The Australia Council for the Arts has collaborated with Lismore Regional Gallery and the Splendour in the Grass music festival to launch SPLENDID, a groundbreaking initiative to workshop and showcase young and emerging Australian artists.

Ten young and emerging artists who work across the visual arts, theatre, dance, design, installation, architecture, digital art, text, sound and other creative areas will be chosen to undertake a three-week Arts Lab residency in Lismore in July 2009.

During the residency, the ten SPLENDID participants will not only be mentored in their own art form by some of the most recognised artists in the world, they will be encouraged to explore the concept of ‘’cross artform’’, working collaboratively within a dynamic environment that encourages critical thinking and experimentation.

The concepts workshopped during the residency will be further developed over a six month period and several will be commissioned to premiere at Splendour in the Grass 2010. This process will occur three times, with artworks commissioned for Splendour in the Grass 2010, 2011 and 2012.

‘SPLENDID is the greatest opportunity for young and emerging artists to learn cross-artform skills and develop new generation artworks,’ said Steven Alderton, director of Lismore Regional Gallery. ‘Splendour in the Grass represents the future of arts audiences and we are very fortunate to have Splendour contributing financially and providing the showcase for these works. It’s just enormously exciting’.

Jessica Ducrou, promoter of Splendour in the Grass, said ‘Developing the visual art and performance aspect of our festival has always been important to me, since our first Splendour nine years ago. Realising this dream, with the three year commitment from the Australia Council, is wonderful. We are truly excited to see what comes of this at Splendour 2010’.

Andrew Donovan, the Australia Council’s acting executive director of arts development, said ‘Splendour in the Grass is a music festival that brings together creative people from all artforms. SPLENDID is a terrific opportunity for up and coming artists to explore collaboration across artistic disciplines and expose their work to new audiences. We anticipate a great line up of emerging artists will take part in 2009.’

Applications close 4 May 2009. Visit the SPLENDID website for details on how to apply.

Media contact:

Victoria McClelland-Fletcher

02 9215 9008