The Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation has received a monumental $10 million donation from Dr Pamela Wall AO, marking the largest-ever contribution to the performing arts in South Australia.
This astonishing gift is part of Dr Wall’s long tradition of support for the arts, having been a consistent benefactor alongside her late husband, Ian. Their commitment aimed to ensure ongoing access to and the enjoyment of live performances for both artists and patrons.
The Adelaide Festival Centre shared their gratitude for this significant contribution on their Facebook page, acknowledging Dr Wall’s steadfast belief in the impact of the arts and the programs the Centre conducts.
In addition to this major donation, Dr Wall has also made an impactful contribution to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. In December, she financed the permanent installation of a three-metre-long glass sculpture by internationally acclaimed artist Dale Chihuly. Titled ‘Glacier Ice and Lapis Chandelier’, the piece was designed specifically for the Gardens’ Palm House.
Dr Wall’s investment will enable the stunning artwork to remain a fixture in the Gardens following the conclusion of the Chihuly in the Botanic Garden exhibition in April 2025. “As someone who has cherished and supported the arts and nature throughout my life it fills me with immense pleasure to support the acquisition of such an awe-inspiring glass chandelier made specifically by Dale Chihuly for the Palm House in the Adelaide Botanic Garden,” said Dr Wall. She added that the chandelier would continue to delight Garden visitors for the foreseeable future.
Earlier in 2024, Dr Wall also made an unprecedented donation to St Peter’s Woodlands, a co-educational Anglican primary school located in Adelaide’s Glenelg suburb. The school will use her $1 million donation to construct a new centre for sport and performing arts. This facility is planned to open in 2026, equipped with a 500-seat capacity and state-of-the-art sound, lighting, and staging technology, suitable for hosting various school events, including the annual musical and awards night.
Reflecting on her formative years, Dr Wall recounted her time as a boarder at the institution during the 1940s when it was known as Woodlands Church of England Girls Grammar School. She described it as her home from age 10 to 16, a place pivotal in shaping her life and where she forged some of her fondest memories. Through her generous donation, Dr Wall aims to enrich the lives of current and future students by providing them with a multifunctional space designed to inspire joy and creativity.
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