Early insights

pleased to myself as the new Chief

Since joining the Cultural Trust in March, I have felt privileged to gain an insider's perspective of this wonderful charitable trust and its community of emerging artists.

I have been particularly impressed by the unique and ambitious development projects our newest grantees will undertake, such as an electro-etching residency, Balinese Gamelan music studies and a director’s attachment on the Tchaikovsky opera Pique Dam

These projects illustrate the diversity, breadth, and depth of emerging artist's professional development needs and highlight the Cultural Trust's important role in supporting our creative community to pursue these opportunities.

Congratulations to the 24 emerging artists who have been awarded grants in the first funding round of 2023. I look forward to following your journeys and seeing your projects come to life.

I would also like to recognise two grantees who have achieved new milestones in their careers this year.

One of our newest grantees Julia Gutman, whose portrait entitled Head in the sky, feet on the ground, won theArt Gallery of NSW'sArchibald Prize last week. Julia is the eleventh woman and one of the youngest artists to win the prize in its 102-year history.

And Noora Niasari, whose feature film directorial debut SHAYDApremiered at Sundance Film Festival in January and won theAudienceAward in the World Cinema Dramatic category. Noora completed the first draft of SHAYDA’s screenplay while undertaking a residency with the support of The Ian Potter Cultural Trust in 2018. Learn more about her journey below

Lastly, I would like to thank the Trustees and staff, who have warmly welcomed me to this role.Their experience and knowledge has been invaluable in my first 100 days. I am excited to work alongside them and contribute to the Cultural Trust’s ongoing support for Australian artists.

Paul Conroy CEO

Round 1, 2023

New grantees

Congratulations to the emerging artists awarded Cultural Trust grants in the first funding round of 2023. Out of a competitive pool of 130+ applications, 24 artists were awarded $262,584 in grants.

Our new grantees will travel to 18 countries, including Senegal, Brazil and the Czech Republic, to undertake professional development in their respective disciplines.

Visit the CulturalTrust website for further information on our new grantees and their projects.

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Grantee Story

Noora Niasari's SHAYDA

New Grantee Elias Jamieson Brown

IranianAustralian filmmaker and past grantee Noora Niasari's feature film directorial debut, SHAYDA, has garnered critical acclaim on the international stage.

In January, SHAYDApremiered at Sundance Film Festival, opening the World Cinema Dramatic Competition and winning the SundanceAudienceAward for its category

New grantee Elias Jamieson Brown is a multi-talented artist whose practice spans writing for stage and screen, acting, and directing.

Supported by the Cultural Trust, Elias will undertake a director's attachment with renownedAustralian director Benedict Andrews on theTchaikovsky opera Pique Dame in Munich, Germany

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Grantee Story

Emily Collett

Past grantee, Emily Collett is a set and costume designer working across theatre, dance, performance art, film, and television.

Alongside this practice, Emily also applies her expertise to costume research and education as a lecturer and PhD candidate at the Victorian College of the Arts. In 2022 she submitted her PhD for examination.

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New grantee Clementine Barnes

New grantee Clementine Barnes uses craft-based techniques, needlework and textile collage, to explore historical narratives, human identity and advocate for social justice issues.

Supported by a Cultural Trust grant, Clementine will undertake an artistic residency at Cité internationale des arts, Paris, and produce an artist publication in the collective screen print studio alongside Eric Mercier