Friends of the Tait Memorial Trust
Support the next generation of performing artists
Become a Friend of the Tait Memorial Trust from £75 a year and help young performing artists from Australia and New Zealand continue their studies and early careers in the United Kingdom.
Friends receive event benefits, invitations, and opportunities to play a direct role in the future of exceptional young artists.
The Tait Memorial Trust has helped more than 400 young performing artists from Australia and New Zealand and raised more than £900,000 since its foundation in 1992. The Trust was created by Isla Baring OAM with her mother Viola, Lady Tait, to honour the memory of Sir Frank Tait and his brothers, whose contribution to the performing arts in Australia was profound.
Join us in supporting young artists who come to the United Kingdom to pursue advanced training and early professional opportunities.
Join by post or email
Tait Memorial Trust4/80 Elm Park Gardens
London SW10 9PD
Other ways to join
You can download the Friends brochure and application form, or set up your annual payment by standing order.
Membership options
Tait Friend
£75+ per year
A strong first step for supporters who want to stay connected and take part in the life of the Trust.
- Two tickets to the annual drinks reception
- 10% discount on Tait events
Tait Melba Supporter
£250+ per year
For donors who want to deepen their support and receive greater access and recognition.
- All Tait Friend benefits
- Priority booking
- Name listed on the website
Tait Frank & Viola Friends
£500+ per year
For supporters who want a closer relationship with the artists and the Trust.
- All previous benefits
- Invitation for two to dinner with award recipients
- Priority booking
- Name listed on the website
Tait Helpmann Circle
£1,000+ per year
A higher level of annual support linked to direct artist development.
- All previous benefits
- Award linked to an individual awardee
This level is linked to the Adopt a Performer scheme.
Tait Bonynge Partner
£3,000+ per year
For major supporters who want an active role in artist development.
- All previous benefits
- You will be listed as a named sponsor
- Regular progress reports about your awardee
- Invitations to other special sponsor events
Tait Borovansky Partner
£4,000+ per year
A ballet focused sponsorship level with direct artist connection.
- All previous benefits
- You will be listed as a named sponsor
- Regular progress reports about your awardee
- You will be invited to class to see your awardee rehearse
- Invitations to other special sponsor events
Tait Sutherland Benefactor
£5,000+ per year
A major annual commitment with public recognition and deeper engagement.
- All previous benefits
- Named award at a UK institution
- Invitation to a benefactor reception
- Invitations to performances where your awardee may be performing
- Opportunities to invite guests to selected events
- Grateful acknowledgment in the Annual Report
Tait Grainger Patron
£10,000+ per year
The highest Friends level, created for major philanthropy and bespoke recognition.
- Prominent listing across programmes, press releases, and website
- Personal acknowledgment in the Annual Report and at major events
- Private dinner with the Chairman and selected awardees
- Invitation to a private performance or rehearsal
Adopt a Performer
The Adopt a Performer scheme allows a donor to directly support a young performing artist from Australia and New Zealand studying in the United Kingdom through an annual commitment over three years.
The greatest return is to see your awardee fulfil their potential and know that your support played a real part in making that possible.
Development Fund and bequests
In 2017, thanks to a generous gift from the Australian Charity Art Auction, we established the Tait Development Fund with an initial deposit of £10,000. This fund is intended to provide a permanent legacy for future generations of Australasian performing artists.
The Tait Development Patron category is open to anyone who donates or bequeaths £5,000 or more to the Development Fund.
If you are considering a gift or bequest and would like to discuss how it will be managed, please contact James at james@taitmemorialtrust.org.
Supporters and patrons
Bequests
- Mr John Crisp
- Cavalier Richard Gunter
- Mrs Peggy Haim
- Mrs June Mendoza AM OBE
- Viola, Lady Tait AM
Tait Grainger Patron £10,000+
- Anonymous
- Est. of Lady Mackerras*
- Mrs Barbara Ross
- Ms Eugenie White*
Tait Sutherland Benefactor £5,000+
- Maestro Richard Bonynge AC CBE*
- Mr John Frost AM*
- Dr Alastair Jackson AM*
- Mr Paddy Linaker
- The Thornton Foundation*
Tait Endowment Patrons £5,000+
- Earl Cadogan KBE DL
- Mrs Karen Goldie-Morrison
- The Hon Sarah Joiner
- Mrs Anne Longden
- Mrs Barbara Ross
- Mr Michael Whalley OAM
Tait Bonynge Partner £3,000+
- The Linbury Trust*
- Mr David Norman*
Tait Helpmann Circle £1,000+
- Mr Peter Andreae
- Mrs Georgie Black
- Mr & Mrs N. Heesom
- The Hon Sarah Joiner
- Mr Matthew Phillips
TMT Frank & Viola Friends £500+
- Anonymous
- Mrs Lorraine Buckland
- Mrs Sandra de Monte
- Mr Denzil How
- Mr Anthony Jamison
- Mrs Ana Stanic
Tait Melba Supporter £250+
- Mrs Jacqueline Thompson
- Mr Damian Walsh
TMT Friends £75+
- Mr Julian Agnew
- Mr David Baillieu
- Miss Janina Bialoguski
- Mrs Marjorie Bowden
- Mrs Jenny Briscoe
- Mrs Susanna Buckley
- Mr & Mrs David Butter
- Mr & Mrs Marcus Clapham
- Mr James Coventry
- Mrs Katherine Coventry
- Mrs Nikki Coventry
- Mr Daniel Crowley
- Mrs Fay Curtin
- Miss Leanne Cutler
- Mrs Meredith Daneman
- Mr Roger Davenport
- Miss Celestine Ekerick
- Mrs Fiona Hayward
- Mr Patrick Kennedy
- Mr Martin Kramer
- Mrs Wendy Kramer
- Mr Tim Layton
- Mrs Marie-Jan Macleod
- Miss Joanna McCallum
- Miss Ellen Moloney
- Mrs Lisa Orlov (Ferguson)
- Professor Nico Postma
- Mr Frederick Pyne
- Mrs Sue Whitley
- Mrs Maria Woodruff
Partners
- Aust. Charity Art Auction
- Aust. Women’s Club, London
- Australian High Commission UK
- Australian UK Chamber
- Britain-Australia Society
- FANZA
- New Zealand High Commission UK
- Royal Over-Seas League
- The Cook Society