The artists, all aged under 30, will get practical experience in managing a youth focused arts project with mentoring support from a host cultural organisation.

Australia Council executive director community partnerships and market development Karilyn Brown said EPIC07 would provide valuable hands-on experience for young and emerging producers looking to further their careers in dance or media arts.

‘Through support for contemporary youth arts and cultural projects, EPIC07 allows us to contribute to Australia’s artistic and social capital – with a particular focus on regional areas,’ Ms Brown said.

The five EPIC07 producers and their host organisations are:

Timothy Bishop, Illawarra Performing Arts (NSW)

Timothy will coordinate a dance program, which creates a positive outlet for young Indigenous people to connect creatively with their traditions and culture.  The project’s artistic vision is to fuse the existing expression of local Aboriginal youth through dance and movement with a new understanding of Aboriginal tradition and culture in the Illawarra, south coast and Nowra regions.

Fiona Hogg, Brisbane Festival (QLD)

Fiona will produce BIG SQUARE EYE for the 2008 Brisbane Festival.  The project will bring together emerging new media artists and young people from Brisbane’s suburbs and regional Queensland to develop video works that explore diverse youth cultures. BIG SQUARE EYE will be exhibited in gallery spaces and on banks of television sets in electrical retailers statewide.

Sarah Howell, Tasmania Regional Arts (TAS)

Sarah will work with young artists in regional areas of northern Tasmania to create a virtual communication forum using pod-casting, mobile phone and blog technology. The aim of this activity will be to create a series of new media events that will allow each of the artists to share their stories and experiences.

Ali Kadhim, Information and Cultural Exchange (NSW)

Ali will produce Layers of the Map – a new media arts project involving digital video, sound, animation and web design and physical performance.  It will creatively engage young people from diverse cultural backgrounds and involve them in the production of an interactive map of public spaces in Western Sydney. Viewed via a website, the map will feature numerous locations where users can view information and add their own experiences related to specific locations – creating a rich multi-media reference for the community.

Aimee Smith, Awesome Arts (WA)

Aimee will use her skills as a dance artist/choreographer to work with young people and communities in regional Western Australia. Aimee’s project will build on her existing creative work Press Play, where a remote control roams the audience inviting participation. Each button on the remote control has a particular sound and movement score and the audience controls the performance by changing the buttons.

EPIC07 is supported through the Australian Government’s Young and Emerging Artist Initiative for artists aged 30 years and under.

Media enquiries

Carla Viola
Tel: 0434 310 211