The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.
Commitment to nurturing young careers
Federal Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced funding of $274,900 for programs created specifically for the Young and Emerging Artists' Initiative.
'These long standing programs administered by the Australia Council provide artists in the early stages of their career with the opportunity to develop their skills and hone their craft,' Senator Kemp said.
The Literature Board of the Australia Council selected 13 proposals from organisations around Australia detailing mentorship schemes, presentation and promotion activities and other programs of assistance to young writers as well as picture book illustrators.
The organisations are: Australian Festival for Young People (SA); Australian National Playwrights Centre NSW); Australian Society of Authors (NSW); Australian Writers Guild (NSW); Express Media (Vic.); Griffin Theatre Company (NSW); NT Writers' Centre (NT); Poets Union (NSW); Queensland Writers Centre (Qld); Spinach 7 (Vic.); Sydney Theatre Company (NSW); The Eleanor Dark Foundation (NSW); and Victorian Writers' Centre (Vic.)
The Dance Board of the Australia Council has selected 12 young and emerging performers to undertake secondments with companies and groups of their choice through Foot in the Door, part of the Young and Emerging Artists' Initiative.
The performers and their respective host companies are: Floeur Alder (WA) with Leigh Warren and Dancers; Carlie Angel (SA) with Australian Dance Theatre; Jason Lam (NSW) with Sydney Dance Company; Kerin Llewellyn (Qld) with Dance North; Melody Lutwyche (SA) with TasDance; Cobie Orger (Vic.) with Twirling Sheilas; Clair Peters (NSW) with Balletlab; Melinda Pjekne (Vic.) with Dance Works; Margot Politis (SA) with Restless Dance Company; Sarah Prosser (WA) with skadada; Lee Serle (Vic.) with Lucy Guerin Inc; and Miranda Wheen (NSW) with Western Sydney Dance Action Group.
The funding support for both programs is a key part of the Australian Government's policy Arts for All - Young and Emerging Artists' Initiative, which assists and encourages artists at a critical early stage of their career, when support is most needed.
Administered by the Australia Council on behalf of the Australian Government, the initiative has provided exhibition, performance and career development opportunities for thousands of new and emerging artists.
MELBOURNE
20 May 2004
Media contact: Richard Wise, 02 6277 7350 or 0438 204 554