Darwin Festival rejects philanthropic offer to cover $100k Santos funding

An ‘alternative sponsorship option’ for the Darwin Festival has fallen through after the board rejected an offer from climate activists to offset a $100,000 fossil fuel funding shortfall.

Darwin Festival's Santos opening concert at The Gardens Amphitheatre was previously sponsored by the energy giant to the tune of $100,000 a year.

The Darwin Festival board has insisted its future is secure despite rejecting a philanthropic offer to make up a $100,000 funding shortfall created by the withdrawal of its major sponsor.

It comes after energy giant Santos withdrew its annual sponsorship of the festival in October following pressure from green group Fossil Free Arts NT.

In a statement at the time, Santos chief of staff and vice president strategy Jane Norman said the company understood the festival had secured “alternative sponsorship options”.

But on Monday, the festival’s board released a statement confirming it had rejected a funding offer from philanthropical organisation Original Power after negotiations stalled.

“The board recognises that it is due to the support of sponsors that Darwin Festival is able to stage a world class festival, and would like to express their appreciation to Original Power for coming to them with the offer of sponsorship,” it reads.

“There were some non-negotiable terms and conditions set out in the offer that could have had wider implications to the independence and operations of the festival. Attempts by the board to enter into negotiations around these terms were declined.

“After careful consideration, the board has made the decision to decline the sponsorship offer put forward by Original Power.

“The festival’s future is secure and we look forward to sharing our 2023 program in the new year.”

The board did not respond to questions about how it would cover the $100,000 annual shortfall.

In a letter to the board from Original Power, released by Fossil Free Arts, the philanthropists expressed their disappointment in the board’s decision and urged it to reconsider.

“We are disappointed that your initial response to our offer is to reject a collaborative approach to ensuring the sustainable future direction of the Darwin Festival,” it reads.

You Am I’s Tim Rogers performs at a previous Darwin Festival Santos opening night concert.

“We encourage the Darwin Festival to reconsider its position, and to accept this leadership opportunity to move towards a sustainable sponsorship framework.

“We stand ready to fulfil our offer to work with the Darwin Festival in providing generous support from the philanthropic community, underpinned by strong artist and community input, that reflects the reality of our times of climate disruption and is in step with community values.”

Fossil Free Arts spokeswoman Anna Weekes said the board had missed an opportunity “to bring the event in line with community values”.

“Festival artists, audiences and First Nations communities are disappointed that the board is refusing to develop an ethical sponsorship policy which rules out fossil fuel sponsorship, as many other festivals and cultural institutions have done in Australia and overseas.

“It’s a reckless business decision and one that guarantees the event will continue to be mired in controversy as climate change and community concerns escalate.

“It suggests the board remain unduly influenced by its fossil fuel sponsors and out of touch with its artists and audiences who are demanding change.”