Financial Support Musicians

Olivia Abbott, Tanaya Barat and Blake Rhodes are the three young emerging NSW-based musicians selected to take their careers to the next level through the first Generations Fellowships from Powerhouse Museum in collaboration with Create NSW and music management and touring company Astral People.

Lisa Havilah, Chief Executive, Powerhouse Museum confirmed that each artist will receive $25,000 in financial support to undertake a six-month residency with the Powerhouse Museum and receive in-kind industry mentoring and networking from Astral People during their respective residencies. The Generations Fellowship program, comprising in-kind and cash support, is valued at $100,000.

"The NSW creative industry residency launched last year has allowed us to play an active role in nurturing the career development of artists working across a range of artistic disciplines," she said.

"With the new Generations Fellowships, we are able to go further, and help invest in their future and the future of contemporary music. We have a well-established and growing music collection at the Museum, and this new fellowship is an indicator of the new direction the Powerhouse continues to move towards."

During their fellowship the three NSW-based contemporary musicians Olivia (Coogee), Tanaya (North-Strathfield) and Blake (Lismore) will further develop their skills and knowledge as artists and gain autonomy within the music industry.

Create NSW Executive Director Chris Keely said: "With funding, access to creative spaces, musical assets and switched-on and connected industry experts, this is a fantastic opportunity for our musicians to take stock of their musical ambitions and work to turn these into reality."

Astral People co-founder and director Tom Huggett added: "The Generations Fellowship artists reflect the breadth of the talent that exists in NSW. Tanaya's sound marries shoegaze and R&B, Mr Rhodes approaches rapping and producing from a soulful and conscious angle, and Olivia is creating electronic pop with an experimental twist. Vichara Edirisinghe, myself and the whole Astral People team are excited to help guide and grow their promising careers over the course of the fellowship."