VCA Art
  • Sarah Amos held a printmaking masterclass Floor Talk at Firestation Print Studio and was visiting VCA international artist.
  • Fergus Binns won the $40,00 young painters 2008 METRO 5 ART AWARD with his work Mount Kosciusko with receding snow dome - a homage to Eugene von Guerard's famous 1863 painting North-east view from the northern top of Mount Kosciusko. 
  • Jane Byrne held a solo exhibition at Pamela Irving Gallery.
  • Narelle Desmond, Sharon Goodwin, Ry Haskings, James Lynch, Lisa Radford and Nat Thomas of Damp, curated and exhibited in Group Group Show at the VCA Margaret Lawrence Gallery.
  • Ryan Foote was commissioned by GPO Melbourne to install a giant artwork in the GPO building.
  • Danielle Freakley was the winner of the 2007 Qantas Spirit of Youth Award -Visual Arts category and featured in a group exhibition, Ill Communication, at Gertrude Contemporary Art Space.
  • Tara Gilbee held her first solo exhibition at Dianne Tanzer Gallery.
  • Pawel Grochola is lead technical director on Harry Potter 6 at Double Negative in London, July, 2008
  • Grant Hill was awarded a Skills and Arts Development Award (Milan Studio Residency) from the Australia Council in 2006, and his residency began in Milan this year. He was also selected for the City of Perth Art Award 2007.
  • Pamela Irving held two solo shows at Wangaratta Art Gallery: Treading the Boards and Wildthings.
  • Damon Kowarsky held an exhibition From the Empty Quarter, Joshua McClelland Print Room Travels, at the Dickerson Gallery.
  • Callum Morton and Susan Norrie represented Australia at the 2007 Venice Biennale.
  • Magdalena Moreno was appointed Director of the South Project Inc.
  • Dr Sheridan Palmer was guest curator of The Goddess Grins – Albert Tucker and the Female Image in the Albert & Barbara Tucker Gallery, Heide.
  • Valerie Sparks was chosen as the Rupert Bunny Foundation Visual Arts Fellow.
  • Simon Terrill was awarded a 2007 Samstag Scholarship.

 

 

VCA Dance
  • Kristy Ayre, Sara Black and Amber Haines performed the Chunky Move solo work Glow at the 2007 Melbourne International Arts Festival.
  • Matt Cornell performed the lead role in This Show Is About People, choreographed by Shaun Parker as part of the 2007 Melbourne International Arts Festival.
  • Rob McCredie performed Mixing It Up in Canberra as part of Jamie Ayre’s Graduate of Animateuring piece.
  • Laura Levitus became a member of Tasdance, joining James Shannon.
VCA Drama
  • Emily Barrie designed The Show Hunger, a collaboration between the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Rawcus Ensemble, as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival, with sound by Jethro Woodward.
  • Jacklyn Bassanelli participated in the Pantheatre professional workshop and presented her solo work Unholy Site at the Pantheatre Summer University, France.
  • Alison Bell and Stephen Phillips performed in the MTC production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Alison also starred in the Malthouse Theatre’s production of Sleeping Beauty.
  • Cymbeline Buhler directed Living on Stone Rice at the Komaba Agora Theatre Festival, Tokyo.
  • Gemma Cavoli, Jing-Xuan Chan and Luke Ryan played in Criminology at the Malthouse Theatre.
  • Ranters Theatre Company presented Holiday at the North Melbourne Town Hall. VCA alumni involved were Raimondo Cortese (writer) Adriano Cortese (director), Dave Franzke (sound design) operated by Declan Kelly, Anna Tregloan (set design), Niklas Pajanti (lighting design) and actors Paul Lum and Patrick Moffat.
  • Michael Dalley’s High Performance company staged it’s award winning cabaret show Vaudeville X with Grant Cartwright at the 2008 Full Tilt, Victorian Arts Centre.
  • Madeleine Munzer performed in The Deluge at the Hampstead New End Theatre, London, with Frank Grimes.
  • With direction by Simon Stone, Angus Grant, Katie-Jean Harding, Shelly Lauman and Russ Pirie performed in the Hayloft Project’s production of Spring’s Awakening, Forty Five Downstairs.
  • Ben Packer directed Mercury Fur at Theatreworks, starring Luke Mullins and Russ Pirie.
  • Oscar Redding’s film of Hamlet was an official entry at the 2007 Melbourne International Film Festival.
  • Andrew Upton’s play Riflemind, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman and starring Hugo Weaving, premiered at Wharf 1, Sydney. Upton was also appointed co-artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company with partner Cate Blanchett.
  • Julia Zemiro hosted the 2007 Inside Film Awards.
VCA Film & TV
  • 2007 L'Oréal Paris AFI Award winners included:
    Best Direction and Macquarie Private Wealth Best Screenplay: The Home Song Stories - Tony Ayres 
    Best Direction in Television: The King - Matthew Saville
    International Award for Excellence in Filmmaking: Jill Bilcock
  • Daniel Crooks' digital video piece Static no.11 (running man) won the inaugural $100,000 Basil Sellers Art Prize.
  • 2007 Australian Teachers of Media Award winners included:
    Best Tertiary Animation: Filled With Water - Elka Kerkhofs
    Best Tertiary Documentary: The Butcher’s Wife - Kylie Plunkett Images of Age Award: Five Minutes to Midnight - Steve French And Ruby Hamad’s film Falling was a finalist for Best Tertiary Short Fiction.
  • Student films by Adam Arkapaw and Daniel Agdag were selected for the 27th Munich International Festival of Film Schools.
  • Adam Bostock’s The Postman won the audience prize, Best of the Fest short, at the 2007 Palm Springs International Festival.
  • Kate Breen and Kylie Plunkett received AFC experimental funding for a drama/second life screen piece.
  • Kylie Bryant and Juliet Porter who worked together on Breathe (2006), received funding from Film Victoria’s Propeller Shorts Fund, along with Tim Dean and Kate Breen. 
  • Lisa Dombroski received funding from Film Victoria’s New Feature Writers scheme for further work on her Masters script Crossing Over.
  • Andrew Dominik’s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford was selected as the opening film of the 2007 Calgary International Film Festival.
  • Dustin Feneley won the Moving Image category in the 2007 Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards.
  • Natasha Gadd and Rhys Graham’s film Words from the City received an AFI nomination for Best Documentary. The film was edited by Paul Williams.
  • Ben Hackworth (director) and Matteo Bruno (producer) had their feature film Corroboree accepted into the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival.
  • Liz Hoyle’s film Maxwell was selected for the 6th International Student Film and Video Festival, Beijing Film Academy.
  • Michelle Lehman (writer/director) won the 2008 Sony Tropfest for her film Marry Me.
  • Jessica Leski’s film Songs for Running Away won Best Female Lead and Best Direction at the 2007 In the Bin Short Film Festival.
  • Matthew Macknamara won the best Television Original for his episode of Two Twisted - Call Back.
  • David Norris won the Australian national first prize in the 2007 Kodak Filmschool competition for his cinematography on Wax, directed by Virginie Tetoofa. 
  • Apocalypse Films’ Andrew O’Keefe and Jim Xyga debut feature film The Independent was released in October 2007.
  • Lucy Paplinska received AFC funding to produce her documentary Alone in a crowded room due for release later this year. Visit http://www.lickettysplit.com.au/crowded_room.htm  
  • Erin White (writer/director) and Melanie Brunt (producer) had their film Dugong screened in the Short Film program at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Short, along with Crossbow which was co-produced by Polly Staniford.
VCA Music
  • 2007 Melbourne Prize winners included:
    Outstanding Musicians Award: Genevieve Lacey and
    development Award Julian Langdon.
  • 2007 ARIA Awards included John Butler Trio bass player Shannon Birchall, who shared in the band’s win for Best Independent Release and Best Blues & Roots Album. Sue Johnson, Nicola Eveleigh and Gabrielle MacGregor of Coco’s Lunch were nominated for Best Children’s Album - Rat Trap Snap and Best World Music Album - Blueprint.
  • True Live members Tom Butt, Ivan ‘Choi’ Khatchoyan and Tamil Rogeon performed as part of the 2007 Melbourne International Arts Festival.
  • Emily Blanch won the 2007 Marianne Mathy Scholarship as part of the Australian Singing Competition. She also placed second in the Herald Sun Aria Awards.
  • Aaron Choulai with the Vada and Tatana Village Choir performed We Don’t Dance For No Reason at the Arts House for the 2007 Melbourne International Arts Festival. In 2007 he was also named one the most influential Melbournites by Melbourne Magazine.
  • Alan Cook conducted the Poltava Symphony Orchestra in the Ukraine, performing Dvorak (New World Symphony) and Rossini (from Semiramide).
  • Erin Cornell starred as Elphaba in the Japan performance of Wicked.
  • Steve Davislim sang the lead in Teneke at La Scala, Milan.
  • Ed Deganos and Leah Lim both performed in the ensemble of Miss Saigon for its Australian tour. 
  • Caitlin Fowler released her debut CD of original songs.
  • Ross Hannaford appeared in We Will Rock You, Little Me, and Mamma Mia and was invited to attend a three month Cirque du Soleil workshop in Canada. 
  • Composer Sebastian Harris had a piece premiered by Sydney Sinfonia at the City Recital Hall, Sydney.
  • Winston Hillyer played the title role in Disney’s The Lion King in Germany.
  • Matthew Kam, after being awarded a scholarship to study in the UK, was appointed Junior Solo Performance Fellow at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. 
  • Sophie Kesoglidis presented and produced a 13-week TV series Sophie’s Wedding Guide for Channel 31.
  • Chris Lane won the position of Principal Timpanist with Orchestra Victoria.
  • Bree Langridge toured the country with Theatre in Education.
  • Danielle Matthews performed and toured Australia in Respect.
  • Jenny Morrish performed with the Australian Youth Orchestra across Europe.
  • Miriam Norris gave a solo recital in Kinross House as part of the closing of her exhibition of Natural Abstraction, works on paper.
  • Emma Powell, Reuben Krum and Stephen McDowell all had sell-out and return seasons of their individual cabaret shows.
  • Alies Slutier presented Picture Box Orchestra at The Toff in Town, Melbourne.

  •  

VCA Production
  • Monique Aucher was appointed Technical Theatre Lecturer/Technician in VCA Production.
  • Fiona Boundy is working as the Stage Manager for the Australian Ballet along with Victoria Woolley as the Assistant Stage Manager.
  • Jacob Boehme and Lorraine Austin performed in the VCA Wilin Centre, puppetry workshop 2007 Croc Festival, Shepparton. Jacob was also awarded a grant to stage Stories from the Birrarung, a cross generational puppetry piece for the 2008 Next Wave.
  • Dioni Butt was Children's Coordinator for Billy Elliott the Musical.
  • Philip Costello was Stage Manager for 6 Dance Lessons in 6 weeks in Western Australia.
  • Rafi Dean is working as the Technical Production Coordinator at the Republic Cultural Centre, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore.
  • Hamish Fletcher was Assistant Puppet Director to Peter Wilson for Citrawarna, Colours of Malaysia Festival.
  • Conor Fox, Tamara Rewse and Leonie Van Eyck were puppeteers for Coop, Forty Five Downstairs.
  • Adam Gardnir (Design) and Danny Pettingill (Lighting Design) worked on Mercury Fur for Theatreworks.
  • Evan Granger (Set Design) worked on Platonov for The Hayloft Project.
  • Angie Grant is working as a Sound Assistant for ABC Radio.
  • Belinda Green is the Production Manager for Polyglot Puppet Theatre.
  • Edwina Guinness was Assistant Stage Manager for the Victorian Opera production of Orpheus and Eurydice.
  • John Hicks is the Production Coordinator at Palms Crown Casino.
  • Sally Hitchcock was Assistant Stage Manager for Miss Saigon.
  • Shan Jayaweera performed with his John Howard puppet in Once Upon a Coffee Cup at the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
  • Jes Keepence was Stage Manager for Mercury Fur at Theatreworks, Production Manager for VCA Puppetry’s Living Things and Props Assistant for Priscilla the Musical.
  • Lucy Kennedy is Deputy Stage Manager for Walking with Dinosaurs, USA tour.
  • Caitlin Kerry was Costume Designer for Anything Goes at the University of Ballarat.
  • Darren Kowacki was Stage Manager for Venus and Adonis at the Malthouse Theatre.
  • Christina Logan Bell worked on Disjointed Story at Chapel off Chapel, Set and Costume Design for The Betty Booke, War Rooms and Wardrobe and Dressing for Opera Australia’s autumn season.
  • Jemila McEwan and Lucie Sprage were prop makers for the Australian Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.
  • Jemila MacEwan and Lauren Redpath were puppet sculptors/makers for Possum Magic- The Musical.
  • Whitney McNamara was Stage Manager for Disjointed Story, at Chapel off Chapel.
  • Emma Mildern is the Venue Coordinator at the Footscray Community Arts Centre.
  • Rina Morinaga was composer for Don't Stop It and Sound Designer for Konjaku monogatari: The new edition.
  • Dayna Morrisey (set and costume design) worked on Dimboola and Death in White Linen at La Mama, West Side Story at Melbourne High School, Wanderlands at St Martins Youth Arts Centre, and Clickety Tock at Fitzroy Town Hall.
  • Lyall Morris worked as puppet maker for the Australian Ballet's  The Nutcracker and puppet maker/performer for Cinderella by Lyric Opera at Chapel off Chapel.
  • Arlo Mountford and Rob Stewart were Sound Designers for X:machine and Hamlet at the Malthouse Theatre.
  • Wesley Portelli (Manager), Whitney McNamara and Eva Tandy (Assistant Stage Managers) worked on 39 Steps for the Melbourne Theatre Company.
  • Gretta Newall worked on Dreamer for Dream Puppets.
  • Lachlan Plain (puppeteer) worked on The Legend of Ned Kelly, an AboutFace Production which toured the Adelaide Festival Centre and Victorian Arts Centre. He also worked as puppet designer for The Perjured City for VCA Drama.
  • Aleks Radovic was Producer and Adam Gardnir was Designer for The Tragedy of Hamlet - Prince of Denmark at the Malthouse Theatre.
  • Tamara Rewse, Sam Routledge and Hamish Fletcher worked as puppeteers for Men of Steel which featured at the Edinburgh Festival, Adelaide-Fringe Festival, Sydney-Big Laugh Comedy Festival, and 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. They also worked on On Holiday for the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
  • Sam Routledge was puppeteer in Operation in the 2007 Full Tilt, Victorian Arts Centre.
  • David Samuel was Design Assistant for My Fair Lady by Opera Australia.
  • Robert Surace worked as Dresser/Wardrobe for The Lion King, UK.
  • Eva Tandy was Stage Manager for Don's Party, Sydney Theatre Company.
  • Naomi Wong was Assistant to the float Designer for the 2008 Moomba Festival, Set Design for Romeo and Juliet at Eagle's Nest Theatre Company and Costume Design for Three Dog Night at Forty Five Downstairs.
VCA Centre for Ideas

Mark Elliott the first CFI, PhD graduate is working with the City of Melbourne, composing the collaborative process for the creation of the Future Melbourne Project. Melbourne's ten year plan, auguring participatory governance by allowing the public to contribute directly via a wiki-based technology: www.futuremelbourne.com.au/wiki

VCA Community Cultural Development
  • Paola Morabito performed and exhibited in John Cage’s Musicircus, at the 2007 Melbourne International Arts Festival.  
  • Shahin Shafaei performed in Homebody/Kabul, a Theatre At Risk production.

  •  

VCA Wilin Centre
  • Jacob Boehme and Lorraine Austin performed in the VCA Wilin Centre, puppetry workshop at the 2007 Croc Festival, Shepparton.  
  • Liz Cavanagh lead and performed with the YUL LULL: VCA Music Indigenous Ensemble at Melbourne Jazz 2008.
  • Gayle Maddigan was commissioned by the City of Greater Bendigo to create a new culturally significant artwork that symbolises indigenous people and their connection to country.
  • Leroy Parsons performed in Hotel Obsino at the 2007 Melbourne Fringe festival.