Programs

Being involved with the Awaken Dance Theatre from their beginning stages in 2018 to their current developments has been an exciting journey for both parties. Including the Australian Ballet as mentors, the incredible training experience of Awaken offers many young dancers in Shepparton, amazing learning opportunities, practical skills development and pathways for their interest in this artform.  Their recent seasons of BLOOM & AUTOMATIC were an exciting journey and outstanding experience and viewing for all involved.

A longstanding relationship with Kaiela Arts has played a vital role in the Fairley Foundation’s advocacy for increased recognition of Aboriginal arts and cultural expression in regional Victoria.

This advocacy is through various forms that include local Aboriginal artist sponsorship to assist in the upskill of textile medium to providing support of the development of design skills for an artist within the screen print medium.

Each year the Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation partners with La Trobe University to present a lecture from a prominent Australian.

African House is a safe, welcoming space where all people who identify with African cultures can gather to preserve, honour, celebrate and pass on African cultures through stories, music, dance, food and fellowship.  They provide and support capacity building for people of African heritage to assist them to participate successfully and fully in the wider Goulburn Valley community.

The Fairley Foundation Trustees understand due to the covid pandemic that short-term funding deficits can be created when venue hire facilities come to a halt.

As a result, the Foundation supports a part time local African community member to train as the African House Manager to support venue hire opportunities with existing local community groups and to expand and attract new partnerships.  This type of capacity building funding will directly support African House to become more sustainable.

The Australian National Piano Award showcases some of Australia’ most brilliant emerging classical pianists and is open to Australian based pianists aged 21-35 years. The Award embodies the highest national and international music standards and recognises the pursuit of professional excellence, technical brilliance and extraordinary flair. 

The Shepparton community welcomes these young pianists with warmth and enthusiasm to hear piano music in a cooperative festival-like atmosphere.  The benefits for young emerging artists are enormous:  a substantial period of focus on performance, the necessity for stamina of concentration and wide ranging repertoire, and good opportunities for feedback from industry professionals as well as from a large audience under professional performance conditions in a fine hall.  The Fairley Foundation is honoured to support this event which showcases some of Australia’s most brilliant emerging classical pianists.