A total of $20,000 cash will be awarded to the five artists.
Platform Youth Arts have today announced the five artists/collectives selected for their new, free six-month artist residency program’ Platform LAB’, designed to support emerging artists develop their practice, undertake research and initiate collaborations that will strengthen the future of their arts careers.
Melbourne/Naarm-based filmmaker Becki Bouchier, Torquay painter Dean De Landre, Gunditjmara Keerray Woorroong artists Tarryn and Kelsey Love, Melbourne/Naarm-based multidisciplinary artist George Goodnow and Geelong theatre-maker Gretel Sharp will be the first to participate in Platform LAB, an initiative that supports artists financially and through mentoring in their arts practice.
A total of $20,000 cash will be awarded to the five artists, in addition to in-kind studio and rehearsal space at Platform. Through two LAB Intensives, on-going mentorship, industry engagement, and technical, marketing and media support from Platform staff, the program will further each artist’s research and creative collaborations and build sustainable careers in the Arts.
“We were overwhelmed by the number of high-quality applications we received from emerging artists across the state, which reinforces the need for programs like LAB that support artist development, collaboration and nurture creativity in our region,” says Platform Arts executive producer Ilana Russell.
“We are thrilled to welcome the first group of Platform LAB artists, and look forward to working with them over the next six months to expand their practice, encourage experimentation and foster a contemporary creative community in our region. Each artist will bring a different artistic approach and background to LAB, and we anticipate they will forge really incredible collaborations with each other.”
With more than 70 applicants across Victoria and New South Wales, the recipients were selected by senior Platform staff, alongside Geelong Gallery senior curator Lisa Sullivan and Geelong/Melbourne independent artist Yuhui Ng-Rodriguez.
The program will run from 21 September 2020 to 26 February 2021 with the first two months of the program to be held online, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
You can follow the artists’ journey through the LAB Program via Instagram (@platformartsgeelong), Facebook or through updates on the Platform Arts website.
