Arts organisations - OYEA project grants - April 2009

Arts organisations project grants - Opportunities for Young and Emerging Artists (OYEA)

The Australian Government has committed a total of $6.6million over four years to a program to increase opportunities for Australia’s young and emerging artists. 

The Arts Organisations (Major Performing Arts Board companies and Key Organisations) allocation of $350,000 per year resulted in a very competitive initial grant round.   Assessments took place on Thursday 12 March 2009 by a panel comprising Arts Organisations Executive Director, Tony Grybowski, Director Key Organisations, Atul Joshi, and Program & Policy Officer MPAB, Trish Ludgate,  with advice from relevant client managers.

Assessment

The assessment panel looked at all the proposals in relation to the following criteria:

• Value of contribution of participating company
• Creative rationale
• New skills development
• Creation and public performance and/or workshop of a new work
• Benefit of activity to the artists/creatives involved and to the sector
• Potential for an ongoing role with the company or the sector.

The proposals were assessed against the criteria in competition with the other proposals and were given an overall percentage rating.  They were then ranked according to their rating and funding was allocated to the highest ranked proposals.

Successful applicants

Bell Shakespeare Company: $20,000 (Theatre NSW)
For Mind’s Eye, Bell’s development arm, to support the creative development of the Shakespearean comedy, As You Like It, to produce a hip hop theatre version of the play.   With Laura Scrivano (writer/director); Candy Bowers (writer/performer); Kim Bowers (composer/beats producer).

Company B:  $20,000 (Theatre NSW)
To provide set designer/emerging director, Ralph Myers, with a creative residency as Company B emerging director, to develop skills as an artistic leader and a director within the organisation.  To include season planning, script assessment, design of marketing materials, human resource management and hands on work on mainstage productions in a directorial capacity.

Circus Oz: $18,000 (Physical Theatre VIC)
Creative residency for virtuosic jazz trombonist, Shannon Barnett, to work with Circus Oz band in creative development, composing and performance with a view to her eventual inclusion into the band as a full-time ensemble member.

Lucy Guerin Inc: $30,000 (Dance VIC)
To commission and develop new dance work Bromance by emerging choreographer Alisdair Macindoe.  For presentation in 2010.

Melbourne Theatre Company : $19,000 (Theatre VIC)
To assist with funding a new initiative “The Program”.  The Program will couple three teams of emerging writers and directors, with varying degrees of experience, to produce two drafts of three new text-based works over the course of six months, resulting in a week-long workshop and a public reading.

Not Yet Its Difficult : $30,000 (Theatre VIC)
To commission young and emerging artists’ group X:MACHINE to develop “Court”, an interdisciplinary performance event exploring the theme of ‘game play’.   Creative and skills development, rehearsal and performance.

Opera Australia: $14,000; two applications. (Opera NSW)
For two creative residencies:  David Harmon, aspiring director, to undertake a mentorship with Jim Sharman and Neil Armfield in the creation of two new OA productions during the 2009 winter season. Imara Savage, aspiring director, to undertake mentorship with director Patrick Nolan during creation of a new OA production in 2009.

Opera Queensland: $9,000 (Opera QLD)
Four-month residency scholarship for musician, emerging composer Jonathan Henderson during rehearsal and production period of his first opera for the company.

Performance Space: $30,000 (Theatre NSW)
To commission and present Hole in the Wall by Seesaw Collective at Performance Space, Campbelltown Arts Centre and Next Wave Festival, Victoria.  Cross-form storytelling using performance, text, puppetry, video and installation art.

Queensland Theatre Company: $19,000 (Theatre  QLD)
Residency at QTC of emerging director Jonathan Oxlade, a stage designer, visual artist, illustrator, puppeteer and animater, to be mentored by Michael Gow and to work on youth, education and mainstage productions. Residency will include at least one public presentation/workshop .

Synergy: $12,000 (Music NSW)
For two emerging performers/musicians, David Symes and Bob Scott, to develop their artistic practice for the Synergy “Push” initiative.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra:  $40,000 (Music NSW)
To provide assistance with orchestral training fellowships for young and emerging orchestral musicians.

Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra: $59,600 (Music:National)
On behalf of five state symphony orchestras, to provide training fellowships for young and emerging orchestral musicians.

The Australian Ballet: $18,000 (Dance VIC)
To provide professional development and mentoring program for young dancer Dylan Tate, to receive enhanced training as a specialised dance educator.

West Australian Ballet: $10,000 (Dance WA)
To commission dancer Kim McCarthy to choreograph a piece for a triple bill to be presented in the WA Ballet’s 2010 season.

Funding summary

28 applications received
16 applications funded 
54 percent success rate 
$775,749 requested
$348,600 funded

The closing date for the next round of OYEA will be 1 December 2009, for assessment in late January and advice in February 2010, for projects commencing no earlier than 1 March 2010.

Guidelines and forms will be available on the Australia Council website in September 2009.

You are welcome to discuss your ideas with staff before submitting a proposal.  Relevant staff contacts will be given with the guidelines and application forms.