Myer Foundation#Awards and fellowships

The Sidney Myer Charitable Trust was established by the will of Sidney Myer, who died in 1934, leaving a portion of his estate for the benefit of the community. Myer's will was proved at £922,000. The most famous philanthropic funding by the Sidney Myer Fund was for the construction of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in the Kings Domain, Melbourne in 1958, which is named in his honour.{{cn|date=November 2022}}

In 1959, The Myer Foundation was established by Sidney's sons, Baillieu and Ken Myer – their sisters, Neilma Gantner and Lady Southey, became founding members. The Myer Foundation was established in order to award grants in sectors not covered by Sidney Myer's will. The Myer Foundation was endowed in 1992, after Ken Myer died, leaving most of his estate to the foundation.{{cite web | title= Our origins| website= Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation | url=https://www.myerfoundation.org.au/our-origins | access-date=2 November 2022}}

The fund and foundation have been supported by four generations of Myer family members. In 2011, Carrillo Gantner {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AC}}, grandson of Sidney Myer through Sidney's daughter Neilma Gantner, was chair of the fund,{{Citation | last = Gill | first = Raymond | title = Mr Gantner, take a bow | newspaper = The Age | date = 2007-07-03 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/mr-gantner-take-a-bow/2007/07/02/1183351121594.html | access-date = 2011-08-01}}{{Citation | title = 48 Asian Altruists: Carillo Gantner | work = Forbes | url = https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/56/biz_philanthropy08_Carrillo-Gantner_O1PV.html | date = 2008-02-27 | access-date = 2011-08-01}} while Martyn Myer {{post-nominals| country=AUS|AO}}, Sidney's grandson through Ken Myer, was president of the Myer Foundation.[http://www.myerfoundation.org.au/about-us/2col-layout.cfm?loadref=32 Myer Foundation website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605100640/http://www.myerfoundation.org.au/about-us/2col-layout.cfm?loadref=32 |date=2011-06-05 }}

In 2017, the foundation collaborated with the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and the Keir Foundation in creating an initiative called A New Approach, to address a gap in up-to-date and accurate research and data about arts and cultural philanthropy.{{cite web | title=Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation | website= Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation | url=https://www.myerfoundation.org.au/about-us | access-date=2 November 2022}}

{{as of| November 2022}}, members of the Myer family involved in the governance of the foundation and fund include:{{cite web | title=Trustees and directors | website= Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation | url=https://www.myerfoundation.org.au/trustees-directors | access-date=2 November 2022}}

• Andrew Myer {{post-nominals| country=AUS|AM}}: chair of Sidney Myer Fund (since 2020)
• Sidney Myer {{post-nominals| country=AUS|AM}}: trustee
• Sally Lindsay: trustee
• Anna Foley: trustee
• Rupert Myer {{post-nominals| country=AUS|AO}}: president of the Myer Foundation (since 2020)
• Emily Myer: vice-president
• Lady Southey {{post-nominals| country=AUS|AC}}: life governor
• Carrillo Gantner {{post-nominals| country=AUS|AC}}, life governor
• Martyn Myer {{post-nominals| country=AUS|AO}}: life governor

Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards were created by the Sidney Myer Fund trustees in 1984, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Sidney Myer.

{{as of|2022}} there are three awards, given annually: an Individual Award ({{AUD|60,000}}), a Group Award ({{AUD|90,000}}) and a Facilitator's Prize ({{AUD|25,000}}).{{cite web | title=Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards | website= Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation | url=https://www.myerfoundation.org.au/grant-opportunities-list/sidney-myer-performing-arts-awards | ref={{sfnref | Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation }} | access-date=2 November 2022}}

The Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships have been awarded since 2011, and in 2022 awarded the 100th fellowship and hit a total of {{AUD|16m}}. Each of the annual fellowships is awarded to an individual,{{cite web | title=2022 Sidney Myer Creative Fellows Announced | website=AussieTheatre.com | date=8 October 2022 | url=https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/2022-sidney-myer-creative-fellows-announced | access-date=2 November 2022}} with no restrictions or required outcomes necessary. From 2011 to 2022, the fellowships were each worth A$160,000. In 2023, the value increased to A$200,000.{{Cite web |title=Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation |url=https://www.myerfoundation.org.au/news-story/meet-the-2023-sidney-myer-creative-fellows |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=www.myerfoundation.org.au}} The fellowships are tax-free and paid over two years, over which time it is expected that the recipients largely remain in Australia. Mid-career Australian artists, arts managers, and "thought leaders" in the humanities are all eligible. The choice of recipients by the selection panel is based on two criteria: outstanding talent, and exceptional courage. Financial hardship is not considered.{{cite web | title=Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships| website=Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation | url=https://www.myerfoundation.org.au/grant-opportunities-list/sidney-myer-creative-fellowships | access-date=2 November 2022}} Many Indigenous Australian creatives have been Sidney Myer Creative Fellows, including Jonathan Jones, Alexis Wright, Ellen van Neerven, Eric Avery, Vernon Ah Kee, and (in 2022) artist Vincent Namatjira.{{cite web | last=Comisari | first=Jerome | title='We make the best art on this continent': Meet the Indigenous artists winning big in the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships | website=ABC News| publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date=22 October 2022 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-23/sidney-myer-creative-fellowship-art-award-indigenous/101559076 | access-date=2 November 2022}}{{cite web | title=Past Award Recipients | website= Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation | url=https://www.myerfoundation.org.au/past-award-recipients | access-date=2 November 2022}}

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• {{official|https://www.myerfoundation.org.au/}}

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Category:1959 establishments in Australia

Category:Foundations based in Australia

Category:Myer family