Become a Patron
Midsumma Pride March. Photo by Suzanne Balding
Become a Midsumma Patron
Midsumma is powered by community. Each year we produce a three-week festival and year-round programs that celebrate LGBTQIA+ arts, culture and stories across Victoria. With a small core team, 300+ volunteers, and around 70% of our budget raised privately, your support makes the difference between “good” and “unmissable.”
Why your support matters
Producing a world-class, accessible festival has real costs, staging, artist fees, accessibility measures, mentorships, our program guide and website, and planning happens all year. Your fully tax-deductible gift helps us keep major events free and invest in artists and communities.
Patron benefits
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VIP invitations to signature events (including our Program Launch in November) and special experiences during the festival
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Behind-the-scenes updates as the festival develops
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Recognition on our website, in the printed Program Guide (if you join by late October), and in our Annual Report
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Direct updates from our CEO via eNews
Your impact
Patron tax-deductible support directly funds access and development programs, backing new and emerging artists and improving inclusion for LGBTQIA+ people who face additional barriers, including people with disability and those impacted by cultural discrimination. You help more voices be heard, now and into the future.
Join our Patron community today and champion queer creativity all year round.
Midsumma Festival provides an important platform for their stories to be heard. But Midsumma needs your patronage to continue.
Patronage Types
Midsumma has four levels of patron:
o Diamond Patron: $5,000+
o Gold Patron: $2,000 – $4,999
o Silver Patron: $1,000 – $1,999
o Rainbow Patron: $500 – $999
In 2017, through donations, we created Midsumma Futures, a 9-month mentoring and skills development workshop program for up to 12 early career LGBTQIA+ artists. One mentoree film-maker Parisa La says:
"As an emerging artist, Midsumma Futures was the best thing that could have happened to me at this point in my career. Through incredibly well-planned workshops, all with very pertinent goals, I felt grounded, energised and focused. The artists that spoke at these sessions were always generous and honest with sharing their own personal experiences getting established in the industry. They not only shone a light on the obstacles that we may face on our journey forward but provided us with useful tools to overcome them. Thanks to the industry-based mentorship program, I was able to get the guidance and support I desperately sought to improve my skills as a filmmaker. Further, the value of the relationships I have built because of Midsumma Futures is priceless."
Subsequently, in 2018 we also initiated the ongoing Midsumma Pathways, a partner program to Midsumma Futures, but especially for LGBTQIA+ artists with disability.
Register to be a Patron now
Midsumma would like to thank the wonderful and generous patrons of the 2023/24 financial year:
Diamond Patron ($5,000+)
Anonymous
Jared Heath
Jason May
Paul Gonzalez
Gold Patrons ($2,000 – $4,999)
Tony Egan
Helen Furrow
Leigh Johns OAM
Kean Mac
Tom Marshall
Mark Matthews and Antony Jarvis
James Mitchell
Michael Parry & Brett Tuer
Tim Smyth
Robbie Van Dijk
Silver Patrons ($1,000 – $1,999)
Craig Amundsen & Jason Forde
Liz Austin (on behalf of Austin Legal)
Susanne Dahn AM
Brad Danaher
Helen Donnard
Rob Gould
David Johnston-Bell
David Marantelli
Julie Peters
Roy Ruiz
Judy Small AM
Jane Smith AM
Gail Veal
Alan Wright
Rainbow Patrons ($500 – $1,000)
Mitchell Ajduk
Rohan Astley
Enrico Burgio
Andrew Carnegie
Brenton Geyer
David Imber
Matteo Marantelli
Stephen Masterman
Mark Meierjohann
Carol Nichols
Garry Oliver
Aaron O'Shannessy
Geoffrey Renton
Sam Szwed
Beau Webb and Rhys Cranney
Jo Whyte
Register to be a Patron today
Or donate what you can, your contribution really counts.
Thank you! We couldn’t put on a three-week festival, or continue our mentor programs, without our Patrons – valued Festival Sponsors, Partners, and Providers who help us to continue to work year-round, and to produce our world-class festival each year.
Other ways you can donate:
Corporate Workplace Giving via Good Company for Midsumma Festival
Are you looking for new ways to reward your staff and attract new employees? There are some great ways to reward your team members with Charity Gift Vouchers, Paid Volunteering days and Workplace giving and payroll giving options.
So what is Workplace giving? Workplace Giving allows you to support Midsumma directly from your payroll plus you receive an immediate pre-tax benefit and Midsumma receives the full donation amount.
For example, if you donate $20 per pay cycle, it will only cost you $12.60* but Midsumma will receive the full $20.
This can help you to build corporate culture and drive workplace giving easily. Visit Good Company or get in touch with us to find out how you can set up Corporate Workplace Giving with Midsumma Festival.
Support Midsumma in GiveOut Day Australia
GiveOUT (formerly known as The Channel Giving Circle) is an LGBTIQ+ organisation based in Melbourne, Australia. Established in 2016, in their short history they have distributed more than $150,000 in grants to LGBTIQ+ community projects, supported more than 50 LGBTIQ+ community organisations, and released the first ever Australian report on the state of LGBTIQ+ funding.
Donate to Midsumma
Midsumma is a non-profit organisation staffed by a small team of committed professionals, governed by a voluntary Board of Management, and supported by hundreds of generous and passionate volunteers every year.
Donate to Midsumma
Midsumma's Closet - Merchandise
Midsumma’s Closet is your go-to for pride gear, gifts, and goodies. Every order powers our year-round programs and helps keep flagship events like Carnival and Pride March free each year.
Check out our MerchandiseLooking for something else?
