| Major Gift for New Melbourne Recital Centre |
| Tuesday, 10 July 2007 19:00 |
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The Treasurer of Victoria, John Brumby, and Melbourne Recital Centre Chairman Jim Cousins AO announced today that the first major private contribution has been made to the new Melbourne Recital Centre. A $2 million gift has been made by the Kantor Family in honour of the Murdoch family matriarch Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE. It will establish a new Endowment Fund which will guarantee the delivery of Melbourne Recital Centre’s vision to future generations. The Treasurer of Victoria, John Brumby, said the gift from the Kantor Family signified the beginning of a new era for Melbourne’s vibrant fine music community. “This extremely generous gift will lead the way in establishing an Endowment Fund that will, over time, help lay the foundation for the artistic growth of Melbourne Recital Centre,” Mr Brumby said. “The Kantor Family has made a remarkable gift,” said Chairman Jim Cousins AO, “and – like the remarkable lady in whose honour it is given – it enables Melbourne Recital Centre to ensure that a passion for fine music will endure here. The Kantor Family has opened the score for us and we hope that many other fine music supporters will add their own notes to our pages. “The Endowment Fund will enable us to set international benchmarks for excellence in everything we do. This includes supporting Australia’s creative artists to launch their careers and help them develop their experience and reputation. This gift from the Kantors helps us make the music begin,” said Mr Cousins. Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s granddaughter Julie Kantor said, “Granny instilled her love of music in all of us. She also passed on another one of her great passions, a commitment to serving and supporting the community. This Endowment Fund complements the decades of support and encouragement given by Granny to countless musicians and music projects. It is therefore fitting that this first gift of $2 million to the Melbourne Recital Centre Endowment Fund is made by members of the Kantor family who wish to ensure that Granny’s tradition flourishes.” The Kantor Family’s gift is the first major private contribution to Melbourne Recital Centre, a major project of the Bracks Government that is currently under construction in the heart of Melbourne’s famed Southbank Arts Precinct. The Endowment Fund creates the opportunity for music lovers to add their own support to the $63.5 million already provided by the Bracks Government. |
