The Australia Council has announced this year's recipients of its prestigious Fellowships, valued at $80,000 over two years. Open to established artists, the Fellowships support creative activity and professional development.
Among the eight recipients, Ethio-pop and reggae star Natnael Yimer aka Nhatty Man will collaborate with prominent Australian musicians including Dan Sultan, Paul Kelly, Sampa The Great, and Kutcha Edwards to compose and produce an album and stage show.
Acclaimed First Nations singer songwriter Emma Donovan, will use her First Nations Fellowship to produce a new solo album, featuring songs for children in traditional language.
Other recipients include Prue Lang, who will dedicate her Fellowship to pursuing new ways of reaching audiences through dance.
"This fellowship will enable me to deepen and expand my practice through these new and diverse activities with exceptional dance artists living and working in Australia," she said.
Yu Ouyang receives the Fellowship for Literature following a prolific writing career. He has published 138 books in English and Chinese, and said the Fellowship would allow him to dedicate himself to writing full-time over the next two years focused on a new documentary novel.
Recipient of the visual arts Fellowship, Kate Just, said the Fellowship would sustain and motivate her over the next two years.
"I am deeply grateful for this incredible recognition of my years of practice. As an artist who believes in the power of art to imagine new futures, I will treat this Fellowship as an opportunity to make work that generates hope and change," she said.
Australia Council Executive Director for Arts Investment Alice Nash said:
"Congratulations to the eight recipients of Australia Council Fellowships, who each submitted proposals that are relevant, timely, and will have a significant impact on their next decade of practice and its impact for and with communities. The Fellowships demonstrate the importance of investing in artists at key moments in their careers. We can't wait to see what grows from these Fellowships."
2022 Fellowship recipients:
- First Nations: Emma Donovan
- Community Arts and Cultural Development: Sarah Ward
- Dance: Prue Lang
- Emerging and Experimental Arts: Latai Taumoepeau
- Literature: Yu Ouyang
- Music: Natnael Yimer
- Theatre: Nat Randall
- Visual Arts: Kate Just
