AWMA Reveals Recipients of Regional Engagement Program

The Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA) has announced the beneficiaries of its third annual Queensland Regional Engagement Program.

The Regional Engagement Program is particularly focused on First Nations and multicultural artists and is open to people at different stages of their careers across the music industry.

The successful 2022 applicants are Aisha, Vivien Aisi, Amber Farnan, Ellie Hanlon, Jade Holland, Jade Kennedy, Kate Leahy and Chloe Wilson (Cloe Terare).

The participants have been selected based on their current work, their role within the music industry and the impact they are having within their own communities.

They will take part in a day-long immersion at the AWMA Conference with panel discussions, forums, keynote, a film screening and attendance at the inaugural First Nations hip hip showcase Love For My Sisters.

AWMA said the program offers a unique developmental experience, with participants fully supported to attend and participate in powerful skills development sessions. There will be a focus on leadership and networking opportunities.

Vicki Gordon, AWMA founding producer and program director, talked to the power and opportunities of the initiative.

“We believe in the power of music to change lives and the AWMA Regional Engagement Program does exactly that,” she said. “Speak to anyone who has attended any of our previous events and they will all testify to that.”

The initiative is supported  by the Queensland Government.

Shannon Fentiman, minister for women, said the Queensland Government was proud to support the Regional Engagement Program, which would create more opportunities for women in music.

“The AWMA play an important role in providing visibility to the challenges facing women in the industry and help to create more opportunities for Australian women in music, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds,” the minister said.

“We still have a way to go when it comes to achieving gender equity and diversity, but it’s programs like this which provide exposure opportunities and development for emerging female talent.”

The successful recipients were selected by Roz Papalardo from the Cairns Festival and Cultural Performing Arts Centre, Dr Diana Tolmie from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, and Gina Hall, the WMA lead producer.

The selectors congratulated Aisha, Aisi, Farnan, Hanlon, Holland, Kennedy, Leahy and Wilson on their successful submissions.

“Successful applicant were of a high calibre at varying stages of their careers as artists, music producers, songwriters and journalists and were chosen as much on their merit as on how the opportunity to be involved in the program would benefit their growth in their chosen field in the music industry,” they said.

More information about the recipients is below:

• Aisha is a young Gunggandji woman and a singer, songwriter, guitarist and traditional owner from Yarrabah.
• Vivien Aisi from White Rock is billed as one of FNQ’s most promising singers blending
  genres to make her ‘music for the soul’ embellished with soul and R&B undertones layered with pop.
• Amber Farnan is an indie folk pop singer-songwriter who grew up in Kamerunga in far
  north Queensland. Isolated from the music scene has driven Amber’s determination to pursue music.
• Ellie Hanlon is a mother of two, and a passionate event producer of the popular Airlie
  Beach Festival of Music amongst other things.
• Jade Holland from Maryborough is an ambassador for the Queensland Mental Awareness Foundation. Holland’s new single ‘Summertime, Sunshine and You’ is currently at #2 on the Australian Country Radio charts.
• Jade Kennedy, from Oonoonba in Townsville, followed her dreams of working in music and overcome the challenges of growing up regionally with a disability. She is passionate about sharing her work with others and uses her connections to give other young women – most of whom have chronic illnesses, physical disabilities or mental health issues – a chance to pursue music.
• Kate Leahy is an independent singer songwriter from Yeppoon. She has toured both East Coast Australia and Europe, performing in festivals and venues across Germany and the UK. Kate’s music has been playlisted nationally on ABC Radio.
• Chloe Wilson (Cloe Terare) from Toowoomba is a rapidly emerging artist on the Indie channels as Triple J’s Unearthed Feature Artist and the first Feature Artist on ‘The Music’ for 2022.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.