Since 2007, Sydney Opera House, in partnership with The Balnaves Foundation, has provided access to 15 performances at Sydney Opera House for over 5,000 people, as part of the Foundation’s Open House program.
The Program was created to broaden community access to the arts, by offering subsidised $5 tickets to performances. The Balnaves Foundation Open House Program was the first access initiative of its kind at Sydney Opera House and an important part of our vision to make the House accessible to all.
Over the past three years the Open House program provided access to diverse performances including:
- Tim Minchin’s So Rock (The Studio, 3 May 2007)
- Survival Tactics (The Studio, 7 August 2007)
- Daniel Kitson’s C90 (Part of Adventures Program - The Playhouse, 19 September 2007)
- Santa Babies (Part of Kids at the House Program - Utzon Room, 3 December 2007)
- Camille: Dark Angel (The Studio, 12 February 2008)
- Edward Scissorhands (Opera Theatre, 3 June 2008)
- Christmas at the House (Concert Hall, 21 December 2008)
- Le Grand Cirque: Aerial Dreams (Concert Hall, 15 January 2009)
The Balnaves Foundation Open House Program was overwhelmingly popular with community groups and individuals, giving them the opportunity to visit Sydney Opera House to enjoy live performance - often for the first time. Some participating community groups over the past three years include:
- Accessible Arts
- Aids Council of NSW
- Barnardo’s Learning Centre
- Carers Assist
- Girls and Boys Brigade
- Indigenous Land Corporation
- Kooloora Community Centre
- Macarthur Disability Services
- Mission Australia
- Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
- Odyssey House, Campbelltown
- PCYC Seniors, Marrickville
- Sunnyfield Respite
- Youth Off The Streets
Sydney Opera House would like to thank The Balnaves Foundation for its vision and support of the Open House Program and its ongoing commitment to the performing arts in Australia.
Testimonials:
On behalf of our Volunteer Carers and our Clients I would like to thank you for the wonderful opportunity you have given them, to see a show which they would otherwise not have had the means to see. Community Support Network (CSN) is a project of ACON and provides home based practical care to people living with HIV/AIDS in their homes, with assistance from trained volunteers. This kind of occasion gives our clients a great sense of dignity – to be able to dress up and be in an exciting cultural atmosphere. It improves their quality of life, which goes a long way in their ability to cope with the stresses they face every day. Being recipients of your generous donation, we thank you with all our hearts.
Maureen Rogers
Senior Care Liaison Officer
Community Support Network
With many thanks to The Balnaves Foundation, a small group of Boarding House residents took off for a night out to Sydney Opera House to see this wonderful extravaganza. All the dancers looked to be loving their job and many of the colourful and cheeky costumes wouldn’t be out of place in Newtown or at a county 50s fair. The second act had more action and even more surprises, topiary trees with fairly lights, even better dancing and of course the love story. But the finale was something else; snow fell, covering all of the audience in the forward rows and left us wondering if this was life in a snow dome. As we walked out with the white foamy stuff starting to melt there were plenty of smiles and memories to take home. Our group, and many others, were there that night due to the generosity of The Balnaves Foundation who provided us with cheap tickets. This program provides a way for people to access and experience the Opera House that many on pensioners could not usually dream of or consider.
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
Extract from August/September 2008 Newsletter
- Edward Scissorhands, 3 June 2008
The night we went to see Edward Scissorhands, my children and I were completely amazed by the whole experience – it was nothing we had ever seen before and it was the best feeling; we all felt so special and that we belonged there.
Once again I would like to say thank you very much for the chance and the opportunity to go and see a performance at Sydney Opera House.
Tracey Austin
Student at M.T.C Training Solutions, Campbelltown
- Edward Scissorhands, 3 June 2008
I would like to extend my family's sincere thanks for making it possible for us to attend the Christmas at the House performance. It was the highlight of my elder son's Christmas and my younger son loved the drama and atmosphere of attending his first performance at the Opera House.
My elder son has autism and you may be aware that music therapy is often provided to children with autism because some of them have a deep affinity with music. My eight-year-old son Jack has that connection to music and to see, feel and sing along to the performance at the Opera House was a deeply moving and joyful experience for him and us.
Dianne Thian
- Christmas at the House, 21 December 2008
Our service and families were delighted with the amazing visual performance and highly skilled cast of Le Grand Cirque: Aerial Dreams.
It was an evening where 24 people from our service had the opportunity to attend a performance at Sydney Opera House with their families, some for the first time ever.
Being 95 per cent visual, it was the most exhilarating performance for a Deaf Audience and the cast may have seen our Deaf Applause - hands waving high above our heads rather than a clapping.
Thank you, thank you to The Balnaves Foundation and Sydney Opera House for the opportunity to attend and be a part of something we may not normally be able to afford. Theatrical arts is something the Deaf especially adore but often don't have access to due to ability or means. The generosity of The Balnaves Foundation and Sydney Opera House via gave our Deaf Heal'f service users an amazing opportunity.
Lorraine Mulley
Coordinator – Deaf Heal’f
- Le Grand Cirque: Aerial Dreams, 15 January 2009
If you are interested in supporting a similar program of this nature in partnership with Sydney Opera House, please contact Amelia Pryke, Philanthropy Manager, on (02) 9250 7311.