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. 

Towards the Morning Sun exhibition celebrates contemporary Pacific artists

Campbelltown Arts Centre will celebrate the work of contemporary Pacific artists this September with a new exhibition 'Towards the Morning Sun' curated by Keren Ruki. The exhibition will be officially opened by NSW Premier the Hon. Barry O'Farrell on Friday 6 September and a community forum will be held on Saturday 28 September at the gallery.

Carriageworks to double in size, making it the largest multi-arts institution in Australia

A section of the 5,000 square metres of additional space that will become part of the Carriageworks precinct

Contemporary multi-arts institution Carriageworks will double in size this month by adding an additional 5,000 square metres to its existing premises in Sydney’s Redfern. 

The expansion will make Carriageworks the largest multi-arts institution in Australia, spanning visual arts, music, dance, theatre.he announcement follows two years of strong growth in audience numbers and an extraordinary public response to its artistic program that saw a doubling of attendances from 2011 to 2012 and has the institution on track to double attendances again in 2013 to 400,000 people.

Escape to Bundanon Trust

The Glenn Murcutt designed pavilion at Riversdale, Bundanon

This weekend saw a group of Australia's leading arts writers and critics embark upon a trip to explore the unique cultural and environmental assets of the Bundanon Trust properties, located two hours south of Sydney.

The group mingled with the artists in residence currently living at Bundanon Trust, shared dinner and performances with them; viewed the former Arthur Boyd home and artist studio (pictured); toured the property on boat up the Shoalhaven River and enjoyed lunch at local restaurant Wharf Road. Former Rockpool chef Dave Campbell delivered a delicious five course tasting of locally sourced, sustainable produce.

Visual artists invited to apply for Qantas Spirit of Youth Award

Visual artists from around Australia are invited to submit entries for the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards (SOYA) under the Visual Arts category, closing Tuesday 3 September 2013.

The Award offers artists aged between 18 and 30 the opportunity to further their career with the winners receiving $5,000 worth of flights, $5,000 in cash and a professional mentorship with MCA Director and internationally respected curator Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, OBE.

Last year the SOYA Visual Arts category attracted 5,000 artworks from more than 400 entrants. The award is open to artists working across all styles and genres, including painting, mixed media, sculpture, installation, ceramics, conceptual or performance art. 

Last year’s winner was Tully Arnot, who recently returned from an extended overseas trip as part of his SOYA Award, exploring creative opportunities on offer across Europe. Tully was a COFA graduate at the time of winning and used his prize to fund travel to the Edinburgh Art Festival, Scotland’s largest annual visual art festival.

Previous winners of the SOYA Visual Arts category are: Christian de Vietri (2004), Dane Lovett (2005), Alice Lang (2006), Danielle Freakley (2007), Grant Stevens (2008), Rebecca Baumann (2009), Clare Peake (2010/11) and Tully Arnot (2012).

Sydney Contemporary announces talks program and curatorial partnerships

A work by Todd Robinson to be presented at Sydney Contemporary 2013

Sydney Contemporary has revealed a preview of its inaugural public program to be presented during the new international contemporary art fair being held at Redfern-based multi-disciplinary arts institution Carriageworks from 19 until 22 September 2013.  The inaugural event also announced an expanded exhibitor list, with over 80 galleries now confirmed to take part in the biennial Fair.

Talk topics range from the anti-aesthetic versus beauty in art; whether to collect from Australia or internationally; the crossover between art and fashion and how contemporary art inspires creative people across various disciplines, including food, architecture and graphic design.

Speakers include founder of Kaldor Public Art Projects John Kaldor AM, actor Rachel Griffiths, chef Kylie Kwong, architect Nick Tobias, Arts Journalist Andrew Frost, Art Fair Director Barry Keldoulis and artists including Del Kathryn Barton, Nell, and Island 6 from Hong Kong.  

Sydney Contemporary also announced curatorial partnerships with two of Sydney’s most innovative not-for-profit visual arts organisations: 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and Artspace.  4A Director Aaron Seeto will curate the inaugural Installation Contemporary; an exhibition of large-scale sculpture and installations by cutting-edge contemporary artists. Mark Feary, Curator of Artspace, will curate Video Contemporary; a presentation of moving image artworks by Australian and international contemporary artists working at the very forefront of the medium.