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| ANZAC Centenary Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Name | ANZAC Centenary Foundation |
| Formation | 2014 |
| Type | Commemorative foundation |
| Headquarters | Canberra |
| Region served | Australia; New Zealand |
| Leader title | Chair |
ANZAC Centenary Foundation The ANZAC Centenary Foundation was established to coordinate commemoration of the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign and the broader period of the First World War across Australia and New Zealand. It acted as a focal body linking federal and state institutions such as the Australian War Memorial, the National Archives of Australia, the National Library of Australia, and the New Zealand Defence Force with veterans’ organisations including the Returned and Services League of Australia and the RSA (Returned Services Association). The Foundation worked alongside cultural institutions like the National Gallery of Australia, universities such as the Australian National University, and civic entities in capital cities including Canberra, Sydney, and Wellington.
The Foundation was formed in the aftermath of intergovernmental discussions involving the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, and state and territory administrations during deliberations similar to those that produced commemorations for the Centenary of Federation (Australia). Its establishment followed precedents from organisations created for the Anzac Day centenary and drew on archival collaborations between the Imperial War Museum and the Australian War Memorial. Early initiatives referenced major First World War anniversaries such as the Battle of Gallipoli, the Western Front, and the Battle of the Somme, and coordinated with international partners including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the League of Nations centenary commemorative events.
The Foundation’s stated aims combined heritage preservation, education, and public remembrance. Objectives included fostering partnerships with museums like the Australian War Memorial and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, supporting research by scholars at institutions such as the University of Melbourne and Victoria University of Wellington, and promoting cultural programs tied to works like John Monash biographies and poetry by Wilfred Owen and John McCrae. It sought to ensure that commemorations connected to events such as the Gallipoli campaign and the Battle of Fromelles engaged contemporary audiences via museums, media outlets like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and publishing houses such as Allen & Unwin.
The governance model echoed boards used by bodies like the Anzac Centenary Advisory Board and comprised representatives from federal agencies, state ministries, and veterans’ organisations including the Australian Legion and the Returned and Services League of Australia. Chairs and board members were often drawn from public figures with experience in defence and heritage such as former officials associated with the Department of Veterans' Affairs and academics from the Australian National University and the University of Sydney. The organisation operated through committees comparable to those of the National Trust of Australia and maintained working groups for partnerships with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Imperial War Museum, and local councils like the City of Melbourne.
Programs included national lecture series modelled on initiatives by the Sydney Festival, school curriculum support akin to projects by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, and touring exhibitions similar to collaborations between the Australian War Memorial and the Canadian War Museum. The Foundation sponsored research grants awarded through universities such as the University of Queensland and supported creative commissions involving artists linked to the National Gallery of Australia and theatre festivals like the Melbourne International Arts Festival. Activities also encompassed digital projects inspired by platforms from the National Library of Australia and online archives mirroring work by the Trove service, and commemorative events held at sites including Anzac Cove and the Amiens battlefield.
Funding streams combined public appropriations analogous to grants from the Australian Government and the New Zealand Government with philanthropic contributions from foundations like the Myer Foundation and corporate partnerships similar to arrangements with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and ANZ Bank. Partnerships extended to heritage bodies including the National Archives of Australia, cultural organisations such as the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, and international collaborators like the Imperial War Museum and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Sponsorship agreements often paralleled those used by major commemorative campaigns such as the Centenary of Canberra.
Public programming combined formal ceremonies reflecting traditions observed by the Returned and Services League of Australia and the RSA (Returned Services Association) with community initiatives modelled on projects by the Centenary of ANZAC events. The Foundation coordinated remembrance services on Anzac Day and anniversaries of battles including the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, partnered with media organisations such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio New Zealand for broadcasts, and produced educational resources used in schools associated with the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority and the Ministry of Education (New Zealand). Commemorations often featured collaborations with choirs and performing arts groups linked to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
The Foundation left a legacy in strengthened institutional networks among the Australian War Memorial, the National Library of Australia, universities like the University of New South Wales, and state cultural agencies such as the State Library of Victoria. Its archives, exhibitions, and funded research influenced subsequent commemorative work tied to periods including the Second World War and contributed methodologies later used by organisations such as the National Trust of Australia (Victoria). The Foundation’s initiatives informed public history practice in Australia and New Zealand and continued to be referenced by scholars at institutions like the University of Otago and policy advisors in state capitals including Auckland and Perth.
Category:Commemorative organisations in Australia Category:Centenary projects Category:Military history of Australia