RØDE founder and chairman donates $5million to Sydney Festival

“Our artistic communities need assistance now more than ever, and the past 12 months have highlighted just how fragile the industry is”

Rode Peter Freedman

RØDE’s founder and chairman, Peter Freedman AM

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Peter Freedman AM, founder and chairman of RØDE Microphones, is donating $5million to the Sydney Festival, marking the largest singular philanthropic contribution to the festival in its history. The donation will have a pivotal impact on the success of the festival in 2021 and beyond.

Mr Freedman’s donation comes as part of his renewed commitment as principal philanthropic partner of the Sydney Festival. He has been in this position since 2013 and has contributed a significant amount to the festival during this time. In 2016, he received the Order of Australia for his service to business, manufacturing and export, along with his philanthropic support for cultural events.

“I am extremely proud to continue my support of Australian arts and culture with this donation to the Sydney Festival,” says Mr Freedman. “Our artistic communities need assistance now more than ever. The creative arts are at the mercy of this pandemic, more so than any other industry, and the past 12 months have highlighted just how fragile the industry is.”

“Mr Freedman’s generous philanthropic gift will do much to rescue the state of our arts industry after the immense disruption COVID has caused,” says Olivia Ansell, Incoming Sydney Festival Director. “New commissions, major presentations and the livelihoods of so many talented Australian and international artists will be made possible because of his generosity and unwavering belief in what we do”

Peter Freedman continues: “I have long been an advocate for the Sydney Festival and strongly believe it is one of the world’s most important cultural events and most certainly Australia’s. The Festival has supported thousands of creative artists and behind-the-scenes workers in the industry. These are the people who have supported my career with RØDE, and this is my way of giving back to them.”

Last year, RØDE delivered up to $2million worth of podcasting equipment to New South Wales schools impacted by COVID-19. The equipment, comprising RØDECaster Pro podcast kits, was donated to help schools and teachers provide a higher standard of education remotely while schools were closed.

Read the full statement at rode.com.

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