Australia must be unique in the world in its recognition of emerging talent. The highest accolade we can think of is to ask young artists to please leave by handing them an air ticket and saying, “don’t come back until you’ve learned something about life in the big bad world”. On the other hand, we don’t want them to stay away forever, and certainly not go getting dealers in London and New York and having articles about them published in Frieze and Art Forum where’s there’s no mention of the fact they went to NSW College of The Fine Arts or whatever.
If you are an artist, and your dream is to get the hell out of here, there is now a special award called the Realise Your Dream Award [And Leave], courtesy of the British Council:
REALISE YOUR DREAM, THANKS TO BRITISH COUNCIL AUSTRALIA
Six creative UK awards up for grabs for talented young Aussies including inaugural Mordant Visual Arts Award
Are you aged 18 to 26, interested in travel and a career in the creative industries? Are you a talented visual artist, designer, music producer, film-maker, animator, fashion designer or TV professional?
British Council Australia is providing a unique opportunity for six talented young Australians to travel to the UK through the Realise Your Dream awards programme.
Now in its third successful year the Realise Your Dream programme proudly supported by National Australia Bank, is an opportunity for young Australians to develop their careers and experience through professional mentoring with top industry experts in the UK.
The program offers a unique professional development opportunity to each Realise Your Dream winner. The British Council uses its powerful UK network to create a tailor-made program of visits, attachments, courses etc which allow the winner to interact with top UK professionals in their chosen fields. In addition to these money can’t buy opportunities, each award recipient’s prize is valued at $AU10,000. This amount covers return airfares to the UK, relevant course fees, accommodation and living expenses.
Along with the National Australia Bank, this year’s other sponsors also include: airline partner British Airways, accommodation sponsor Stamford Hotels and Resorts and media partner triple j.
Due to the generous support of visual arts benefactors – the Mordant Family, British Council Australia will introduce a special new award this year – The Realise Your Dream Mordant Visual Arts Award, for talented visual artists. This award will have a selection panel of specialist judges, including Elizabeth Ann MacGregor (MCA Director).
Last years winners were the following inspiring young Australians:
• Karen Wong: an interactive TV designer, Karen has completed a working attachment with the BBC’s digital TV pioneers BBCi, and BSkyB in London. Karen’s professionalism and passion for the industry has resulted in her being offered ongoing work with both companies post placement.
• Phoebe Montague: an up and coming fashion and accessories designer, Phoebe was placed with fashion designer, Jean-Pierre Braganza and accessories designer, Lara Bohinc.
• Ben McCarthy: a creative furniture and industrial designer, Ben’s programme includes working alongside prominent furniture designer, Tom Dixon at Habitat.
How to enter Realise Your Dream 2005
Entries will open on 19th April and will run till July 8th 2005. To apply for the Realise Your Dream awards programme, please visit the Realise Your Dream website for more details: www.realiseyourdream.org.au
If you happen to win this award and you read about it here first, send us a post card and let us know how the rest of the world is going, would you? Cheers.
