PRIZED PHILANTHROPY: Isobel Griffin, of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, with a Rodin sculpture, Danaide, which was donated to the orchestra. Photo: Jay Cronan
How much would you pay for the chance to own a sculpture by Auguste Rodin?
What if the chance was only one in 30, and hinged on someone drawing your name out of a hat?
And would it matter where your money was going to end up?
Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Rodin sculpture that was donated by a rich Canberran benefactor. Photo: Jay Cronan
These are the questions that ran through the mind of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra's manager of philanthropy, Isobel Griffin, recently, when she was approached with an unusual offer.
The unnamed donor - a doyenne of the Canberra arts scene - wanted to give the orchestra a Rodin sculpture as a gift, to use as it saw fit.
Ms Griffin instantly began thinking of ways to generate funds for the orchestra's fellowship program without selling the sculpture directly.
She hit on the idea of making the work of art - a version of Rodin's famous bronze Danaide - the winning prize in a raffle that will be drawn later this year.
But the raffle will be more exclusive than your average door prize, with a maximum of just 30 entrants, all of whom must first make a substantial - and tax deductable - donation to the orchestra's Kingsland Fellowship program.
The program, named after the World War II RAAF Captain Sir Richard Kingsland, aims to help young music graduates to develop their professional careers - a future investment that Ms Griffin believes goes to the heart of what the orchestra is about.
"People always think of a symphony orchestra as 'elite', but I don't think that they really understand exactly how much work they do in the community," she said.
"We've got a lot of community programs, we're trying to employ our musicians, and I think that's a message that we're trying to educate people in at the moment.''
The sculpture has been independently valued at over $165,000, but through the raffle, the orchestra hopes to raise $250,000, a figure that indicates the calibre of donors expected to take part.
Ms Griffin was confident there were enough people in Canberra who can afford to both support the arts and take a punt on owning a bronze by the famous French artist.
"I think people who are serious collectors will do it for a couple of reasons. They'll do it first of all because we are focusing on education as a future program, but also because it's a very collectable work," she said.
And having worked in philanthropy for some time, she had learnt that donations often came from the unlikeliest of sources.
She recalled opening a letter several years ago from a woman whom she had never met, and finding a "very generous donation" inside in the form of a cheque.
The woman was heavily involved with Canberra's deaf, and the donation led to a three-year partnership with Cochlear, helping deaf people experience music.
"There are always specific programs that people are interested in, and one of them is education, and this is why you always see universities pull the big bucks, but I think as arts organisations you must never underestimate the value that you can have with a good partnership," she said.
"Every conversation we have is important, every single one, whether it's $100 or a Rodin sculpture, because those things can always grow into something new."
But ultimately, she and the unnamed donor are most excited about the prospect of the sculpture finding a new home with someone who appreciates the arts.
"I believe there are people in Canberra who are obviously careful with their money and they care where their money goes and they don't want to throw it away,and the fact that it's going into a program for the future is important," she said.
"But the bait, the really tempting enticement, is the prize."
The Rodin raffle-drawing event will be held at the French embassy in September, and the orchestra is now seeking expressions of interest. For more information, contact Isobel Griffin at philanthropy@cso.org.au.
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