Press release from SBPR
The QANTAS Spirit of Youth Awards, Australia’s leading grants program for emerging creatives, is excited to reveal the twenty-one brilliant finalists competing in the seven categories of SOYA09.
Representing some of the most sophisticated creative stars Australia has to offer, the shortlists were drawn from thousands of entries nationwide with finalists hand-picked by SOYA’s internationally-renowned, industry-leading mentors including fashion gurus Nicky and Simone Zimmermann, visual arts curator Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, film industry icon Rachel Ward, influential designer Marc Newson, international photographer Tim Richardson, visual communications maestro Vince Frost, and Stephen Pavlovic, the owner and founder of Modular, one of Australia’s most innovative record labels.
“The work of these three filmmakers is so accomplished, beautiful and sophisticated that I am looking forward to being mentored by THEM.” Rachel Ward, SOYA09 Film Mentor.
“I called all the finalists and spoke to them individually. I wanted to find out from them how passionate they were for the mentorship programme and what I could do for them over the course of the year. It was a very difficult choice as there was a lot of talent there. My decision was not based on who had the most professional portfolio but based on who needed the biggest step up in their career.” Vince Frost, SOYA09 Visual Communications Mentor.
“Songs: I really like their vibe and they possess a naivety and genuine sincerity that reminds me of some of my favorite bands. Wicked! Sherlock’s Daughter: there’s some really cool elements going on in here, atmospheric and hypnotic, two of my favourite sweets, I can’t wait to see how they unfold in the future. Oh Mercy: these guys have a well developed sense of songwriting and a killer vocal that keeps me coming back for more.” Stephen Pavlovic, SOYA09 Music Mentor.
The high calibre of this year’s finalists demonstrates the unique ability of SOYA to showcase some of Australia’s best artists, musicians, designers and filmmakers. From avant-garde fashion designers Romance Was Born to 17 year old Nirrimi Hakanson, a phenomenally talented fashion photographer from Townsville, the finalist line-up presents an ensemble of truly phenomenal young creative masterminds.
“The Qantas SOYA09 shortlist reflects the considerable skill and unique perspective of the next generation of Australian creative talent. More than that, the quality of entries in this year’s Awards is testament to their hard work and dedication to their fields, from film, fashion and visual arts to photography, design and music.”
“SOYA has given each of these artists a rare opportunity to gain exposure with their industries’ leaders who, as SOYA mentors, will coach and counsel the winners in their category.”
“Qantas is proud to support Australia’s emerging creative leaders, who all have very bright futures ahead of them.” Lesley Grant, Executive Manager Customer and Marketing.
The finalists are now in the running to win a once-in-a-lifetime mentorship opportunity with SOYA09’s inspirational mentors, along with financial support in the form of $5000 in cash and $5000 in flights from Qantas in each of the seven SOYA categories.
SOYA winners for 2009 will be announced at a spectacular awards night held on Wednesday 11 November at the Foundation Hall of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. Finalists, mentors, media and the who’s who of Sydney’s artistic world will come together to view an exhibition of the finalists’ work and celebrate the best new creative and cultural talent Australia has to offer.
ABOUT SOYA
SOYA is a part of Qantas’ ‘Sharing the Spirit’ community initiative, which aims to help young Australians connect with their dreams, and achieve their potential. Since the inception of the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards in 2004, SOYA has been
instrumental in fostering the careers of Australia’s top innovative and inspiring young talent including Geoffrey J Finch of cult womenswear label Antipodium; Danielle Freakley, the uniquely compelling artist who spent over three years communicating only in quotes; and My Disco, the dynamic three piece music collaboration of Ben Andrews, Liam Andrews and Rohan Rebeiro. Previous SOYA winners have used their mentorships to work in the Paris studio of industrial designer Marc Newson, had their scripts edited by film director Rowan Woods, worked on the set of a Gillian Armstrong film and recorded with Paul Mac.
They’ve used the cash injection to record albums, set up exhibitions around Australia and to undertake further study, while the Qantas flights have helped our best and brightest share their visions with the world.
QANTAS SOYA09 FINALISTS
INDUSTRIAL & OBJECT DESIGN
Kirsten Black (30, Dolans Bay, NSW)
Tom Fereday (23, Newtown, NSW)
Brad Stebbing (25, Waitara, NSW)
FASHION
Arnsdorf (designer Jade Sarita Arnott, 30, Prahran, VIC)
Gary Bigeni (28, Oakhurst, NSW)
Romance Was Born (Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, 27, Surry Hills, NSW)
FILM
Genevieve Bailey (28, Melbourne, VIC)
Kasimir Burgess (30, Melbourne, VIC)
Michael Hill (30, Northcote, VIC)
MUSIC
Oh Mercy (McKennan, VIC)
Sherlock’s Daughter (Surry Hills, NSW)
Songs (Sydney, NSW)
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jessie Boylan (23, Lyons, ACT)
Nirrimi Hakanson (17, Townsville, QLD)
George Voulgaropoulos (26, Merrylands, NSW)
VISUAL ARTS
Rebecca Baumann (21, Willeton, WA)
Michaela Gleave (25, Camperdown, NSW)
Ash Keating (25, Fitzroy, VIC)
VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS
Yiying Lu (26, Chippendale, NSW)
Sumita Maharaj (29, Sydney, NSW)
Tin Nguyen and Edward Cutting (tin&ed, 28, Melbourne, VIC)