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Momentum Leaders has been developed through the annual collaboration between the Arts8, a group of eight national training organisations. This deeper partnership between the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) connects emerging creatives in an immersive training project aligned with both organisations’ strategic priorities, fostering collaborations that will resonate throughout their careers. The Australian arts world is strengthened by connections that spark interdisciplinary projects and support the National Cultural Policy—Revive pillars.
AYO CEO, Kimbali Harding, says of the partnership: “Momentum Leaders is a bold step forward in how we prepare young artists for their careers. By bringing together musicians, composers, and theatre-makers, we are fostering a generation of creative leaders equipped to shape Australia’s cultural future with confidence and originality.”
NIDA CEO, Liz Hughes, shares her thoughts on the collaboration: “This partnership with AYO reflects our shared commitment to developing versatile, forward-thinking artists who are employment-ready upon graduation in the creative industries. Momentum Leaders nurtures the collaboration and adaptability required in today’s arts sector, ensuring success for graduates in an ever-changing creative landscape.”
AYO participants Julia Magri, Paul Nicolaou, Elliot Plumpton, Jet Chong, Abigail Lui, Jessica Scott, and Kit Millais, along with NIDA alumni Sudip Sauden and Lily Thomson, embarked on the project with a week of creative exploration and knowledge-sharing at the Redland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane. Under the mentorship of industry leaders, including Tim Munro (Associate Professor at Griffith Conservatorium of Music and triple-Grammy-winning musician) and John Babbage (Co-Artistic Director of Topology), the participants began exploring and refining their artistic practice through the creation of a performance piece that engages with issues important to them and their peers through the lens of connections and untold stories. The six-month Momentum Leaders program unites exceptional instrumentalists, composers, writers, and directors, equipping them with the skills for a versatile career in the 21st century: artistic mastery, leadership, cultural awareness, and business acumen.
The first five-day workshop was intense and challenging yet joyful and productive. Movement and communication mentor Jacqui Somerville commented, “It was a joy to be in that space and work with them,” and Circa Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz observed, “I had a blast; it was great to meet such bright, hungry minds.” Abigail Lui, summing up the participants’ experience, said, “Thanks everyone for such an inspiring week. I’m so keen for how we continue to unfurl this together.”
The next stage of the project sees the participants meeting online and remotely to further develop the performance piece. The final stage will be a second five-day workshop in Sydney at the NIDA Studio Theatre in June, where the participants will rehearse, record, and perform the artistic work, as well as pitch the project to potential future presenters as part of the skills development component.
About Arts8
AYO is proud to be among the Arts8, the group of eight national workforce-training organisations providing the creative talent necessary to sustain Australia’s performing and screen arts industries into the second half of this century. The crucial work of the Arts8 is supported by the Commonwealth Government, via the Office for the Arts in the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
The Arts8 provide the intense, studio-based and industry-aligned vocational training that is vital preparation for the demanding career as a performing artist or production practitioner. The outstanding work of the Arts 8 can be experienced on stages and screens from Hobart to Darwin, Perth to Cairns and everywhere in between, most nights of the week, most weeks of the year.
The Arts8 are critical to the successful delivery of the Commonwealth Government’s National Cultural policy, REVIVE, and prepares young people for careers in a sector which contributes $122.3 billion to the economy.