News

Black Swan rejects conflict of interest concerns

Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group being the principal sponsor of Black Swan State Theatre Company raises potential governance concerns, given that Forrest’s wife Nicola is the company’s Chair.

28 Feb 2020

Richard Watts

Performing Arts

Photo credit: Lubos Chlubny via Shutterstock.

The new Executive Director of Black Swan State Theatre Company, Rick Heath, has rejected concerns about a potential conflict of interest for the company in light of the relationship between the company’s Chair and its principal sponsor.

Fortescue Metals Group was announced as Black Swan’s new principal sponsor at the company’s 2020 season launch last year.

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Richard Watts

Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts