The NSW Government has announced four inaugural Fellowship programs, valued at up to $30,000 each, to drive the personal, creative and career advancement of NSW artists, practitioners and arts and cultural workers.
Create NSW is partnering with eminent arts organisations to deliver the four new Fellowship programs to five recipients at a total investment of $150,000: Aboriginal Curator Placement (Emerging) in partnership with Art Gallery of NSW, Conductor: Orchestral Conducting Fellowship with Sydney Youth Orchestra, NSW Aboriginal Creative Fellowship with the State Library Of NSW and NSW Musical Theatre Fellowship with Hayes Theatre Co.
Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin said the new Fellowships will connect emerging artists and cultural workers directly with established arts organisations to provide creative upskilling, mentorship and access to industry experts and opportunities to fulfil their career ambitions.
“Create NSW is partnering with a number of prestigious institutions to guide our NSW talent and develop their chosen arts practice across a growing suite of Fellowship programs.
“We are committed to fostering world-class arts and facilitating the creation of new cultural works across various artforms, including Aboriginal cultural and artistic practices.
“The arts industry boosts our state’s economy and is integral to the enrichment of our lives and social wellbeing,” said Mr Harwin.
The inaugural Aboriginal Curator Placement (Emerging) will offer two early-career Aboriginal curators the opportunity to deepen their experience through a placement at the Art Gallery of NSW. They will deliver two key curatorial and regional engagement projects over nine months. The Fellowship recipients will each be awarded $30,000 and mentored by the Gallery’s Manager, Touring Exhibitions and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curatorial Team.
The NSW Aboriginal Creative Fellowship will provide an opportunity for an Aboriginal artist, knowledge holder or creative practitioner to undertake creative research that will work towards a presentation outcome at the State Library of NSW. The successful applicant will be supported through $30,000 in funding to conduct research and engage with the State Library collections, delving into subjects and materials from the Library’s Indigenous Collections.
The Conductor: Orchestral Conducting Fellowship will support the emerging and early career professional practice of an orchestral conductor through $20,000 funding and with $10,000 of in-kind support including mentorships. The successful applicant will undertake a broad-ranging professional development and orchestral Fellowship program over 12 months (part-time) with the Sydney Youth Orchestra.
The NSW Musical Theatre Fellowship will offer a composer, musical director and/or creative team to research and develop a new work of musical theatre with the support of Hayes Theatre Co. The successful applicant or group will be awarded $25,000 in funding along with $5000 of in-kind support and be connected with industry mentors from Hayes Theatre Co to work towards potential development and presentation opportunities.
Applications for the four Fellowships are now open and close at 5pm AEDST on Monday 1 March 2021. Visit the Create NSW website for more information, including full guidelines for each Fellowship, and to apply.
