News

Do you need a figurehead?

Patrons or ambassadors are de rigueur for many arts organisations, but what role do they play, and how do you secure their services?

18 Nov 2015 12:00

Richard Watts

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Writing and Publishing

Mark Bridges, Ship’s Figure Head

High profile actor and entertainer Todd McKenney was recently announced as the new Patron of Ensemble Theatre in Sydney, joining Georgie Parker in the role. Adelaide Fringe recently announced the appointment of British comedian Julian Clary (best known in Australia for his 1989-90 television series Sticky Moments) as the festival’s 2016 Fringe Ambassador, a role filled in previous years by comedians Kitty Flanagan and Paul McDermott.

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Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts