Talented young Australian designers are being offered a unique opportunity to work with a top UK professional of their choice, thanks to the British Council’s 2008 Realise Your Dream scheme. 

Realise Your Dream is open to anyone aged between 18 and 30 years of age working or studying in creative fields such as fashion, design, architecture, advertising, photography, music, animation, multimedia, performing arts and computer games.

The British Council Australia is behind the unique scheme and uses its powerful UK network to find suitable mentors and money-can’t-buy work experience for the six winners. 

“Every year the Realise Your Dream programme has been overwhelmed by the calibre and breadth of its entrants and it’s always inspiring to see such amazing young talent. We really strive to ensure our winner’s dreams are realised by matching them up with top UK professionals in their field,” British Council Director, Christopher Wade said. 

The prize covers return airfares to the UK and $8,000 towards relevant course fees, accommodation and living expenses for each winner.
 
Winners from last year included:
•    Rebecca Parker, a film writer/director from Clovelly, NSW.
•    Omar Musa, a rapper from Queanbeyan, ACT.
•    Anna Barnes, a playwright from Hawthorn, VIC.
•    Jess Scully, a magazine editor from Woollahra, NSW.
•    Katrina Schwarz, an editor, arts writer and curator from Paddington, NSW.
•    Stephen Gilchrist, a curator of Indigenous art from Balaclava, VIC.  
 
Entries are now open and will close June 30, 2008.

realiseyourdream.org.au/

Image Caption: 2007 Winners

Top row l-r: Omar Musa, Rebecca Parker, Stephen Gilchrist
Bottom row l-r: Anna Barnes, Katrina Schwarz and Jess Scully