Three emerging artists from Western Sydney have been awarded $5000 each to develop new projects that will see them take the next step in their careers. Blush Opera company, playwright and actress Aanisa Vylet, and visual artist Victoria Garcia have been announced as the inaugural recipients of the Southlands Breakthrough Award. Launched by Southlands Shopping Centre and Penrith Performing and Visual Arts, the Award aims to nurture local young creatives who are at the outset of their careers.

“My grandparents arrived in Sydney as migrants in the 1920s and our family later became the owners of Southlands Shopping Centre in Penrith. As a mark of our commitment to the cultural development of the thriving multicultural region which Western Sydney has become, one contribution which we are able to make is to invest in the careers of local artists early in their careers”, said Vivien Encel, representing Southlands Shopping Centre.

Hania Radvan, CEO of Penrith Performing and Visual Arts, said “we are delighted to announce the recipients of this award; the panel was extremely impressed by the calibre of applications – [a] testimony to the talent and artistic practice within our region”.

The Award has allowed Jermaine Chau and Paul Smith of Blush...