Create NSW have named the trio of recipients for its 2024 Generations fellowship – an initiative aimed at giving up-and-coming artists in Western Sydney a greater chance to thrive in their careers – honouring Chilean-Italian singer-songwriter Gemma Navarrete, Ghanian-Australian genre-bender FRIDAY* (aka Fabian Odame) and hip-hop collective Yellowline.
It comes as part of the NSW Government’s ten-year policy dubbed Creative Communities, developed by Create NSW in partnership with Powerhouse, Blacktown Arts and Vyva Entertainment.
As part of the fellowship – pegged as an “artist-led professional development residency program”, which will run over a period of six month – each of the nominated artists will receive $25,000 in funding, plus in-kind support like access to a studio space in Blacktown, and industry mentoring and networking facilitated by Vyva.
Navarrete, Odame and the four-piece Yellowline (consisting of underground favourites Biggs685, ElijahYo, MRVZ and MKAY) were all chosen by an industry assessment panel, with a press release noting it received “a high number of quality applications”.
In a formal statement, Annette Pitman (chief executive of Create NSW) said her organisation “is proud to play a role in nurturing the incredible talent that is emerging in Western Sydney” through the Generations fellowship. She continued: “Selecting these remarkable musicians from a highly-competitive field, bursting with potential, was a difficult task and I congratulate FRIDAY*, Gemma Navarrete and Yellowline on what will be a career-defining residency.”
Sound NSW head Emily Collins shared the sentiment, adding: “The contemporary music scene in Western Sydney is brimming with exciting talent. With support and guidance from program partners Powerhouse, Blacktown Arts and Vyva Entertainment, our 2024 Fellows have an incredible opportunity to take their careers to the next level.”
Also revelling in the excitement is Powerhouse’s chief executive, Lisa Havilah, who said, “Powerhouse is excited to work with FRIDAY*, Gemma Navarrete and Yellowline as part of our ongoing commitment to sustain individual creative practice and support and nurture the creative industries across Western Sydney. We are proud to be delivering this program in partnership with Blacktown Arts and Vyva Entertainment to help amplify the incredible creativity emerging from Western Sydney.”
And last but certainly not least, Brad Bunting (councillor and mayor of Blacktown City) added to the cohort with his own statement: “Blacktown City welcomes live music and creatives to our City and its precincts. Blacktown is a hub for contemporary music, drawing artists from across Western Sydney and NSW to collaborate, celebrate and create. It’s all happening in Blacktown and we couldn’t be prouder of the next generation. Music is vital to the culture of Blacktown City and this partnership will amplify the next generation of leading artists and creatives.”
