Four NSW musicians and sound artists are set to amplify their creative careers and experimental work thanks to the NSW Government's SoundLab Residency Program, delivered in partnership with leading design and engineering firm Arup.
The 2022 SoundLab Residency Program recipients are musician, artist and composer Megan Clune; vocalist, composer, and instrument designer Donna Hewitt; media artist Alex Davies; and sound artist Tom Ellard.
Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin said the Program will provide the successful applicants with the space and time away from their regular environment to reflect, research and consider new ways of developing their creative practice in a world-class acoustics lab.
"This residency is an important platform for these four NSW cutting-edge artists to take their craft to the next level - providing an exciting opportunity to experiment, with the inspiration and expertise of Arup all around them," Mr Franklin said.
"Congratulations to Megan, Donna, Alex and Tom. It is a privilege to recognise these remarkable artists and the contribution they make to our state's vibrant arts and cultural offering, and I look forward to seeing, and hearing, the fruits of their labour."
Arup's Arts and Culture Australasia Leader, Chris Mercer said Arup is thrilled to continue its partnership with Create NSW to deliver the SoundLab Residency.
"We believe in the power of the arts and culture sector to fuel creativity, collaboration, and shared experiences to connect and inspire our global community. We look forward to welcoming the four artists to Arup's SoundLab and the creative interactions within our walls between the artists and our designers, consultants and engineers," Mr Mercer said.
Previous artist in residence Alexandra Spence said the residency was a great opportunity to gain new skills in a high-tech environment.
"Arup SoundLab is a unique space, and it was such a privilege to spend time creating new work and exploring new ideas on the 16-channel system. I gained new technical skills and learnt a lot about the conceptual elements of spatialisation," Ms Spence said.
The four successful artists will each receive $3,750 in funding support from Create NSW and access to Arup's high-end technical space to make music and sound. The program involves a four-week residency, which guarantees participants access to the SoundLab for at least 10 hours per week. Arup's major in-kind contribution for the use of the SoundLab equates to approximately $7,000 per week.
Details about Megan Clune, Alex Davies, Tom Ellard and Donna Hewitt are available on the Create NSW wesbite.
