Gretel Packer, Chair of the Packer Family Foundation, has announced the launch of the Melbourne and Perth Art Education Initiative, a $25 million, eight-year joint commitment of the Crown Resorts and Packer Family Foundations.

Based on the success of the Western Sydney Arts Initiative, the Melbourne and Perth Art Education Initiative will provide more young Australians with the opportunity to engage with the arts and help them reach their full potential.

Packer said as well as promoting creativity, most of these programs will be education focussed, using art as the vehicle with which to engage youth with their learning and their community.

“Australia is a vast, dynamic and multi-cultural country,” Packer said. “The programs we partner with through our Melbourne and Perth Art Education Initiative, as well as our Western Sydney Arts Initiative, will provide young Australians important social and cultural access points, mentoring and engagement opportunities, helping them on the path to fulfil their dreams.”

Launched in 2014, the National Philanthropic Fund is a joint commitment of the Crown Resorts and Packer Family Foundations. Over 10 years, from financial year 2015 to financial year 2024, AUD$200 million will be allocated to organisations which provide young Australians access to a better education, more opportunities to be creative and more opportunities to develop the self-esteem and confidence that will help them to build happy and fulfilled lives.

In its first year, the National Philanthropic Fund provided significant support to over 80 programs. Utilising art, music and sport, many of these programs are aimed at keeping some of the community’s most marginalised youth engaged with their education and learning.