Donor campaign
In 2001 a community development feasibility study was undertaken by O’Keefe & Partners to determine the capacity and interest of the community in supporting the Civic Place Project by way of donor funding. The study concluded that a minimum of $3 million could be raised through a properly managed donor campaign.
Tax deductible gift recipient status has been achieved for the Cultural Facilities, through the Commonwealth Department of Communications, Information Technology, and the Arts (DCITA) and the Australian Taxation Office, and for the Library though the Australian Taxation Office.
A Concert Hall and Theatre Seat endowment program Please be Seated commenced in late 2005. The program aims to sell all 1500 seats located in the performing arts venues, resulting in a gross income of $2,250,000. The balance of the donor program is to be achieved through philanthropic donations over three years.
A number of special events have been held to raise funds for the project and donations have come from industry bodies such as the Motor Industry, Music Industry, Corporations, Community Organisations and Individual Donors.
The amount currently pledged in donations has reached over $500,000. This is one sixth of the target set for the donor program.