Two extra days to realise your dream

The entry deadline for the British Council’s Realise Your Dream award has been extended until Monday, June 21 due to an overwhelming response. The original deadline was today, Friday 18th June.

The British Council’s 2010 Realise Your Dream awards offer creatives the chance to win a rare opportunity to work with industry leaders in the UK.

British Council will tap into its strong network of UK’s finest creatives to help craft a tailored professional development programme for each winner that will provide valuable networking experience and mentoring.

Currently in its eight successful year, the scheme awards excellenceand vision in Australia’s creative industries by providing financialand professional support to help emerging talent make professionalcontacts and expand their horizons in one of the world’s most vibrantcultural settings.

The 2010 Realise Your Dream entries are open to anyone working increative fields such as visual arts, fashion, design, advertising,architecture, music, animation, digital media, performing arts, newmedia and computer games.

Five awards are on offer to Australians in the early stages of theircareers. They’ll each be flown to the UK by Virgin Atlantic and receivean $8,000 NAB Cash Passport from National Australia Bank to cover theirexpenses.

“Realise Your Dream presents a unique opportunity for young creativeAustralians to take their careers to the next level by forminginternational connections. The British Council recognises the greatworth of our future cultural leaders and wants to help them reach theirpotential,” said British Council Director Nick Marchand.

“We’re looking for applicants with vision, talent, commitment and apassion for their craft, who will benefit from engaging with the UK’sdynamic creative industry.”

Winners from last year included performer filmmaker Mark Robinson,sound artist/composer Julian Day, designer/independent publisher TimbaSmits, playwright Lally Katz and filmmaker Sascha Ettinger-Epstein.

Realise Your Dream is a British Council initiative made possible byprincipal sponsor NAB, in association with Virgin Group of Airlines,Stamford Hotels and Resorts, triple j, Access PR and Republic ofEveryone.

“Personally I’m a very strong advocate for the Realise Your Dreamprogramme. We’re big supporters here at NAB, and have been delighted tobe involved since inception. Winning this opportunity to travel to theUK is very significant. There’s evidence through the alumni that someof these people will hit the big time, and that’s great,” said JohnSimpson, General Manager Group Corporate Affairs NAB.

Visit the Realise Your Dream website for more details.