Audi Foyer is Launched at New Melbourne Recital Centre

MELBOURNE, Australia – December 4, 2008: The main foyer of the soon-to-be opened Melbourne Recital Centre (MRC) will carry the name of Australia’s fastest growing luxury car brand, Audi.

As a principal sponsor of the MRC, Audi will also regularly support performances by visiting German ensembles as part of its commitment to the Centre’s annual program.

The agreement sees Audi Australia Pty Ltd extend its major commitment to the arts in Australia.

Audi also is principal sponsor of the Sydney Theatre Company, and this latest 5-year partnership clearly marks a heightened presence in Victoria, says Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann.

“This new major partnership with the MRC adds to our cultural portfolio and reflects not only on our growth in Australia, but also on our growing strength in the Victorian market,” said Hofmann.

“This engagement provides us with a highly visible presence in Melbourne and aligns us with a truly world-class facility that displays all of the innovation, technological progression and focus on quality which are characteristics of Audi.

“The newly-named “Audi Foyer” is also a perfect fit with the Audi focus on design leadership, particularly given the cutting-edge design of both the centre and the space itself.

“Add to that the opportunity to present the best in German ensemble music in one of the worlds truly great performance spaces, and the fit couldn’t be better,” Mr Hofmann added.

The Melbourne Recital Centre is part of the redevelopment and growth of the Melbourne Arts Precinct undertaken by the Victorian Government and Arts Victoria. It is a purpose built facility boasting both cutting edge design and world-leading performance spaces. It features the 1,000 seat Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Auditorium which is anticipated to be among the top ensemble and soloist performance spaces in the world.

Due to open on Dame Elisabeth’s 100th birthday on February 8th 2009, the MRC also recently launched its first three-month performance program showcasing some of the world’s most renowned ensembles and soloists in both classical and contemporary music.

MRC Chairman, Jim Cousins, welcomes the Audi principal sponsorship saying: “We are extremely pleased and excited to have an international power brand, such as Audi, on board. Given their record of cultural involvement here and around the world, we are certain they will bring enormous value to this great new Australian cultural centre as an active partner.

“We know that the Audi Foyer will be the hub of activity at the MRC and to have it carry the name of a company that so closely shares our values and which aims to be a real partner in presenting the world’s best performers, is the kind of involvement we value very highly.

“The fact that Audi has already demonstrated the long-term cultural vision by committing for at least five years as a principal sponsor shows a clear expression of their belief in the MRC and the quality of programs that we will bring to Victorian cultural life.”

Cultural engagement is a central part of the company’s international community participation and support. Audi has a long–standing tradition of cultural commitment with numerous partnerships and its own suite of cultural events around the globe.

These include support of events such as the Salzburg, Beijing Music Festivals and even Jazz Festivals in the Baltic States; with Audi equally supporting established events as well as support for young and emerging talent.

Audi also supports internationally the visual arts with a heavy emphasis on contemporary design and the interaction with the modern landscape.

The partnership with the MRC now adds to the Audi global arts commitment both in the support of a world-leading contemporary art space and the performances that will take place in it.

“The Audi Foyer” at the MRC will be open to the public from the opening festival week beginning with the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch 100th Birthday Celebration performance on February 8 2009.

Further details of Audi’s support of visiting artist seasons will be announced as part of the ongoing MRC performance program launches in coming months.