TarraWarra Museum Image via Culture Victoria
One of the highest awards, the Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, went to TarrraWarra founder and chairman Marc Besen.
Besen was given the award primarily for ‘eminent service to the visual and performing arts as a leading benefactor and supporter’. The award also acknowledged his philanthropic contributions to a range of social welfare, community health, educational and youth initiatives, and to business. In addition to TarraWarra Museum of Art, which he has chaired since it opened in 2003, Besen has been a member, National Council of Australian Opera, since 1984 and has served on the Council of National Museums of Australia, the Victorian State Opera Board and the Australian National Gallery Foundation.
