Australian artist and philanthropist Neil Balnaves dies in boating accident
Australian arts philanthropist Neil Balnaves has died at 77 following a boating accident. Balnaves was reportedly holidaying with his wife, Diane, near Tahiti when the accident occurred.
Leading figures from the art industry have paid tribute to Neil, as a man who had a vision to “create a better Australia”.
The Balnaves Foundation released a statement on Tuesday, confirming his death. “The Balnaves family sends their heartfelt thanks for people’s kind words and wishes and kindly requests privacy at this difficult time,” it read.
Balnaves had a successful career in TV, running Southern Star production house and producing popular shows including Big Brother, Bananas in Pyjamas, Water Rats and McLeod’s Daughters.
After a string of successes, he became chair of the Ardent Leisure Group, which ran theme parks such as Dreamworld on the Gold Coast from 2003 until 2016.
After a boating accident on the Gold Coast in 2002, which almost killed him, Balnaves became an avid philanthropist. He gave away $20m of his fortune to arts organisations.
Guardian Australia was just one of the beneficiaries of his philanthropic foundation, which also donated to Sydney’s Ensemble and Belvoir Street theatres, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of South Australia, the Adelaide festival and Bangarra Dance Theatre.
The foundation gave a grant to Guardian Australia for in-depth reporting on Indigenous affairs, and an in-depth reporting project on Australian art.
The Balnaves Foundation also funded Indigenous and health research.
Balnaves is survived by his wife, Diane Balnaves, whom he married in 1971, and his children, Hamish and Victoria.
Kilmurry described Balnaves as a champion for the creative community, not just with his philanthropy but his personal passion for the arts.
“We will miss his generous and fearless spirit,” he said.
Image: Getty