AFTRS and Audible.com.au, the Australian arm of one of the world’s leading providers and producers of audiobooks and spoken word entertainment, have announced a new AUD$60,000 scholarship paid over three years, to support an emerging female-identifying creative passionate about telling Australian stories.
The Audible Inspiring Voices Scholarship for Women will provide $20,000 a year for three years from 2020, to support an emerging female-identifying creative aspiring to produce compelling audio entertainment. Selected by a panel and awarded on merit and originality, the scholarship will allow the recipient to study the AFTRS Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production program, and will assist with expenses related to full time study.
Audible.com.au Head of Original Content, Ben Naparstek said, “Audible is proud to be a destination for creative ideas, and we’re thrilled to support this new opportunity for female-identifying creators. Audible is committed to developing unique and innovative Australian stories that give voice to diverse communities and provide a platform for Australian stories to be heard.”
AFTRS Acting CEO Georgie McClean said, “Australians are passionate about audio story-telling and as a nation we have enthusiastically embraced podcasts. AFTRS is at the forefront of developing innovative audio content, such as our acclaimed Binaural Narrative Podcast, Precipice. Our BA course is for multi-skilled content creators, working across platforms to develop inspiring stories. We are looking forward to the ideas the inaugural scholarship winner will bring to this exciting field.”
Audible is investing in creating local, premium audio entertainment as part of its Audible Originals program, comprising episodic audio series to substantial audiobooks, focused on sparking broader conversations and shining a light on local experiences. From investigative non-fiction to scripted drama to comedy, Audible Original content will be crafted by Australian creators for a local audience and will complement the more than 300,000 titles already available at www.Audible.com.au.
Applications for the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production are now open at aftrs.edu.au.