Geelong Arts Centre welcomes new associate artists

GEELONG Arts Centre has announced this year’s associate artists, who will be supported to develop new original work, engage in extensive research and share their new project.

Bron Batten and Keziah Warner will both receive more than $40,000 to support their new work, along with up to $15,000 in rehearsal studio time and mentorship.

The initiative is designed for artists to develop an original work and focus on their artistic practice to share with local audiences and beyond.

Batten, a multi-award-winning Australian performer and theatre-maker, is known for creating contemporary and collaborative performances and has presented work at home and abroad.

Her time as associate artist will support the very first stage development of a brand-new performance piece entitled The Natural Order, a work that attempts to deter ‘past Bron’ from pursuing a career in the arts.

The performer said being named an associate artist “means a great deal” to her.

“It’s happening at a point in my career where the structure and support will literally sustain my ability to keep being an artist, which feels utterly remarkable,” she said.

“I’m so excited and very grateful to the Geelong Arts Centre for the opportunity and am looking forward to finding out what I can offer the wider Geelong community through my practice.”

Warner, a playwright and dramaturg, has an extensive list of writing credits already under her belt, including Hour of the Wolf, Nosferautu, Control, Help Yourself and more.

She will dedicate her time as an associate to working on Desire Lines, a romantic comedy set in the Geelong Train Station. It promises to be a funny, bittersweet and off-beat tale of love, trains and missed connections.

Warner said she is looking forward to working with and mentoring local artists.

“This will be invaluable to the development of my writing and allow me to actively contribute to the wider arts community, which is by far the most important thing I can do as an artist,” she said.

“The chance to embed as a writer at a company with both a salary and dedicated project funding is such a rare and incredible opportunity and a real testament to Geelong Arts Centre’s understanding of and investment in artists.”

The development initiative is now in its second year, with artists also contributing to Geelong Art Centre’s Creative Engine program, designed to inspire, mentor and help evaluate the work of other creatives in the region.