International Foundation for Arts and Culture

International Foundation for Arts and Culture IFAC was founded by Dr Haruhisa Handa. With global offices, we support international programmes championing and advancing arts, culture and education.

From the classroom to the UN General Assembly:Meet Lauren Martin, a 7th grader and member of HandaHarmony Youth Chorus,...
12/21/2025

From the classroom to the UN General Assembly:

Meet Lauren Martin, a 7th grader and member of HandaHarmony Youth Chorus, an organization IFAC is proud to sponsor.

Speaking at the 80th UN General Assembly, Lauren shared why the arts matter:

“When I sing and create, I not only share my voice, I also share my imagination and my empathy.”

Arts education truly has the power to build confidence, courage, and compassion in young leaders. It gives them a platform to be heard on the world stage.

IFAC believes every student deserves access to transformative arts experiences. Through our partnership with Sing for Hope, we’re opening doors to creativity, innovation, and hope, one voice at a time.

Watch Lauren inspire global leaders. 💛

ArtsForAll

In 2026, The Phantom of the Opera returns to the spectacular outdoor stage of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Presented u...
12/21/2025

In 2026, The Phantom of the Opera returns to the spectacular outdoor stage of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Presented under the patronage of International Foundation for Arts and Culture and our Chairman Dr Haruhisa Handa, this show launches global celebrations for the musical’s 40th anniversary since its West End Premiere.

Three extraordinary Australian artists will lead the cast:

Amy Manford: returns as Christine Daaé, following acclaimed performances in London’s West End and Opera Australia’s recent tour.
Jake Lyle: steps into the title role as The Phantom—the Queensland baritone making his musical theatre debut after a standout audition.
Jarrod Draper: a proud Wiradjuri artist and rising star of Australian musical theatre, joins as Raoul.

From 27 March 2026. Final performances now on sale.
opera.org.au/harbour

📷 Daniel Boud

Production:
Principal Patron: Dr. Haruhisa Handa and
Principal Partner:
Strategic Sponsor:

From the classroom to the UN General Assembly:Meet Lauren Martin, a 7th grader and proud member of HandaHarmony Youth C...
12/21/2025

From the classroom to the UN General Assembly:

Meet Lauren Martin, a 7th grader and proud member of HandaHarmony Youth Chorus, an organization IFAC is proud to sponsor.

Speaking at the 80th UN General Assembly, Lauren shared why the arts matter:

“When I sing and create, I not only share my voice, I also share my imagination and my empathy.”

Arts education truly has the power to build confidence, courage, and compassion in young leaders. It gives them a platform to be heard on the world stage.

IFAC believes every student deserves access to transformative arts experiences. Through our partnership with Sing for Hope, we’re opening doors to creativity, innovation, and hope, one voice at a time.

Watch Lauren inspire global leaders. 💛

ArtsForAll

In 2026, The Phantom of the Opera returns to the spectacular outdoor stage of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Presented u...
12/19/2025

In 2026, The Phantom of the Opera returns to the spectacular outdoor stage of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Presented under the patronage of International Foundation for Arts and Culture and our Chairman Dr Haruhisa Handa, this show launches global celebrations for the musical’s 40th anniversary since its West End Premiere.

Three extraordinary Australian artists will lead the cast:

Amy Manford: returns as Christine Daaé, following acclaimed performances in London’s West End and Opera Australia’s recent tour.
Jake Lyle: steps into the title role as The Phantom—the Queensland baritone making his musical theatre debut after a standout audition.
Jarrod Draper: a proud Wiradjuri artist and rising star of Australian musical theatre, joins as Raoul.

From 27 March 2026. Final performances now on sale.
opera.org.au/harbour

📷 Daniel Boud

Production:
Principal Patron: Dr. Haruhisa Handa and
Principal Partner:
Strategic Sponsor:

We are delighted to announce that 23-year old mezzo soprano Sidra Nissen has won the 2025 IFAC Handa Australian Singing ...
09/27/2025

We are delighted to announce that 23-year old mezzo soprano Sidra Nissen has won the 2025 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition! 🎶

Sidra gave a standout performance singing “Smanie implacabili” from Mozart’s Così fan tutte, and “Kaddish” from Ravel’s Deux mélodies hébraïques.

In addition to the Mathy, Sidra was awarded the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute (CVAI) Montreal Scholarship and the Opera Australia Finalist Audition Prize.

The International Foundation for Arts & Culture (IFAC) congratulates .nissen on this tremendous achievement! We wish you and all the finalists the very best on your onward journey.

IFAC’s chairman, Dr. Haruhisa Handa, has been a proud supporter of the Finals Concert since 1998. Under his patronage, the competition has grown into an internationally respected event in Australia, fostering the careers of young opera performers.

We are proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition. These exceptional young o...
09/09/2025

We are proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition. These exceptional young opera singers will perform at the prestigious Finals Concert on 25 September 2025, showcasing their talent in front of a distinguished panel of judges and a live audience. A big thank you is extended to our National Adjudicator, Internationally Acclaimed Baritone, Jeffrey Black.

Finalists:
Sophie Blades, Soprano
Aidan Hodder, Baritone
Sidra Nissen, Mezzo Soprano
Brittney Northcott, Mezzo Soprano
Wesley Haotian Yu, Tenor

Join us for an evening celebrating exceptional young vocal talent.

Finals Concert
Date: 25 September 2025
Location: Chatswood Concourse
Tickets: Available via link in bio

The UK cultural tour of nine exceptional Japanese high school art students culminated in a trip to Dumfries House in Sco...
07/25/2025

The UK cultural tour of nine exceptional Japanese high school art students culminated in a trip to Dumfries House in Scotland — Headquarters of The King’s Foundation.

For four immersive days, students learned how sustainability, traditional crafts, and agricultural skills come together to empower communities.

They explored the estate’s farm and gardens, worked with endangered breeds like the Vaynol cow, learned agricultural and cooking skills, and took part in craft workshops creating sustainable tote bags. Evenings brought memorable dinners with bagpipes and Scottish traditions, from Address to the Haggis to heartfelt conversations with the Foundation team.

By the journey’s end in Glasgow, the students reflected on how the trip had shaped their perspectives — describing it as an experience that connected art, culture, and responsibility to the wider world.

Slide 1: In front of Dumfries House, Headquarters of The King’s Foundation.
Slide 2: Hands-on lessons in agriculture with expert tutors.
Slide 3: Exploring the farm and its sustainable practices.
Slide 4: Beginning the farm tour, questions and curiosity flowing.
Slide 5: Yuzuki preparing soil for planting.
Slide 6: A celebratory glass of champagne before dinner.
Slide 7: Observing the geese in a quiet moment of reflection.
Slide 8: Cooking together, turning field-to-fork ingredients into vibrant dishes.

Read the full story of Days 4–7 at Dumfries House via the link in bio. Which photo from this series inspires you most?

After two inspiring days in London, the nine prize-winning Japanese arts students from The International High School Art...
07/25/2025

After two inspiring days in London, the nine prize-winning Japanese arts students from The International High School Arts Festival travelled to Highgrove Gardens — the iconic home of The King’s Foundation in Gloucestershire and His Majesty’s private residence. Here, the students explored the beautifully designed grounds, admired His Majesty’s watercolours, and learned how sustainability and artistry are interwoven.

A highlight of the day was a visit to the Chanel embroidery atelier on the estate, where students tried their hand at ribbon rose embroidery — the same techniques used for Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.

The evening concluded at Gatcombe Park, home to Princess Anne, where they were warmly hosted for a barbecue by Mike and Zara Tindall, with her brother Peter Phillips also in attendance.

Slide 1: Enjoying the scent of blossom at Highgrove Gardens, surrounded by nature’s beauty.
Slide 2: Walking a tree-lined path, reflecting on the harmony of design and ecology.
Slide 3: The children’s tree house, a symbol of craftsmanship and imagination.
Slide 4: Happy faces on the garden tour, soaking in every story.
Slide 5: Trying traditional embroidery techniques with expert guidance.
Slide 6: A close-up of a delicately embroidered flower.
Slide 7: Running with the Tindalls’ dog at Gatcombe Park — pure joy.

Read full article via the link in bio. Can you recognize the type of flower blossom in Slide 1?

// This past Spring, nine exceptional Japanese students — recipients of The King’s Prize or the Prime Minister’s Prize f...
07/25/2025

// This past Spring, nine exceptional Japanese students — recipients of The King’s Prize or the Prime Minister’s Prize from The International High School Arts Festival — began their UK journey supported by the International Foundation for Arts and Culture (IFAC) and The King’s Foundation. London set the tone for a week of art, heritage, and cultural exploration, with many of the students experiencing their first time overseas.

During the first two days, students visited Buckingham Palace, wandered the inspiring galleries of the Victoria & Albert Museum, and explored The British Museum where they were welcomed by Sir Tim Lankester, Chairman of IFAC UK. From iconic landmarks to timeless treasures like the Rosetta Stone and a replica of Michelangelo’s David, these moments highlighted the deep connections between art, history, and identity.

Slide 1: Students gather at the Queen Victoria Memorial with Buckingham Palace behind them, taking in the grandeur of their first stop.
Slide 2: Immersed in design and history at the V&A Museum, where global culture meets innovation.
Slide 3: Looking up at Buckingham Palace from Green Park, inspired by its iconic presence.
Slide 4: Standing proudly in front of the Palace gates, united by a shared passion for art and creativity.

Discover more about Days 1–2 via the link in bio and tell us which London photo is your favorite!

We’re thrilled to see the magic of Handa Opera at Millthorpe making international headlines — this time from Poland’s l...
05/01/2025

We’re thrilled to see the magic of Handa Opera at Millthorpe making international headlines — this time from Poland’s leading cultural publication, whose Editor-in-Chief travelled all the way from Warsaw to experience the inaugural festival, set amongst vineyards and cattle stations, 250km west of Sydney.

Described as “a world-class festival with a distinctly local flavour,” the three-day event celebrated music, storytelling, and community with warmth and style.

Highlights according to LaVie:
🎼 captivated with arias from Aida, La Forza del destino, and Tosca, while sharing stories of her journey from pop hopeful to Verdi soprano.
🎼 stunned audiences with dazzling Rossini arias, followed by a candid conversation about life as a baritone.
🎼 Jun Yi Ma delivered a haunting violin Méditation from Thaïs, showcasing his virtuosic artistry.
🎼 Pianist André Desponds closed Easter Sunday with a jaw-dropping Rhapsody in Blue — played partly with his feet!

The entire town joined in, from local eateries to primary school students designing opera posters for shop windows.

Thanks to the support of IFAC Founder and Chairman Dr. Haruhisa Handa, and the extraordinary vision of Millthorpe’s Founding Artistic Director and CEO Lyndon Terracini, this intimate country festival has certainly struck a global chord. Opera truly speaks every language.

👉 Read the full review from LaVie Magazine at the Link in Bio.

// 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Set among the vineyards of regional NSW, this past weekend’s was a celebration of music, nature, ...
04/23/2025

// 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Set among the vineyards of regional NSW, this past weekend’s was a celebration of music, nature, and community. With arias echoing into the hills and glasses raised under the stars, the inaugural event left a lasting impression. Here is a first look at highlights. 📷 by

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