You might have heard brilliant flautist, Eliza Shephard (ABC Young Performer of the Year 2022), on Wednesday morning’s Radio National Breakfast program blowing away Patricia Karvelas with her virtuoso flute playing of The Great Train Race by Ian Clarke. It was part of an interview with Eliza and Nick Bailey, general manager of the Australian National Academy of Music, regarding a new grant from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust. News of the Ian Potter Emerging Performers Fund – a one million dollar grant to support independent ANAM alumni – will be music to the ears of gifted emerging musicians, who only too often struggle to pay the rent.
Below is the main media communication, plus some interesting details regarding the application process from the ANAM website. It’s worth scrolling down to see a couple of the less expected requirement details.
Ian Potter Emerging Performers Fellowships
$1 Million Grant to Support Independent ANAM Alumni
“We are excited to announce a new partnership with the Ian Potter Cultural Trust that will provide $1 million to directly support ANAM alumni who seek to carve out careers as independent artists.
“Two Ian Potter Emerging Performers Fellowships will be awarded annually between 2024 and 2028, each valued at $100,000 over two years.
“We are thrilled that the Ian Potter Cultural Fund shares our excitement and confidence in those musicians who seek to develop an independent creative practice.
“The career of a musician is a precarious one at the best of times. It is doubly challenging for those musicians who seek to develop a sustained practice outside the traditional full-time orchestral or teaching pathways.
“The freelance scene in Australia – which can assist in supporting a healthy portfolio career – is significantly smaller than in places such as Berlin, New York or London, and consequently finding one’s feet in this space is particularly fraught.
“The Ian Potter Emerging Performers Fellowships will provide critical support for those ANAM alumni who have displayed the necessary talent and determination to develop a distinctive independent voice.
“The outcome of this commitment to our emerging musicians may not be felt for some years, and we’re okay with that! We do believe though, that tending to these seeds and investing in talented individuals will have a profound impact on the country’s long-term creative imagination” said ANAM General Manager, Nick Bailey.
“Fellowships will not be tied to the delivery of specific projects and outcomes but are designed to give independent musicians the space and flexibility to explore and grow ideas that will enable them to develop a sustainable artistic practice. There is no age limit, and ANAM alumni who trained at ANAM for at least two years and who have completed their formal training – either in Australia or aboard – more than two years ago will be eligible to apply.
“Charles Goode AC, Chairman of The Ian Potter Foundation and The Ian Potter Cultural Trust, said “In establishing the Ian Potter Emerging Performers Fellowships in partnership with ANAM, The Ian Potter Cultural Trust continues its commitment to support outstanding emerging Australian artists.
“Through this collaboration, we will provide crucial support to classical musicians forging independent artistic careers and, in doing so, nurture exceptional and talented individuals who represent the future of Australia’s vibrant classical music sector. We look forward to seeing the first two fellowships awarded later this year.”
“Applications for the two 2024 Fellowships from ANAM alumni who have completed their formal training prior to 1 January 2022 will open on 28 August.”
“The Ian Potter Emerging Performers Fellowship is a two-year Fellowship valued at AU$50,000 each year for two years (total value AU$100,000) awarded by the Directors of ANAM, to an alum who displays a demonstrated commitment to establishing an independent creative career.”
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Further information from the ANAM website:
“The program is made possible with the support of the Ian Potter Cultural Trust. Two Fellowships will be awarded annually between 2024 and 2028 (a total of 10 Fellowships).
“This program seeks to identify and nurture those artists who display a demonstrated commitment to building independent professional performance careers that predominantly lie outside the traditional orchestral pathway.
“It will do so by identifying suitably skilled and experienced candidates, identify and address skills and support needs (through the pairing with mentors), and support them in the development of a sustained practice (which may include the creation and/or performance of new work).
“Details
“Fellowships commence on 1 January in the first year of the Fellowship. Payments of AU$50,000 each will be made in February of each year
“Detailed plans or budgets are not required as part of the application process: the intention of the program is to enable ‘artists to be artists’
“In discussion with ANAM, Fellows will be allocated a mentor in each year of the program
“Fellows will be required to submit a short acquittal at the end of each year, outlining activities that have been undertaken
“Eligibility
“Candidates will need to demonstrate:
“The highest-level technical and musical ability
“A demonstrated commitment to developing a distinctive creative voice and practice
“Applicants must have completed their formal music training – either at ANAM or other Australian or international institution – prior to 31 December 2021
“Formal training must have included at least 24 months training at ANAM
“Fellows must be based predominantly in Australia during the course of the Fellowship, and any work created during the Fellowship should be created predominantly in Australia, but may have an international iteration
“There is no age limit for applicants.
“Exclusions:
“The Fellowship cannot be used to fund further domestic or international study
“Recipients must not be employed by – or under an extended contract with – an orchestra or professional presenter or in any other full-time role whilst participating in the program (although may take on casual orchestral and/or other freelance or part-time work.)
“Further guidelines will be published on Monday 14 August 2023.
“Candidates will be advised in writing by Friday 13 October 2023 if they have been shortlisted for an online interview. The interview panel will include ANAM’s Artistic Director and General Manager, a representative of the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, and two external appointments. The panel will recommend two candidates to the ANAM Board, to commence their Fellowships in 2024.
“Candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application in November 2023.”
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