MUSIC IN COMMUNITIES AWARDS 2011
Entries for the 2011 Music in Communities Awards Now Open!
Theme: Local Links - Community Music Connects the Dots
$10,000 prize pool
The Awards salute, celebrate and reward Australia’s most effective
and well-connected community music organisations.
Download press release as .pdf
Press Release
National Awards Search for
Musical Communities ‘Connecting the Dots’
Tuesday 20 September
For immediate release
The Music in Communities Awards are now open for 2011, to reward and promote groups that are often the unsung heroes of Australia’s cultural life. The scheme, run by the Music Council of Australia as part of the national Music in Communities Network, was inaugurated in 2008 and offers a prize pool of $10,000.
This year’s theme, “Local Links”, emphasises creative and inspiring connections, partnerships and relationships that music groups have nurtured in and beyond their local community.
“We’ve set this year’s theme in recognition that the best community music making does not happen in isolation. It depends on effective networking, collaboration and cooperation,” says Tony Breese, from the Music in Communities Network.
The Awards are open to all forms of music groups including choirs, bands, orchestras, ukulele groups and drum circles; as well as community and volunteer organisations delivering and supporting music programs in communities; local Councils; schools and individuals.
Entries are accepted online at www.musicincommunities.org.au and close on Monday 24th October 2011.
“Partnerships are essential” says Bev McAlister, founder of the Dandenong Ranges Music Council. “We work closely with other arts organizations, but some of our richest musical experiences, like the creative music programs we ran in schools to heal grief and loss after the disastrous fires in the region, or the bushfire preparedness CD with songs written and performed by local ‘fireys’, have come through collaborations with non-arts groups like the local fire brigade, community health organizations and hospices.”
“There are an estimated 2 million people across Australia regularly performing, singing, writing songs, playing, composing, jamming, strumming and bashing out a tune,” Tony says. “The unifying effect of music, its fundamental role in bringing people together – that’s what we are celebrating through the Awards.”
More about the Awards, case studies of previous award winners, and how to enter can be found online at www.musicincommunities.org.au.
Attached image: A ‘Firey’ puts out a ‘fire’ (stilt walkers) in front of local school children, part of the DRMC’s ‘Fire Cycle’ project.
For further information or to arrange an interview with Tony Breese please contact:
Debbie McInnes
dmcprmedia
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t: 02 9550 9207 f: 02 9560 0334 m: 0412 818 071
