Immediately after the vote, KPMG signed a deed of company arrangement and control of operations was returned to the Carriageworks’ board of directors headed by chair Cass O’Connor.
The result ends a push within government for the sydney Opera House to take over operations of the Eveleigh Railway Yards venue.
Kerr Neilson led the philanthropic bailout, pledging $500,000.Credit: Louie Douvis
Carriageworks was placed into voluntary administration on May 4 after COVID-19 shutdowns forced it to cancel or postpone all its major upcoming events, including the Sydney Writers’ Festival, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia and its weekend markets.
The organisation’s major arts projects also went over budget in the year leading up to its collapse, including Nick Cave’s ambitious installation of thousands of found objects which ran over the summer of 2018/19, was popular and free to the public but cost Carriageworks $439,000 to stage.
Some of Sydney’s wealthiest benefactors stepped into the breach to pledge donations and loans of more than $1.6 million contingent on Carriageworks operating independently.
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Board member Geoff Ainsworth and his wife Johanna Featherstone pledged $2 million through their philanthropic Oranges & Sardines…
