Fundraising Award for Q Theatre

Q Theatre is proud to announce that Development Manager, Lisa Bates, has won the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand’s ‘Most Promising Fundraiser’ award for her work on the Q Theatre Capital Campaign which she has been keenly involved in since 2008. 

In her time as Development Manager for Auckland’s new Q Theatre, Lisa Bates has helped to secure a third of the twenty-one million dollars raised to build the widely supported new performing arts venue in addition to harnessing wider support for the ongoing needs of the organisation.

“We are delighted by this achievement,” says Q Theatre General Manager, Susanne Ritzenhoff “Lisa’s work has helped Q Theatre successfully reach its capital campaign fundraising target which allowed the project to meet its deadline for the start of construction in December 2009.”

Fundraising award-winner Lisa Bates says “The achievement has largely been a team effort and I hold my relationships with our supporters very dearly.” The organisation acknowledges its champions, the performing arts community, the New Theatre Initiative and the family of donors, who have been fundamental in making Q Theatre a reality.

With the theatre set to open its doors in late 2011, the Q Theatre Development office is now focussing its attentions to securing funds for its arts development objectives.

“A part of our vision has always been to provide professional opportunities to help end the run of talented performers heading off shore in their search of career opportunities,”  says Ms Bates.

“With the right planning, Q Theatre will provide emerging artists opportunities through workshops, youth theatre programmes, mentorships and apprenticeships. Senior and mid-range practitioners will also experience development opportunities and support at Q to help ensure the growth and sustainability of the performing arts in Auckland city.”

For more information, visit www.qtheatre.co.nz or Contact: Lisa Bates (09) 309 8324; lisa@qtheatre.co.nz

About Q Theatre

Q Theatre will be a mid-sized professional performing arts venue in the heart of Auckland at 305 Queen St.

Q Theatre’s size, scale and flexibility will fill a gap in Auckland’s theatre needs. This sustainable venue will showcase a diverse range of performing arts disciplines from mid-career and senior artists, making exciting and creative experiences accessible to a variety of audiences.

Q Theatre aims to provide a venue where actors and other professional performing artists can develop their careers in Auckland, provide a meeting place for artists and audiences, and become a hub for the performing arts in Auckland and be a place that the city can be proud of both architecturally and artistically.

The venue will include a 350 – 450 seat auditorium (stage and seating can be reconfigured) a 120 seat studio space, a vibrant café and bar, 2 rehearsal rooms and a function / theatre in education space.