Rising stars: The VCA50 Creative Development Grants illuminate the path for emerging artists

Image credit: Giulia McGauran.
Image credit: Giulia McGauran.

In the shadow of a global pandemic, emerging artists face new challenges. Now, more than ever, they need our support to carve their paths into the industry and make meaningful changes in the world.

In recognition of this call, the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) is excited to announce the recipients of the inaugural VCA50 Creative Development Grants.

An initiative of the VCA Foundation Board, and launched in celebration of the VCA’s 50th anniversary, these grants give early-career alumni a much-needed boost in developing new projects to help launch their careers in the creative industries.

Spotlight on the winners: bold, innovative, and visionary

Made possible by the generous support of the VCA Foundation, and individual donors Konfir Kabo and Beck Wilkinson, five recent VCA alumni – Catherine Ryan, Francis Carmody, Fraser Pemberton, Kate Lefoe, and Georgia Ketels – will each receive necessary funds to deliver daring projects with a public outcome.

From the diverse creative disciplines of performance, visual art, and film and television, this outstanding cohort of artists represents an exciting future for creative practice in Australia.

  • Catherine Ryan, a Master of Contemporary Art graduate, will create 'Snap! (You Have Nothing to Reconnect But Your Chains)', a research-driven work exploring the history of a neoclassical statue at Victoria's Legislative Council in Parliament House. This project is generously supported by Mr Konfir Kabo.
  • Francis Carmody, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art) graduate, will produce three large sculptures exploring the reversal of the earth's magnetic poles, which will take centre stage at a solo exhibition at Gertrude Contemporary. This project is generously supported by the VCA Foundation.
  • Fraser Pemberton, a Master of Fine Arts (Film and Television) graduate, will film 'The Charlatans', a psychological thriller set along the Birrarung-Ga (Yarra River) in Melbourne. This dreamlike film, produced with Indigenous collaborators, questions the masks we wear and the stories we tell to survive. This project is generously supported by the VCA Foundation.
  • Kate Lefoe, a Master of Fine Arts (Film and Television) graduate, will create 'Wicked Women', a web series drama about the founders of Australia's first lesbian erotica magazine, set in the early 90s. This project is generously supported by Mr Konfir Kabo.
  • Georgia Ketels, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting) graduate, will create a speculative drama titled 'Recollection'. A poignant story of a mother's longing to capture the essence of her deceased daughter as a perfume. This project is generously supported by Ms Beck Wilkinson.

For Georgia Ketels, this grant could not have come at a better time: “I graduated at the start of the pandemic and have been eager for the right time to make my first major piece for an audience – I am so excited for the next year of rehearsals, set design, explorations, and creative collaboration, work that I live to be a part of.”

The Chair of the VCA Foundation Board, Mark Henry, said: "Through this initiative, the VCA50 Creative Development Grants support and encourage artists at a pivotal moment in their creative journey. As we celebrate the inaugural winners and their exciting projects, the VCA Foundation Board affirms its commitment to nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and investing in the transformative power of the arts into the future."

Director of the VCA, Professor Emma Redding, reflecting on the significance of the grants said: "Philanthropy continues to play a significant role in sustaining and growing the practice, spaces and profile of the VCA. We thank the VCA Foundation Board, Mr Konfir Kabo and Ms Beck Wilkinson for their generous support and commitment to our alumni as they transition into industry.

"These grants underscore a simple yet powerful truth: even amidst uncertainty, our artists can continue to thrive, innovate, and inspire – the future looks bright indeed."

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To learn more about the VCA50 Creative Development Grants and stay updated on these projects or support future grants, please contact Jaci Maddern, Development Manager at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music.

Jaci Maddern. E: jmaddern@unimelb.edu.au M: 0425 715 618.