Generous new Creative Scholarships available at Victorian College of Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music

21 Oct 2011
A range of new creative scholarships will be available for outstanding and/or disadvantaged students at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM) at the University of Melbourne, from next year, thanks to $3 million dollars of funding support announced today by Premier and Minister for the Arts Ted Baillieu.

A range of new creative scholarships will be available for outstanding and/or disadvantaged students at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM) at the University of Melbourne, from next year, thanks to $3 million dollars of funding support announced today by Premier and Minister for the Arts Ted Baillieu.

"The VCA and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music have international reputations as leaders in the field of arts education and training," Mr Baillieu said.

These scholarships are part of a commitment to ensure the VCA and MCM maintain and strengthen their position as leading arts training institutions.

Between 2012 and 2015 ’Creative Scholar’ opportunities will be made to both Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music students, including:

• Undergraduate scholarships for outstanding students, valued at $8,000 each, provided over three years;
• Undergraduate scholarships for disadvantaged students, valued at $9,500 provided over three years;
• Graduate scholarships for outstanding students, valued at $12,000, provided over two years;
• Graduate scholarships for disadvantaged students, valued at $14,500, provided over two years;
• 12 x $30,000 scholarships offered to students and graduates in 2014 to support international experience, travel and work;
• Professional Pathway one-year scholarships, to facilitate a joint collaboration between a not-for-profit arts organisation and graduating student to provide professional experience in their artistic sector;
• Mentoring scholarships to provide for graduates and their mentors to undertake a collaborative project.

The Dean of the Faculty of the VCA and Music, Professor Barry Conyngham, said it was important that the best and most worthy students were aware of the number and quantum of scholarships that are on offer, and are encouraged to apply.

"This is about assisting a new generation of talented students to achieve their full potential by studying at the VCA and MCM.

"It puts a whole new era of accessibility and commitment into the VCA and MCM, by supporting outstanding and/or disadvantaged students across all the disciplines we have to offer; Visual Art, Dance, Theatre, Classical and Contemporary Music, Music Theatre, Film and Television and Production.

"While there has been a tradition of scholarships through long-standing endowments to the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, the ability to offer this level of scholarships at the VCA is a very welcome breakthrough.

"It will help us uncover and train the most talented and worthy artists and performers of the future," Professor Conyngham said.