Talented young creatives have been recognised at the City of Greater Bendigo's 2024 RAW Arts Awards at a special presentation held last night at The Capital with the Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf (Thursday June 6).
The RAW Awards showcase and foster the talents and artistic pursuits of young people in the region 25 years of age and under, and this year's awards attracted 76 applicants.
The winner and a highly commended entry are recognised in five categories: Visual Arts, Literature, Performing Arts, Short Film and the Yo Bendigo/Ambedo award.
The Ambedo prize in partnership with Yo Bendigo is given for work that captures the experience of being a young person living in Greater Bendigo in 2024. (The Ambedo magazine is a free quarterly magazine designed, produced, and edited for young people). Please note the winner of the Yo Bendigo/Ambedo award will be announced next week.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the RAW Arts Awards evening and accompanying exhibition provided a fantastic opportunity for young talent in the region to showcase their work.
"The RAW Arts Awards is such a special event in the calendar and a chance for young people to present their work to a wider audience, and gain the recognition they deserve," Cr Metcalf said.
"I am so proud that the RAW Awards program is a stepping stone for many flourishing creatives who continue to pursue further studies in their chosen arts field.
"The extraordinary quality of creative work and the ingenuity just blows me away and as a cultural region we are so lucky to have these young aspiring creatives right here in Greater Bendigo."
Winners in each category received a $1,000 cash prize and a $250 cash prize was awarded to highly commended creatives. The winner of the Ambedo prize will be awarded a $500 cash prize.
The announcement of winners were interspersed with a showcase of Performing Arts entrants and screening of films submitted in the Short Film category.
Winners and highly commended applicants
Literary Award
Winner: Phillipa Pearse, Dreams
Highly commended: Kayla Barnfield, Phantom Island
Performing Arts
Winner: Liam Duivenvoorden
Highly commended: Emma Gleeson
Short film
Winner: Coen Gould, Hunted
Highly commended: Kayla Barnfield, The Virtual Doorway
Visual Arts
Winner: Sofie Sawka, Electric Blues
Highly commended: Keira Long, Tah Eh Thay Maung 2023
Yo Bendigo/Ambedo Award
Winner to be announced next week
Exhibition
The 2024 RAW Arts exhibition features this year's visual arts entries at Dudley House, 60 View Street. Entry is free and open to the public. The opening times are as follows:
- 11am to 5pm on Friday June 7
- 11am to 3pm on Saturday June 8 to Monday June 10 (open on the Monday public holiday)
