The Australian Tapestry Workshop congratulates Baillieu Myer AC and Sarah Myer, recipients of the Creative Partnerships Australia Arts Visionary Award. This award honours an individual or family that through their leadership, advocacy, practice and example has contributed significantly to the arts and encouraged philanthropic giving. Mr and Mrs Myer are the joint recipients of this distinguished award along with longstanding ATW supporter Lady Potter AC.

Mr and Mrs Myer’s philanthropic engagement in the arts and cultural sector is astonishing in its breadth, depth and duration — and they have enriched the public and cultural life of our state (Victoria) for more than seven decades. Their support manifests in numerous buildings, galleries, collections and thriving arts agencies, including the ATW.

Mr Myer was an important figure in the small committee of influential Melbourne citizens who founded the ATW (formerly the Victorian Tapestry Workshop). His interest in the arts, business acumen, a mind that was open to new initiatives and fresh opportunities, and an active belief in philanthropy were all of great benefit to the committee. He has been a consistent, generous and farsighted supporter of the ATW since 1976 and we are proud to have him as our Patron. His deep understanding of Asia’s rising place in the world and his creative and lateral mind led to new initiatives involving tapestries designed by Asian artists being woven at the ATW. This brought a richness of experience to the weavers and forged lasting international links for the ATW.

Through their donations the Myers have contributed to the commissioning of many significant tapestries for public places including: The Royal Harvest, designed by Naomi Hobson for the Australian Embassy to Indonesia; Morning Star designed by Lyndell Brown and Charles Green for the Sir John Monash Centre, Villers-Bretonneux and Finding Kenneth Myer designed by John Young for the National Library of Australia. They have also commissioned a number of ATW tapestries for their private residences including works designed by Bronwyn Bancroft, Robert Ingpen AM and
Mary Macqueen.

Mr and Mrs Myer are also committed to supporting professional development programs for budding tapestry weavers. Myer Scholarship funds have enabled five ATW weavers to travel to Edinburgh to share expertise with Dovecot Studios weavers. In 2020 the Myers established the Baillieu Myer AC Scholarship and Sarah Myer Scholarship which will enable two tapestry weaver traineeships at the ATW as soon as the pandemic restrictions ease.

The Myers are recognised as leaders in contemporary attitudes to the value of supporting the arts through personal leadership and advocacy. They have consistently practised what they preach and made substantial personal contributions while encouraging peers and colleagues to recognise the importance and value of such support. They deeply understand the importance of providing meaningful, long term support to small agencies and strive unfailingly to educate and encourage other individuals with the capacity to do the same.
The ATW is immensely grateful to Mr and Mrs Myer for their spirited and unwavering generosity and support over 44 years. We are thrilled that this year they have been recognised by Creative Partnerships Australia’s Arts Visionary Award — they are outstanding and most worthy recipients.