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Accelerate 2013 applications now open
by Ben Starick
A
pplications are now open for the British Council’s Indigenous Australian creative leadership programme Launched at the National Indigenous Arts Awards at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday night, ACCELERATE is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants from across Australia with at least five years experience in the arts and creative industries. Participants could be practising creatives or managers, and should be poised to take the next step in their career. They will have a keen interest in the UK and a vision of how the opportunity to travel to the UK will help them to develop as a leader and to achieve their career goals. The 2013 ACCELERATE programme is made up of two parts; the first, a weekend intensive where
recipients will undertake leadership development with UK expert Mark Wright of People Create as well as meet and make connections with the active network of ACCELERATE Alumni. Secondly, the five recipients from around Australia will go on a fully funded trip to the UK where they will spend time with leading individuals and organisations in their field. Over the four years that the programme has been running, recipients have spent time with a diverse and impressive range of UK organisations including Akram Khan Dance Company, National Theatre Wales, The Royal Court, Timorous Beasties, Heatherwick Studios, Craft Scotland, Serious Productions and Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford. More than a professional development opportunity, ACCELERATE has built a reputation for empowering its
Accelerate class of 2012. Image supplied
alumni with the recognition, skills and networks to drive their own careers, influence policy and confidently lead departments and organisations. Drawing on the UK’s strong creative sector, it actively refreshes the cultural dialogue between the two nations and promotes international collaboration, skill-sharing and network-building. Nick Marchand, Director of British Council Australia, says, “the opportunities and relationships that are built through ACCELERATE are somewhat unpredictable, but always profound. ACCELERATE fosters a deep and reciprocal engagement between the UK and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. This is of huge credit to the ACCELERATE participants, who have been universally open to new opportunities and to sharing their Page 1
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experiences. Similarly, our UK partners have been generous with both their time and expertise.” 2012 recipient Alison Page said, “ACCELERATE is the best name for this programme because I achieved in three weeks, what would have taken me more than 18 months to achieve, and then some.” The on-going benefits of the programme live long after the initial trip, with Kyle Morrison, a 2011 recipient and Artistic Director of Perth’s Yirra Yaakin Theatre presenting a selection of Shakespeare’s sonnets in the Noongar language at the Globe. The first performance by Aboriginal Australians at the Globe, it was presented as part of the London Cultural Olympiad Festival 2012. Australia Council Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board Chair Lee-Ann Buckskin said, “First Nations peoples in Australia are global leaders in artistic excellence and cultural vibrancy. ACCELERATE is a unique program that builds on that Page 2
for the participants, their sectors and communities.” www.accelerate.org.au ACCELERATE 2013 is presented by the British Council and the Australia Council for the Arts in association with Arts NSW, Arts Queensland, Arts Victoria, Department of Culture and the Arts WA, Virgin Atlantic Airways and BT Global Services. KEY POINTS * ACCELERATE is open to applicants from across Australia with at least five years experience in the arts and creative industries *Applicants must be Aboriginal
Above: Alice Duff Accelerate class of 2009 and below Accelerate class of 2011. Images supplied
or Torres Strait Islander people *There is no formal age limit for applicants * In 2013, five recipients will be chosen, one each from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and nationally. Interested applicants are invited to attend Application information sessions which will be held across the country in June. Details at www.accelerate.org.au. * Applications for ACCELERATE 2013 CLOSE at MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 7 JULY