The Australia Council for the Arts honours a team of Perth teenagers, Midland Gate Shopping Centre and the City of Swan (WA) as the winners of the inaugural 2009 AbaF Young and Emerging Artists Award.

The award recognises the collaborative achievement of the partners who created the 2008 Hyper Festival – the first large scale youth music event ever hosted in a commercial shopping precinct in Australia.

Announcing the winners at the 2009 AbaF Awards ceremony in Brisbane, Australia Council Chief Executive Kathy Keele said, “Partnerships like these seed the future of our Australian arts and culture. Supporting young people’s involvement in and identity through the arts is paramount to nurturing their ongoing participation and enjoyment, for both artist and audiences.”

Sponsored by the Australia Council, this new award is part of $1.5million Council initiative to help build skills, experiences and opportunities for young and emerging artists.

“Whether through this vital new award, residencies and commissions, our mentoring or online programs, we are committed to supporting the next generation of Australian artists” said Kathy Keele.

The Hyper Festival grew from the Hyper Series, a program of music and visuals arts events for young people. Managed by a group of 25 young volunteers, the Series builds skills, mentorship links, job opportunities and community network to create long term opportunities for local young people.

Impressed by the Hyper Team, Midland Gate Shopping Centre and City of Swan came together to secure the ongoing future of the Hyper Festival by offering an undercover venue.

The Hype Festival was attended by over 3,500 people and became an opportunity for Festival organisers to positively engage with the young community and offer them expanded local opportunities.

Runners up for the 2009 Australia Council Young and Emerging Artists Award were Brisbane Airports Corporation with the Institute of Modern Art (QLD) and the Community Arts Network, City of Stirling and Filmbites Youth Film School (WA).