_2012/13

Sydney Opera House Annual Report

Celebrating 40 years in 2013

2012/13

Contents 3 Letter to Minister

3 Our History

3 Who We Are

4 Our Mission

5 Elements of Our Strategy

5 Our Values

6 Highlights

7 Awards

8 Chairman s Message

10 CEO s Message

12 Element 1: Our Stakeholders

14 Element 2: The Building

16 Element 3: Performing Arts

16 Presenting Companies

20 The Opera House Presents

24 Element 4: Visitor Experience

26 Element 5: Our Business Agility

27 Organisation Chart

28 Corporate Governance

30 Trust Members

34 People and Culture

38 Financial Overview

41 Financial Statements

74 Government Reporting

97 Donor Acknowledgement

101 Contact Information

102 Index Cover Image

103 Corporate Partners Sydney Opera House opened in 1973 and celebrates its 40th Anniversary in the 2013 year.

3

Our History

_1957 Jrn Utzon wins Sydney Opera House design competition.

_1959 Work begins on Stage 1 building the foundations.

_1966 Jrn Utzon resigns.

_1973 First guided tours of Sydney Opera House.

First performance in Sydney Opera House Australian Opera Prokofievs War and Peace in the Opera Theatre.

Opening Ceremony and Royal Concert with HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

_1979 Concert Hall Grand Organ completed.

_1999 Opening of The Studio venue.

Jrn Utzon is re-engaged as design consultant to the Sydney Opera House.

_2002 Sydney Opera House Utzon Design Principles published.

_2003 Sydney Opera House Conservation Plan (3rd Edition) published.

State Heritage Listing achieved.

_2004 Utzon Room opened first venue at Sydney Opera House designed by Jrn Utzon.

Recording Studio opened.

_2005 National Heritage Listing achieved.

_2006 Colonnade opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II designed by Jrn Utzon, it is the first change to the exterior of the building since its completion in 1973.

_2007 UNESCO World Heritage Listing.

_2009 Western Foyers fully refurbished.

_2010 New food and beverage precinct opens on Lower Concourse level.

_2011 Vehicle Access and Pedestrian Safety project commenced.

_2013 40th Anniversary celebrations.

Who We Are

Sydney Opera House is a global icon, the most internationally recognised symbol of Australia and one of the great buildings of the world.

We are committed to continuing the legacy of Utzons creative genius by creating, producing and presenting the most acclaimed, imaginative and engaging performing arts experiences from Australia and around the world: onsite, offsite and online.

We are one of the worlds busiest performing arts centres, with seven primary performance venues in use nearly every day of the year. In 2012/13, 1,895 live performances were enjoyed by more than 1.37 million people.

Sydney Opera House is a core part of the national cultural fabric and an important piece of tourism infrastructure. More than 8.2 million people from Australia and around the world visit Sydney Opera House each year and 310,000 people take part in guided tours. A 2008 report to the Commonwealth Government (Economic Activity of Australias World Heritage Areas) estimated Sydney Opera House contributes $758.4m in direct and indirect household income and 12,165 direct and indirect jobs to the Commonwealth.

We are also a community symbol that unites Australians from all geographic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Nationwide research has shown that 95% of Australians, wherever they live, see Sydney Opera House as a national icon and a source of national pride.

We are a commercially run organisation that generates 85% of its operational funding through commercial and other ventures (food and beverage, ticket sales, venue rentals and associated business, retail, tourism, and fundraising). The 15% balance of operating funding comes from the NSW State Government Endowment, which also funds the maintenance of the Sydney Opera House building.

In July 2007, Sydney Opera House was inscribed on the World Heritage list by UNESCO as a masterpiece of human creative genius. Importantly, our commitment to leadership in performance and creativity goes hand in hand with our responsibility to look after this great building to uphold its beauty and integrity but also to maintain it as a living, working space.

We have a responsibility to resident companies (Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia, Sydney Theatre Company, The Australian Ballet, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Bangarra Dance Theatre), artists, audiences and the community to ensure that this process of renewal and rejuvenation is consistent with our role of cultural adventurer.

The Hon. George Souris MP MINISTER FOR THE ARTS

We have the pleasure of presenting the Annual Report of the Sydney Opera House for the year ended 30 June 2013, for presentation to Parliament. This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 and the Public Audit and Finance Act 1983.

KIM WILLIAMS AM LOUISE HERRON AM CHAIRMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

2012/13

Our Mission

The Sydney Opera House embodies beauty, inspiration and the liberating power of art and ideas. It is a masterpiece that belongs to all Australians.

_We will treasure and renew the Opera House for future generations of artists, audiences and visitors.

_Everything we do will engage and inspire people through its excellence, ambition and breadth. We will strengthen our central role in Australias life and identity.

5

Elements of Our Strategy

_1 Our Stakeholders Achieving our mission requires greater engagement with key stakeholders, including our customers and resident companies, government, private and corporate supporters, commercial partners, staff and the broader public. Strong, mutually beneficial relationships are crucial if the Opera House is to continue to evolve.

_2 The Building As custodians we will do the building justice, honouring the Utzon design principles, its standing as one of the worlds pre-eminent works of architecture and performing arts venues. To do this, we will work to conserve and renew the building, preparing it for future generations of artists, audiences and visitors.

_3 Performing Arts The Opera House is charged with the development and promotion of artistic taste and achievement and the encouragement of innovation. The Opera House represents the peak of artistic ambition, yet is grounded in a uniquely Australian egalitarianism. As we steam into our fifth decade, we will ensure the Opera House remains a vibrant cultural landmark attracting, engaging and inspiring ever more people.

_4 Visitor Experiences People love coming to the Opera House. It is a special meeting place and an essential part of a visit to Australia. We want visitors and locals to increasingly see it as the heart of Sydney.

We will offer a wide range of compelling reasons to come more often, to stay longer and to enjoy the Opera House more. It will be vibrant day and night, inside and outside.

_5 Our People and Business Agility We need the best and most appropriate people and systems to deliver our mission. We will focus on longterm growth, underpinned by sound financial management and cost-effective delivery of services and we will actively manage risk and safety.

Our

Essential

Values

_Collaboration We will work together with a shared purpose and vision.

_Focus We will not deviate from our mission. We will learn from experience.

_Safety Underlying everything we do is our commitment to work safely.

_Community We will be generous of spirit and welcoming.

_Creativity We work with imagination.

220012/12/1313

Highlights

_1 Our Stakeholders New donor group the Idealists

launched (p.13)

New corporate sponsorships with Samsung Electronics Australia and Etihad Airways (p.13)

Their Royal Highnesses Crown

Prince Frederik and Princess Mary

of Denmark agreed to be Patrons

of the Opera Houses 40th

Anniversary (p.13)

New disability Access Strategic

Plan launched (p.13)

_2 The Building NSW Government announced funding of $13.7 million (2014-15) to develop a capital works master plan (p.15)

The Vehicle Access and Pedestrian Safety project progressed while the site remained fully operational (p.15)

Significant maintenance projects

completed (p.15)

Safety projects totalling

$1 million implemented (p.15)

The Opera House was chosen to be part of the international Scottish Ten digital conservation project (p.15)

_3 Performing Arts 1,378,445 people attended 1,895

performances an increase of

1% in attendance and 4.8% in

performances (p.16)

684,394 people attended 704

resident arts company

performances (p.17)

452,957 people attended 888

The Opera House Presents

performances (p. 21)

Attendance at Vivid Live in 2013 was the highest in the five-year life of the festival (p.21)

_4 Visitor Experiences New food and beverage options

available (p.25)

313,107 people took a guided tour an increase of 1.9% (p.25)

New tours increased site activation during themed festivals and Chinese New Year (p.25)

_5 Our People and Business Agility New Enterprise Strategy endorsed by the Trust (p.35)

New health and safety initiatives

introduced (p.35)

40 training and development

pro