Media Centre | Australia Council

Featured Media Releases

Creating Our Future: arts and creativity increasingly important to all Australians

26 Aug 2020

Australians increasingly recognise the vital role of arts and creativity in almost every aspect of our lives, from education to mental health to strengthening local economies. New research from the Australia Council shows growing numbers of Australians agree arts and creativity build social cohesion and support health, education and the future economy – critical areas as our nation recovers from the impact of COVID-19.

Vale Paddy Garritty

24 Aug 2020

The Australia Council wishes to acknowledge the passing of Paddy Garritty and pay tribute to his prolific contribution to community arts that improved the lives of many Australians. Paddy was a founding member and long-term Board Director at the Footscray Community Arts Centre, and a major force in the revitalization of the Victorian Trades Hall. He led the introduction of arts and cultural activities, establishing the Trades Hall as an artistic and social centre within the Australian union movement. His work at the Trades Hall has been credited as one of the main inspirations for the Australia Council’s “Art in Working Life”, originally developed in the 1980s and continuing through the 1990s.

First Nations artists work to challenge stereotypes and break down barriers to audiences

17 Aug 2020

New research from the Australia Council for the Arts explores the perspectives of First Nations artists and creatives working in theatre and dance. Creating Art Part 1: The makers’ view of pathways for First Nations theatre and dance is the third in a series of in-depth research pieces commissioned by the Australia Council and is based on interviews with 45 First Nations artists and creatives.

First Nations Contemporary Music receives crucial investment

08 Jul 2020

The Australia Council welcomes the federal government’s commitment of $2 million over four years ($500,000 each year) to be invested through the Indigenous Contemporary Music Program. Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP today announced details of the first year of investment, including $250,000 to the Australia Council to deliver First Nations music grants.

Re-activate: beyond step three – a new resource to support COVID-19 recovery

07 Jul 2020

Re-activate: beyond step three – a new resource to support COVID-19 recovery The Australia Council has announced the latest resource in our Re-ignite suite - Re-activate: beyond step three. This resource sets out industry standards and protocols for the arts and cultural industry to consider in preparation for moving into the next phase of Australia’s response to COVID-19.

Communique: Direct investment announcement

01 Jul 2020

The Australia Council is announcing details of its investment opportunities for individuals and organisations Although the arts and cultural industries, along with all Australians and communities around the world, have experienced incomparable disruption from the impacts of COVID-19, we have never lost sight of the enormous public value of the arts for all Australians.   It is important that we resume our programs and strive to enable creativity to continue to connect us in recovery and in the future;

Australia Council welcomes government's $250 million creative support package

25 Jun 2020

Australia Council welcomes government’s $250 million creative support package The Australia Council has welcomed the announcement of an industry specific support package for the cultural and creative industries. “This is a welcome investment in some of the industries hardest hit by the impacts of COVID-19” said CEO Adrian Collette AM.

Vale Jesse Blackadder

18 Jun 2020

The Australia Council wishes to acknowledge the death of author Jesse Blackadder and acknowledge her contribution to Australian literature, as a writer of books for both adults and children.

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Biographies

Thea Anamara Perkins: 2020 Dreaming Award for an Emerging Artist

Thea Anamara Perkins is an Arrernte and Kalkadoon woman. Raised and based in Sydney, she has family ties to the Redfern community and engages with the area through her painting and installation practice. In 2018 she was a lead artist participating in the restoration of the iconic 40,000 Years mural in Redfern.

SJ Norman: 2020 Emerging and Experimental Arts Fellowship

SJ Norman was born on Gadigal lands, and has a Wiradjuri and Anglo-Celtic heritage. He is a fearless experimenter, a rigorous researcher, a critically engaged maker and a formidable performer. SJ’s practice spans installation, sculpture, fiction, essays, poetry, video, sound and performance, including significant pieces of durational work. His practice is both unique and vital to contemporary Australian art and critical discourse.

Lydia Fairhall: 2020 Community Arts and Cultural Development Fellowship

Lydia Fairhall is a Woromi woman. She is a theatre and film producer, a community arts and cultural development practitioner, a writer, an artistic director, a musician and more. She has programmed and produced countless shows, for the likes of ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, Brown Cabs, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Footscray Community Arts Centre and more, as well as taking titles such as JACK CHARLES V. The CROWN to international audiences.

Maree Clarke: 2020 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Fellowship

Maree Clarke is a Yorta Yorta/WambaWamba/Mutti Mutti/Boonwurrung woman. She is an independent multi-disciplinary artist  and curator, with a 30 year history of working in the contemporary and cultural First Nations arts sector. Maree is a leading possum skin artist, also working with kangaroo teeth, echidna quills, glass, photography and more.

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