Feature... The Joy of Giving
Pam McKee, Chris Penny, Kate Stock, Dr Pammie Wall OAM, Jo Evans and David McKee AO
A beautifully dressed table nestles in Gallery 2 of JamFactory’s headquarters in Adelaide’s west end. With Robert Wuldi’s woven copper works as the backdrop, the table is laid with ceramics and glassware from the jam collection. Pours are from JamFactory partners: wine from Seppeltsfield Barossa and Bird in Hand’s aptly named Joy sparkling.
Words Lee Theodoros, freelance writer.
Photos Connor Patterson
In 2025, JamFactory marks a milestone: a decade of bold, collective giving through its Medici Collective and FUSE Glass Program.
What began as a visionary idea has grown into a powerful force behind South Australia’s creative economy, driven by innovation, artistry and the deep, shared belief and generosity of its supporters.
Gathered at the table are some of the Donors invested in the future of JamFactory artists: Dr Pamela Wall OAM, long-time supporter of the FUSE Glass Program with her late husband, Dr Ian Wall AM; Jo Evans, Architect and Co- Director of JPE Design Studio; Kate Stock, a Director of the Day Family Foundation; Chris Penny, now retired Director at Ginn & Penny Insurance Brokers; David McKee AO and Pam McKee, Medici Patrons and supporters of the Associate Program and FUSE Glass Programs; and Stanzee Treliving, General Manager of family-owned Cocco Corp. and one of the next-generation of Treliving Family giving.
Together, our Donors share a passion for South Australia’s creative future and for helping artists grow professionally and sustain their craft. They give to important causes and organisations, not only in the arts but across many sectors. At the core, they share a generosity mindset. They derive joy from giving.
“When we realise how lucky we are in our upbringing and education, our professional opportunities, all those things, it’s hard not to think, I’m going to give back,” said Kate Stock, whose family began the Day Family Foundation as a means of structured giving to arts and other causes that align with their family values.
David McKee, whose long connection to the arts includes the Art Gallery of South Australia, Helpmann Academy, Ukaria, among other not-for-profit organisations, said he is pleased he has been able to give while alive to see the outcomes and be active in the decision making.
”It is a joy and delight to give to organisations, like JamFactory, to help particularly younger people starting careers in the arts - because it really is a tough life. It’s about supporting their passion and hard work,” he said.
For Pammie Wall, who recently gifted Dale Chihuly’s dazzling Glacier Ice and Lapis Chandelier to the Botanic Garden after the acclaimed Chihuly in the Botanic Garden exhibition, giving is about kindness. “It’s about helping others, helping the community to be strong, sharing and understanding.”
JamFactory Development Director Nikki Hamdorf said Donor belief in the entrepreneurial spirit of artists and designers, and in JamFactory’s training model, have helped shape extraordinary outcomes for both the organisation and its Associates.
More than 100 donors have pledged more than $1 million in the past decade, to support the Associate Training Program – the most significant career development opportunity in Australia for emerging creative entrepreneurs working in ceramics, glass, furniture and metal.
Jo Evans and David McKee AO
Dr Pammie Wall OAM
THE POWER OF THE COLLECTIVE
Through the Medici Collective and FUSE Glass Program, Donors have made possible global development opportunities - from providing access to inspiring mentors, to life- changing international residencies. For many, engagement goes beyond giving: 85 percent of JamFactory Donors have commissioned works, shopped the retail store and actively engaged with programs and Associates: 10 percent have increased their support, and bequests have been nurtured.
“To be able to somehow play a part in the artists’ stories and in the protection of them, and perhaps how they can continue to prosper” is an outcome that has kept Jo Evans and her husband Nat Campbell connected to JamFactory for a decade. “What I think we (as Donors) have in common is a connection to art, craft and design and knowing how special it is and how fragile it is.”
Chris Penny, Medici Collective supporter with his wife Angela Carey, said “it’s fantastic to see these young artists that eventually bloom and become successful artists. Without the support they wouldn’t be doing what they love. That side of it is very rewarding.”
What has evolved in a decade of collective giving at JamFactory is a thriving and progressive community bound by shared vision, enduring relationships, and a legacy of creative impact.
With shrinking government funding for the cultural sector, philanthropy is essential. Since 2015, JamFactory has generated 22% more of its revenue from self-generated income than the average of Creative Australia– funded organisations, while receiving 2% less government funding than the national average.
Stanzee Treliving, part of the next generation of her family’s philanthropy, sees value in also supporting artists to hone their business skills. “We need to educate artists to make it commercially viable, to value their time, no one understands how long it takes to make art,” said Stanzee.
GROWING THE DONOR POOL
Donors agree the pool of supporters must grow if organisations and artists are to be sustainable, suggesting multi-level entry points, pay what you can models, and direct public-artist connections like those JamFactory fosters through its Adelaide and Seppeltsfield retail stores.
If the arts “become less and less, they will be seen even more as a luxury and that’s not what anyone wants. It’s about acknowledgement, and understanding the value of the arts, it’s about people and their talent - and imagining a world without it,” said Jo Evans.
“It’s not just about money,” she said, though it’s obviously fundamental to sustaining the arts. “A lot of organisations barely exist without that private benefaction,” said Pam McKee. “Once you start giving to these organisations, the need never changes. Donors are filling so many gaps.”
David McKee agreed: private benefaction groups, like Medici Collective “are the future. They are becoming increasingly important every year.”
“Look at the US, governments provide nothing. It’s all about serious benefactors and Donors and philanthropy and that’s why it’s so important to get the message out to everyone, because we are going to need it, otherwise the sector is going to contract,” he said.
Jo Evans also pointed to the seasoned US philanthropy model and said in Australia “I do feel like we’ve got a huge opportunity to tap into wealth. People are looking for something to belong to, a way to give.”
At its simplest, collective giving is crowdfunding but with long- term vision, and often with a personal connection to the people or purpose being supported. It’s powerful because it builds not just funding, but a sense of ownership and community around a mission.
Whether through giving circles, giving days, structured funds, or grassroots campaigns on GoFundMe or Kickstarter, its strength lies in amplifying impact through community.
Kate Stock calls giving circles “the perfect entry point for people new to philanthropy — there’s hand holding, events, networking, and a real connection between Donor and artist, which JamFactory does so well through the Medici Collective.”
Chris Penny and Kate Stock
Stanzee Treliving
While philanthropy in Australia is young compared to other nations, collective giving is on the rise. Arts organisations like Adelaide Fringe and Belvoir St Theatre now host giving days, and Creative Australia will launch a national Giving Day to the Arts on 23 October 2025 — a step towards shifting perceptions and responsibilities around supporting cultural charities.
Donors hope to seed a philanthropic legacy in their children. They tell stories of taking their children to arts events from a young age - not to push them, but to nurture appreciation and the generosity mindset.
Stanzee Treliving has brought her six-year-old daughter to JamFactory for hands-on experiences at the Open Days, “Our philanthropic values are ingrained in our business, ingrained in my sister and me. We’ve been taught that whatever you can do to help someone, you have to.” Carrying on the family giving with her sister Vianne, Stanzee said “it’s a way of paying respect for what my family believes and loves and is passionate about.”
David and Pam McKee have seen the effect over time: “all of a sudden something clicks. If you’re involved yourself and your children see what you’re doing, it rubs off.” Kate Stock and Chris Penny have recently had teenage children willingly and happily join them at events. “The message is getting through,” said Chris Penny.
The Donors agree: the future lies in innovative and inclusive giving. “You don’t have to give a lot, but if everyone gives something, it can make a real difference,” said Pam McKee.
Through collective giving, said Kate Stock, “you go from making a small, one-off donation to potentially changing an organisation’s trajectory. And yes, you do experience joy when you give.”
DINO VRYNIOS+ SARA HORSTMANN
For Dino Vrynios and Sara Horstmann, the husband-and-wife team behind Das Studio, collective giving means “being part of something much bigger, with greater potential for impact”. It’s also about connection – “finding new friends and allies who share our values and are committed to a cause that matters deeply to us.” They say the generosity they’ve experienced in their professional pursuits has profoundly shaped their personal and professional lives. Asked what the future of giving should look like, they said: Purposeful, impactful and joyful.
GEOFF DAY OAM
Geoff Day OAM, Chair of the Day Family Foundation, says collective giving fosters connection, purpose, and a sense of belonging.Inspired by witnessing poverty early on, and his time at Macquarie Private Wealth, Geoff and wife Anne established a Private Ancillary Fund to create lasting impact. He says charitable giving can also be smart financial planning - offering tax benefits, investment growth, and long-term community support. “Our best legacy is a family foundation that perpetuates our philanthropy and embeds values of generosity in our children and grandchildren.”
KINGSLEY MUNDEY AM
Kingsley Mundey AM and wife Robyn, inaugural Medici Guardians, have donated to JamFactory for more than a decade. Owner of IAS Fine Art Logistics, Kingsley says leading by example through hard work and giving, he hopes to instilin his children and grandchildren “a spirit of considered generosity”. He values the collective giving model, where many small contributions can create big impact and forge connections with artists and their projects. “Money isn’t a destination,” he says, “it’s an enabler and if we use it wisely, we can give people, organisations and projects a helping hand.”
For more information visit jamfactory.com.au/donate