FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said outstanding regional artists and arts workers in the New England Electorate are invited to apply for up to $30,000 to develop professional skills and gain experience in the national and international arts landscape.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for regional artists to work in other regions, cities or even overseas alongside experienced artists and I encourage local artists and arts workers to consider applying,” Mr Joyce said.

He said funding for five Regional Artist Development Fellowships was announced in October last year, to support professional regional artists and promote a vibrant, creative life in Australia’s regions. 

“Artists in our regions encounter additional barriers to city-based artists in accessing opportunities to develop their arts practice on a professional level.

“These fellowships will provide artists and arts workers with new and valuable experiences that not only support their career but also deliver long-term benefits to the cultural life of their communities,” Mr Joyce said.

The five fellowships are:

• The International creative development fellowship ($30,000) which is open to regional artists to support a placement or experience outside Australia to develop creative practice. 
• The Indigenous creative development fellowship ($20,000) which is open to Indigenous regional artists to support a placement or experience outside their region (including international, metropolitan or other regions) to develop creative practice.
• The Young artist creative development fellowship ($15,000) which is available for regional artists aged between 18 and 26 to support a placement or experience outside their region (including international, metropolitan or other regions) to develop creative practice or support their career path. 
• The Institutional fellowship and Indigenous institutional fellowship ($30,000 each) will each support a placement for a regional artist or arts worker at an Australian arts institution. The placement could include formal training, mentoring with institutional leaders or a work placement.

Regional Artist Development Fellowships are administered by Regional Arts Australia. For more information visit www.regionalarts.com.au. Applications close at midnight on Friday 17 April 2015.