Emerging young artist awarded bursary

The $4000 Artspace Mackay Foundation bursary celebrates its 11-year anniversary this year and was awarded to Dylan Mooney at the public exhibition opening on Friday, March 6.

Dylan is a motivated, talented and passionate young artist with a long list of achievements to his name. He is currently in his third year of university studying a Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art at Griffith University – Queensland College of Art Brisbane.

He has been a featured mural artist at the prestigious Queensland State Library exhibitions: “Spoken” and “Plantation Voices” in 2019, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and South Sea Islander culture and history in Queensland.

He has worked on many projects including Artwork in Maiwar 2018, Brisbane Street Art Festival, Live Murals 2018 and is currently starting work on major projects within Mackay.

Dylan said he still has a long way to go.

“I take pride in my work and hope to give back to my community and have an impact on the Arts industry in Mackay,” Dylan said.

Dylan’s long-term goal is to pursue a career in the arts industry, aspiring to the highest level and continuing to work with Indigenous communities.

He will use the funds from the bursary to further support the funding of his final graduation exhibition and his first solo exhibition this year.

The Foundation made a substantial increase to the bursary from $1000 to $4000 in 2018, to continue to foster the next generation of arts professionals from our region.

President of the Foundation, Julie Boyd said the judges were very impressed with Dylan’s commitment to both his personal art practice and community art work with Indigenous communities.

“Dylan is a proud Yuwibara man of the Mackay region and a very worthy recipient of the 2020 Artspace Mackay Foundation Hands On Bursary,” Mrs Boyd said.

Background

The Hands On Bursary is in honour of the late Rick Wood, who was one of Mackay’s most celebrated artists. His service and enthusiasm for the arts was an inspiration to many young students. Funded by the Artspace Mackay Foundation and supported by council, the Hands On Bursary supports and encourages young arts students aged 17 to 25 who wish to pursue a career in the arts. The Foundation made a substantial increase to the bursary from $1000 to $4000 in 2018, to continue to foster the next generation of arts professionals from our region