LYONS ARTIST RECEIVES GRANT TO KICK-START CAREER

FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson today welcomed government funding for Northern Tasmanian artist Samantha Dennis to help kick-start her career.

Ms Dennis’ $10,000 grant is part of $981,595 announced today to be distributed from the Australia Council’s ArtStart program to help emerging artists build a successful career.

The Weegena artist will use the money to develop a sustainable studio-based practice.

Arts Minister George Brandis said that the more than $980,000 funding nationally would support 99 recently graduated Australian artists.

A wide range of art forms are represented among the successful recipients.

They range from visual artists like Ms Dennis to dancers and musicians both classical and contemporary, writers and theatre practitioners.

The ArtStart grants will help with covering the costs of services, resources, skills development and equipment for individual artists who have completed an accredited creative arts course in the past three years.

For further details of the ArtStart program go to http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/funding/new-grants-model/artstart//

FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson