Academy Travel
Cocktail Reception
Tuesday 18 August 2026 | The Mint Sydney
An evening for the ‘Venice in Peril Fund’
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Tuesday 18 August, 2026
Time: 6.00pm–8.30pm
Venue: The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Host: Dr Lauren Mackay
Keynote Speaker: Professor Andrea Rizzi
Attire: Smart Casual
Catering: Canapés & Drinks Throughout
Tickets: $25 per person – all proceeds donated to the ‘Venice in Peril Fund’
Join us for the 2026 Academy Travel Cocktail Reception at The Mint – an evening of conversation, culture and music in support of the ‘Venice in Peril Fund’.
Over drinks and canapés, enjoy exclusive evening access to this historic Sydney landmark while hearing from leading cultural experts. Hosted by Academy Travel’s Dr Lauren Mackay, the program includes a keynote lecture by Professor Andrea Rizzi, a lively Tour Leader panel discussion and a special musical performance by Tour Leader and opera singer Dr Tarita Botsman, one of Australia’s most accomplished classical artists.
The full $25 ticket price will be donated to the Venice in Peril Fund, supporting the restoration of Paolo Veneziano’s 14th-century Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Donors at the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice.
Places are limited and advance booking is essential.
Guests are warmly invited to bring a friend who may be interested in Academy Travel, with a separate ticket required for each attendee. All ticket holders will also be entered into the evening’s door-prize draw.
In Support of
The Venice
in peril fund
A leading non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving the art and culture of Venice, both now and for future generations.
For more than 50 years, their mission has been to contribute to the protection and conservation of Venice, working collaboratively to safeguard the rich heritage of the city.
Every ticket is donated in full to the Venice in Peril Fund.
Restoring a
Venetian Masterpiece
All proceeds will support the Venice in Peril Fund’s restoration of Paolo Veneziano’s 14th-century Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Donors at the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice.
The venue
The Mint
Once the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint, where gold from the colony was struck into sovereigns, The Mint on Macquarie Street is among the oldest public buildings in the city.
For the evening, The Mint will be ours exclusively – a fitting Sydney landmark in which to raise a glass to the preservation of another.
Doors open at 6.00pm
The Story of The Mint
During the first half of the evening, Academy Travel’s Jackie Colonnelli, who is also a guide at The Mint, will share the story of this remarkable building.
How the
evening unfolds
6:00 Doors open
6:25 Welcome – Dr Lauren Mackay
6:30 Introduction – Nicholas Chandler
(Trustee, Venice in Peril)
6:35 Keynote Lecture – Prof. Andrea Rizzi
6:55 About The Mint – Jackie Colonnelli
7:00 A moment to mingle
7:25 Tour Leaders in Conversation
7:45 Performance – Dr Tarita Botsman
7:50 Door prizes & thanks
8:25 Farewell
Reserve
your place
For Academy Travel clients and friends – every ticket is a donation to Venice.
Tickets are $25 per person, with all proceeds going directly to the Venice in Peril Fund.
Places are strictly limited, so we'd encourage you to book early. Tickets are available online only, with payment processed securely through Stripe.