Last week, Lutruwita/Tasmania lost one of its most dedicated advocates and benefactors of the arts: Sir Guy Green AC KBE CVO. Sir Guy’s life and public service touched many across our island home, including those of us here at Ten Days on the Island.

His legacy with Ten Days on the Island is profound. As a visionary founder and passionate supporter of the arts, Sir Guy’s influence will be felt in the Festival’s ongoing success for years to come.

During the late 1990s, as Tasmania began to imagine a bright new future, then Premier Jim Bacon recognised the importance of building the state’s cultural confidence. One of his government’s key initiatives was the creation of a statewide arts festival—Ten Days on the Island—envisioned as a biennial celebration of island culture.

The inaugural Ten Days on the Island was held in 2001, with Sir Guy Green, then Governor of Tasmania, lending his support, while Premier Jim Bacon served as the founding Chair. After the first two Festivals, Sir Guy joined the Board in 2004, stepping in as Chair. Under Sir Guy’s leadership, the Festival thrived: attendance soared, reaching a record 195,000 in 2009, and the Festival’s programming expanded further across the island.

As Chair, Sir Guy worked tirelessly to secure financial support for the Festival. He built partnerships with government, business, and philanthropic organisations, launching a patrons’ circle for individual donors and guiding the Festival through challenges such as the Global Financial Crisis.

In March 2015, after more than eleven years on the Board, Sir Guy announced his retirement as Chair. The Board invited him to become the inaugural Patron of Ten Days on the Island, in recognition of his extraordinary contribution.

As Patron, Sir Guy continued to be an energetic champion of Ten Days on the Island, offering guidance and a sense of continuity to Festival leaders, including myself, when I took on the role of CEO three and a half years ago. He attended program launches and performances, lent his support wherever needed, and was always available for advice. His association provided a living link back to the Festival’s founding ethos, giving confidence and encouragement to staff and organisers.

Sir Guy’s influence as Patron was especially significant in the realm of philanthropy. He served as an ambassador to donors and sponsors, and his presence at fundraising events lent gravitas and inspired generosity. Both he and Lady Rosslyn Green contributed personally to the festival’s ‘Island Circles’ fund, supporting new local creative work and ensuring the Festival’s future.

Within the organisation, Sir Guy was known for his integrity, warmth, and humour. He mentored younger board members and gave staff the confidence to take creative risks, fostering a positive and collaborative culture that endures to this day. Colleagues recall his humility, keen intellect, and readiness to offer help. His passion for the Festival and for Lutruwita/Tasmania was inexhaustible.

Sir Guy’s impact on Ten Days on the Island is immense and enduring. Through his visionary leadership, mentorship, and advocacy, he helped build the Festival into a respected and celebrated institution—one that brings art to communities across the state and enriches Tasmania’s cultural life. His legacy is woven into the fabric of Ten Days on the Island and will continue to shape its success into the future.

In the words of the Festival’s Board upon his retirement as Chair in 2015: “On behalf of everyone who has been touched by Ten Days on the Island, thank you Sir Guy for your genuine generosity and unwavering belief in this Festival.”

Sir Guy was a visionary founding figure and devoted supporter of the arts, and his influence will be felt in the Festival’s ongoing success for years to come.

On behalf of the Board and staff of Ten Days on the Island, thank you for sharing so much of your remarkable journey with us.

Vernon Guest
CEO

Image by Al Bett