YOUNG INDIGENOUS ACTOR MARK COLES-SMITH WINS $5000 PRIZE FOR 2007’s
YVONNE COHEN AWARD FOR CREATIVE INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN YOUTH

Mark Coles-Smith, a talented professional actor and Nyikina man from Broome, North West of the Kimberly is this year’s winner of the Yvonne Cohen Award for Creative Indigenous Australian Youth, securing a $5000 prize. The award is auspiced by the VCA’s Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts & Cultural Development on behalf of sole trustee Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Wandin-Murphy.

At just twenty years of age Mark has already established himself as a promising emerging actor in an industry that boasts extreme competitiveness and harsh lessons. A strong talent with exceptional skills, Mark won a role along side high-profile Australian actors Gary Sweet and Aaron Pederson in the acclaimed SBS series, ‘The Circuit,’ filmed and released this year. In 2000 he auditioned and scored a role in the BBH television series ‘Ocean Star,’ shooting on location in and around Broome.

“Mark is a charming, intelligent and talented Indigenous role model. The Wilin Centre is proud to see Mark’s star rising as the winner of the Yvonne Cohen Award, and as one of our treasured alumni,” Michelle Evans Head of the Wilin Centre said.

Mark’s other acting credits include a short film directed by Eron Sheean, Blue Heelers, Crabbing at High Tide – a three month children’s theatre production (part of the Perth International film festival), a lead role in the short SBS film production ‘William,’ and a lead role in ‘The Arrival,’ an entry made for the 15 by 15 International film festival that subsequently saw Mark winning the Best Male Performance Award.  

Also a budding music producer and mixer, Mark has been involved in projects with Western Australian based bands and emerging artists, and in addition, produces his own electronic music, that has had some keen interest from industry professionals. Additionally Mark has tried his hand at filmmaking, with his first film going into production next year, and funded by Screen West. Mark is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA).

"I feel great to have won the award, and also to have received encouragement in all the forms of creative art I've been working on at the moment. At present, I'm considering upgrading my music studio to include several pro-mastering and monitoring racks. But there are also a number of instruments both myself and my guitarist are interested in experimenting with, so we'll see what happens," Mark said.

The date for the Fan the Flames Indigenous Student/Alumni Showcase 2008 is the 17th of September. This event will be held in Federation Hall, Grant Street, off St Kilda Rd at the VCA 234 St KIlda Rd, Southbank.

Pre-show drinks and nibbles in Federation Hall from 6.30pm. 

Fan the Flames is a showcase of the talents of the VCA's current Indigenous Australian students and alumni. Fan the Flames will host a special guest performance and the winner of the annual national Yvonne Cohen Award for Creative Indigenous Youth offering a $5000 prize will be announced on the night.

For more information contact the Wilin Centre on 03 9685 9327. 

Fan the Flames, the VCA’s Indigenous student and alumni showcase promoting the exceptional talents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, was held in October 2006. The event included live music, drama pieces, a film screening and an art exhibition of Indigenous students and Alumni.

Special guests included Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Wandin-Murphy performing a Welcome to Country, and performances by Deadly Award nominee Dan Sultan, Music Theatre graduate Bree Langridge, Janawirri on the Yidaki (Didgeridoo), drama student Chrissy Tirris and hosted by Deadly Award winner and VCA Alumni Celebrity Chef Mark Olive.

Special guests to the VCA, Queensland- based Indigenous rap group Native Ryme Syndicate were also a highlight on the night  – a group formed in 1994 with an agenda to be heard across the nation and the world. Native Ryme Syndicate have been strongly successful over the past 12 years with award nominations and wins and performances in a line-up with the likes of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Blink 182, Jimmy Little, Archie Roach, Coloured Stone and Warumpi Band.

Visual Artists exhibiting at the event included Max McGuire, Nicole Phillips, John Targan, Ben McKeown, Kye McQuire and Janawirri Forest.

The announcement of the Yvonne Cohen Award for Creative Indigenous Australian Youth winner was also made. Lisa Michl, 26, an emerging visual artist from far-north Queensland was this year’s recipient of the award bestowing $5000. Lisa was unable to attend the event, but sent a message via DVD. Visual Art student, Nicole Phillips was the recipient of the Arthur Papadimitrou Inspiration Award.

Fan the Flames is an annual Indigenous showcase event produced by the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts & Cultural Development at the VCA.

VISUAL ARTIST LISA MICHL Ko-manggén WINS YVONNE COHEN AWARD FOR CREATIVE INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN YOUTH 2006

Lisa Michl, an emerging visual artist from Inkerman country, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland is this year’s winner of the Yvonne Cohen Award for Creative Indigenous Australian Youth, securing a $5000 prize. The award is auspiced by the VCA’s Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts & Cultural Development on behalf of sole trustee Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Wandin-Murphy.

Lisa, 29 is a Kokoberrin woman descending from a strong line of Aboriginal women – she follows the ways of her mother and grandmothers whom were primarily fibre artists. Lisa’s art and creative force is inspired by her grandparents’ life and elements of Kokoberrin creation stories. Her work is striking and rich with the colours of life, land and beauty – yellows, browns earth orange tones and subtle reds.

A cultural role model within her community, Lisa is often called upon to assist in making decisions regarding art and works as a mentor to young Indigenous artists. She immerses herself within her community in Cape York by maintaining bonds with Kokoberrin traditional elders, family, country, protocol and ceremonial lore. Her bush name Ko-manggén was passed on to Lisa by her great grandfather, a senior Kokoberrin man. A basis for her spiritual development – Lisa expresses her culture and spirituality within her work.

“It is my cultural responsibility to take on what I have learnt and grow into a strong spiritual person like my great grandmother,” Lisa says.

Lisa is former Chairperson of UMI Arts, an advocacy body for community art centres in Cape York and is a full-time Indigenous Arts Officer at the TANKS Art Centre in Cairns. Lisa has exhibited in galleries across the country in solo and group exhibitions and internationally including Berlin, Washington and New York.

“Winning the Yvonne Cohen Award is a great honour for me, it is wonderful to know that my sustainable arts practice and studio discipline have not only been recognised but also awarded,” Lisa said

“The next 12 months will be a very exciting and challenging time
for my personal and artistic development, with numerous group
exhibitions within Australia and overseas.”

Media inquiries contact Kate Munro 
Phone: +61 9685 9324
Email: klmunro [at] unimelb.edu.au

Singer with soaring sprit wins inaugural award

KERRIANNE COX, an inspiring, internationally renowned singer/songwriter of Beagle Bay, Western Australia has been named the inaugural winner of the Yvonne Cohen Award for Creative Indigenous Australian Youth, securing a prize of $5,000 to aid in her future growth.

The late Yvonne Cohen was a successful non-Indigenous visual artist with a beautiful spirit, who lived a great part of her life on Timara Island, North Queensland. The newly established national award was auspiced by VCA's Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development on behalf of sole trustee Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy.

"The award was open to individuals 30 years and under, spanning across all art disciplines. It hailed a diverse response nation-wide, representing immense talent within Australia's Indigenous youth community." Aunty Joy said.

Aunty Joy sought the expert advice of Kristy Edmunds (Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Arts Festival 2005 - 07) and Michelle Evans (Head of The Wilin Centre) for the selection of this year's winner.

"Kerrianne clearly displays a very mature artistic sensibility in her work, and in the depth of spirit she brings to it. She has an authentic and generous voice, and is a demonstrated leader - not only in her community, but also in her art making" Ms Edmunds said

Cox, 29 is well known for her song Beagle Bay Dreaming, transcending her beloved home, Beagle Bay, into the hearts and minds of people world-wide.

Her credits include two independent albums, Just Wanna Move (1999) and Opening (2001), and she is currently working on a third.

"For me, music is about healing and building bridges," She says.

Her love for her community is paramount, and she is described as a catalyst for change and a leader. In 2004 her people elected Cox Chairperson of Beagle Bay Community. Cox effectively put aside her constant touring (Australia-wide, America and South Africa) to concentrate on her community, but has never wavered in her passion for her creative ability.

"I feel on top of the world that my work has been recognised and honoured by judges of the Yvonne Cohen Award. Receiving the award gives me strength to endure hard times, to not lose faith and to continue believing in life, my work and the freedom to create beauty through self-expression as a performing artist and community leader."

Cox says, as the inaugural winner, she is honoured in setting a standard of achievement for herself and the award in years to come.

"I hope it will encourage creative self expression by young Indigenous artists whose merit and conviction make them worthy to receive a cash endowment, and apply it wisely to develop greater richness in their work."

"Thank you for the Yvonne Cohen Award." She said.