British Council announces 15 emerging creatives as finalists for Realise Your Dream Award

Art work by Kate Just, one of the winners of the 2012 Realise Your Dream Award

Fifteen young creatives from across the country have been announced as finalists for the annual British Council Realise Your Dream awards. This year’s selection – who must all be within the first ten years of their practice – includes candidates specialising in animation, playwriting, design, graphic design, theatre, digital engagement, performance, jazz music, dance and disability advocacy, production and interdisciplinary arts.

The finalists are: Darcy Prendergast (Vic), Lara Torr (SA), Anna Lise De Lorenzo (NSW), Camille Manley (NSW) He Made She Made (NSW), Melinda Garcia (NSW), Tristan Meecham (Vic), Sean Foran (Qld), Aimee Smith (WA), Thomas Banks (Vic), Maxine Mellor (Qld), Eliza Sarlos (NSW), Alex Deserbrock (Vic), Tobias Manderson-Galvin (Vic), The Honeytrap (Vic).

Unique among awards for young creatives, Realise Your Dream requires applicants to demonstrate artistic talent as well as formulating a ‘dream’ career plan for a professional development trip the United Kingdom.

Sydney Contemporary attracts 10,000 visitors on first night

The inaugural Sydney Contemporary art fair welcomed more than 10,000 guests at its first night viewing at Carriageworks last night. Visitors explored works by more than 1,000 works by 300 artists from Australia and around the world, presented by 83 different galleries. The fair will be held biennially and is open from Friday 20 September until Sunday 22 September.