Rebecca Baumann

Winner: Visual Arts, 2009
Location: WA

The mentorship has been great. Liz Ann has been invaluable support for me this year, offering professional advice, putting me in touch with people, and discussing my new work.

I have used the flights so far for a research trip to India. I went for the Holi Festival - a riotous celebration of the beginning of spring where people throw coloured powder at one another. I’m about to head to Berlin for four months to complete a residency, which will be a great chance to consolidate things I have seen and experienced.

Nirrimi Hakanson

Winner: Photography, 2009
Location: QLD

Nirrimi Hakanson became the youngest person to win SOYA in 2009 after taking first prize in the Photography category at the age of 17. Over the last year Nirrimi’s career has really taken off: she was signed by a photography agency in Sydney and commissioned to shoot editorial for Oyster magazine. Building on her SOYA win, and using those Qantas flights and cash, Nirrimi has been able to travel to New York and shoot for a number of different projects, including shooting an advertising campaign for Diesel - as reported on by Vogue Italia - an absolute coup and an impressive global client for her very first advertising job! 

nirrimiphotography.carbonmade.com/

Oh Mercy

Winner: Music, 2009
Location: VIC

Oh Mercy flirt with your emotions; one minute their songs are jovial, full of rhythm and layers of pop friendly lyrics and the next they are edged with salty salutations and moody stoicism. Adept and sincere the band harmonizes into one and is both bold and memorable. Before you know it you will find yourself hearing their sound before you have opened your eyes in the morning until you lay down at night. There is a reason people are still talking about Oh Mercy almost a year after their debut album, Privileged Woes, was released.

Formed in 2006, Alexander and Thomas collaborated writing songs, playing club shows & support spots for two years before releasing the EP titled In The Nude For Love. Touring nationally for a whole year before releasing their debut album Privileged Woes allowed the band to hone their live show & sound. Privileged Woes features the singles Lay Everything On Me, Seemed Like A Good Idea, Can't Fight It, Get You Back and Broken Ears. Oh Mercy have toured Australia with Lisa Mitchell, The Panics, Little Birdy, Ben Kweller, Ben Folds & Grizzly Bear, played Falls, Meredith & Laneway Festivals running up an astonishing 50,000+ kilometers in their van in just under 12 months.

www.ohmercy.com.au

Tom Fereday

Winner: Industrial & Object Design, 2009
Location: NSW

I will be completing the mentorship in September at Marc Newson's studio. I am still working through the details of some other opportunities while I am over there and possibly going to a couple of other places.

Kasimir Burgess

Winner: Film & Animation, 2009
Location: VIC

Rachel is wonderful and has been most helpful with my feature scripts and general creative growth.

As a result of the win, Rachel brought me the attention of HLA creative management, who have recently signed me. I am now represented alongside Jane Campion, Rachel Ward and Gillian Armstrong, which is fantastic.

I'll be heading to the US in a month (with my Qantas tickets of course), then to Amsterdam, catching a train across Europe and then flying to Berlin where I will live and write for a few months.

So, I'm happy to say that the prize has already changed my life.

tin&ed

Winner: Visual Communications, 2009
Location: VIC

The mentorship has been awesome, definitely the best part of the prize for sure. We've had regular skype meetings with Vince and had dinner with him whilst we were in Sydney. He has been really supportive and has been giving us some great advice.

We haven't gone anywhere yet, but plan to do a round the world trip at the end of the year for a couple of months. We plan to go to New York, London, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam and Tokyo. Hopefully co-ordinate the launch of a book or exhibition around this time as well.

www.tinanded.com.au

Romance Was Born

Winner: Fashion
Location: NSW

We have been very lucky to have been mentored in the last year by the Zimmerman sisters.  Its so important to have someone who has had the experience in your industry to support you in the early establishment stages. 

They have been so insightful and really encouraging which is something that you really need to have.  We have really been thinking about our bigger picture plans and goals and with some planning we are confident they can happen.

www.romancewasborn.com