The Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) is an Australian organisation that connects the arts, business and donors.

History

Established in 2000, AbaF is a company of the Commonwealth and is supported by the Australian Government through the Cultural Development Program of the Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is a government office in some Commonwealth Realms.*Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet *Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet -See also:...

 and through private sector support.

Structure

AbaF is governed by a board, appointed by the Minister for the Arts

Minister for the Arts

In the United Kingdom government, the Minister for the Arts is a ministerial post, usually a low to middle-ranking minister to the much senior Secretary of State, who runs the entire department and is ultimately responsibility for the department's brief....

. The chairman is Terry Campbell AO and the CEO of AbaF is Jane Haley.

AbaF Council

AbaF has a national council of senior business leaders, coordinated through state and territory chapters, who act as champions and advocates for business support for the arts. AbaF works with its councillors to promote the business benefits of relationships with the arts, in particular brand alignment, employee engagement

Employee engagement

Employee engagement, also called worker engagement, is a business management concept. An "engaged employee" is one who is fully involved in, and enthusiastic about their work, and thus will act in a way that furthers their organization's interests...

 and community contribution.

Programs

AbaF has three programs, partnering, volunteering, and giving.

AbaF's partnering program connects business with the arts through advice and networking opportunities. In South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, AbaF has partnered with state governments to operate Premier's Arts Partnership Funds that match the value of new business arts partnerships.

AbaF's volunteering program connects business volunteers with the arts. adviceBank matches business volunteers with the arts to work on specific projects. boardBank matches business volunteers with vacancies on arts boards.

AbaF's giving program works with donors and artists to promote giving to the arts.

Connecting

AbaF hosts functions to bring together the arts, business and donors. They work in collaboration with peak bodies to promote the relationships between business and the arts and to provide opportunities for donors and arts to connect in an informal and friendly environment.

Volunteering

Through adviceBank AbaF matches arts organisations with expert business volunteers to work on specific business challenges which can include marketing, planning, IT, human resources and many other fields.

Australia Cultural Fund

The Australia Cultural Fund is a unique service created and facilitated by the Australia Business Arts Foundation

Australia Business Arts Foundation

The Australia Business Arts Foundation is an Australian organisation that connects the arts, business and donors.- History :Established in 2000, AbaF is a company of the Commonwealth and is supported by the Australian Government through the Cultural Development Program of the Office for the Arts,...

and endorsed by the ATO that allows AbaF to use its deductible gift recipient (DGR) status to receive donations on behalf of arts organisations and individual artists and pass on the funds in full in the form of grants. This service is offered by AbaF without any costs to either the donor or recipient and available to artists and arts organisations across Australia.

The AbaF Awards

The prestigious annual AbaF Awards honour the best relationships between the arts, business and donors.

Research

AbaF conducts research into sponsorship and donations to the arts in Australia, including the annual AbaF Survey of Private Sector Support for the Arts.