News just in:

Only two weeks out from its deadline, La Mama has raised the $1.8 million to secure the purchase of its Faraday Street home in Carlton, La Mama has achieved its goal.

Long-standing Artistic Director of La Mama, Liz Jones, yesterday received a letter from Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, The Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP, announcing the Federal Government’s contribution of $175,000.

‘This special one-off grant is in recognition of the rich cultural history of La Mama and its role in the development of our emerging young artists,' said Mr Garrett.

‘The Federal Government’s contribution, combined with the $40,000 that was raised at last night’s hugely successful Save La Mama Big Benefit Bash, held at the Athenaeum Theatre, just got us over the line’, said Liz Jones.

Last night’s sold out Save La Mama Big Benefit Bash that went through until the early hours of this morning included an overwhelming number of performers who revealed how integral La Mama is to Melbourne’s and Australia’s cultural life.

‘It's been incredibly affirming how generous our community, philanthropic organisations and local Council, State and Federal Government have been’, says Jones, who has been with La Mama since 1973.

Since they put out the call, Liz Jones has been overwhelmed by the responses which have helped the Trust to reach the target. As well as the $175,000 from the Federal Government, La Mama received generous donations of $350,000 from Jeanne Pratt of The Pratt Foundation, $250,000 from the Sidney Myer Fund, $170,000 from The City of Melbourne, $150,000 from the Victorian State Government, $150,000 from the Ian Potter Foundation, and $50,000 from each of the following: The Grollo Ruzzene Foundation, The Besen Family Foundation, Robert Salzer Foundation and The Harold Mitchell Foundation (to be used for operational purposes only), $25,000 from the Malcolm Robertson Foundation and $20,000 from Readings, along with support from other theatre companies, industry members, local traders, residents and friends of La Mama.

End press release. What a feat! Congratulations to La Mama and all involved. And now I'm orf to the theatre...