DRAMATIC for gold vouchers. An Early Bird Special is available now for a limited time only, so book in now!
Sydney Film Festival’s Full Line-up Announced
See the bigger picture at Sydney Film Festival, with the just-announced program of 200+ films from over 70 countries – on sale NOW.
Explore the line-up of stories too big for the small screen, counting 15 films express from the Cannes Film Festival including THE MASTERMIND – an art-heist starring Josh O’Connor, or hysterical Sundance hit TWINLESS, Richard Linklater’s BLUE MOON (Margaret Qualley and Ethan Hawke pictured left), and SXSW winner, the twisted teen satire SLANTED.
At 13 venues all over Sydney from 4-15 June, the city will be bursting with red carpet premieres, special guests, talks and events. Over 150 sessions sold out last year – so get in quick!
Don’t forget, you can redeem your Gold or Silver culture voucher now towards a Flexipass or the Opening Night Gala!
Australian World Orchestra: Mahler 4 & 5
The Australian World Orchestra returns in 2025 for Mahler 4 & 5 conducted by Alexander Briger, a gala night presenting Mahler’s matchless symphonies back-to-back in one epic concert.
Experience the radiant melodies and childlike wonder of Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, with delicate orchestration that offers subtle undercurrents of disquiet, followed by the turbulence and majesty of Symphony No. 5, a voyage from darkness to light highlighted by the luminous serenity of the famous Adagietto.
📍 Melbourne’s Hamer Hall – September 3
📍 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall – September 4
Discover the benefits of Giving Culture’s Silver and Gold packages today!
Australian Chamber Orchestra
Death and the Maiden Revealed*
21 Jun – 2 July
Touring to Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane.
Patricia Kopatchinskaja (aka PatKop) is experimental, unpredictable and brilliant. The acclaimed violinist returns to the Australian Chamber Orchestra to direct a tour that showcases her dynamic virtuosity and enormous range, from Ravel’s fiery showpiece Tzigane to Schubert’s haunting Death and the Maiden.
The program also features the world premiere of PatKop’s Danses Macabre, a dramatic new work inspired by Schubert’s masterpiece brimming with emotion.
“Her body and her instrument and the music she makes all seem one. She is ever thrilling and alive to the moment.” — Los Angeles Times
To take advantage of ticket prices, it would be best to redeem either an ACO – Gold Voucher or ACO – Silver Voucher for these performances.
* Updated on 27 May 2025: Patricia Kopatchinskaja has withdrawn from this tour due to an injury, so the ACO is now presenting an alternate program on the same dates: ACO Unleashed – Celebrating 50 years of virtuosity and brilliance with music by Bach, Beethoven, Ravel, Schubert and Kuusisto.