The Australian Institute of Architects has launched a donation drive for its rebuild-focused charitable campaign in response to the ongoing bushfire crisis.
The “Architects Donate” program aims to draw donations from Institute members for the eventual rebuilding effort, through the Institute’s own Foundation.
The donation drive was first announced in early January as part of the Institute’s response to the bushfire crisis. A concurrent effort at the time was the fledgling Architects Assist service, which was established by Sydney-based designer Jiri Lev, that offered architects the opportunity to list their willingness to provide pro-bono services.
With overwhelming responses to Architects Assist, Lev and the Institute agreed that the Institute would lead the program. To date more than 500 practices and 1,500 students registering their interest.
In a message to Institute members, CEO Julia Cambage wrote that the Institute understood “that not all members are necessarily positioned to provide assistance from a geographical perspective,” and that scheme would welcome donations “as little or as much as you wish.”
The Institute has called for patience from those eager to help. In January, national president Helen Lochhead said, “This is not a short-term crisis, and we need the support of the architectural profession […] as we face this crisis together. When the fires clear, we will need to not only replace what has been lost, but build back better.”
For more information on Architects Donate, go here.
