This year, NIDA was proud to be the sponsor of The Sydney Fringe Emerging Artist Sharehouse in Erskineville; to celebrate the end of a fantastic Fringe season, last week, Head of NIDA Open Tricia Ryan presented the inaugural NIDA Open Emerging Artist Award at Sydney Fringe Festival’s closing awards ceremony.
This year, NIDA was proud to be the sponsor of The Sydney Fringe Emerging Artist Sharehouse in Erskineville; to celebrate the end of a fantastic Fringe season, last week, Head of NIDA Open Tricia Ryan presented the inaugural NIDA Open Emerging Artist Award at Sydney Fringe Festival’s closing awards ceremony.
Central Coast artist James Maher picked up the award for his work, Notes from the Underclass, which featured in Fringe’s 2017 program. Written and performed by Maher and accompanied by a musician, his work centred on five, self-devised poetic monologues based on personal experiences of growing up. It explores themes of social discourses of class, inter-sectionalism and social mobility.
The prize for his inspiring new work included a place on one of NIDA Open’s short courses this summer.
‘Sydney Fringe has become an integral part of the independent arts scene in Sydney and it’s a great pleasure to be able to support the next generation of Fringe artists through these exciting new initiatives,’ commented Ryan.
‘James has an honest and incredible new voice of a boy growing up in public housing in the Central Coast. For a voice that otherwise would go unheard, this is a tremendous opportunity for James to refine his talent and develop into a great writer,’ commented Kris Spann, Development Manager, Sydney Fringe.
The awarded prize allows Maher to choose from a variety of NIDA Open courses in performance, producing, writing, directing or theatre making to support the next stage of his creative development.
Throughout the year, NIDA Open runs a wide range of creative short courses open to all. Visit open.nida.edu.au to find out more.
