SYDNEY.- The Biennale of Sydney announces the appointment of Anthony Hayward, Aboriginal Emerging Arts Administrator and Emily McDaniel, Aboriginal Emerging Curator, as part of the NSW Aboriginal Professional Development Program. Over the next two years, Anthony and Emily will have the unique opportunity to work across the development and delivery of Australia’s international contemporary art festival, the 18th Biennale of Sydney: all our relations.

Through the NSW Aboriginal Professional Development Program, Anthony and Emily will develop their skills with an internationally recognised arts organisation. The new positions are jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.

Federal Arts Minister, Simon Crean welcomed the appointments, saying: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for Anthony and Emily to develop their experience and skills in the arts sector by being involved in the planning and staging of a high-profile festival, and being mentored by experienced staff. This is one of ten national projects that the Australian Government is supporting to develop professional skills, enhance longer term employment opportunities and strengthen the Indigenous visual arts industry.’

NSW Arts Minister, George Souris, said the two professional internships have been supported by the State Government’s Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Strategy. ‘The State Government has injected more than $1 million into the Strategy to fund new programs, partnerships and jobs in the NSW Aboriginal arts and cultural sector. The NSW Government is committed to improving visibility of our rich Aboriginal heritage and ensuring Aboriginal culture is strong, vibrant and diverse.’

Marah Braye, Chief Executive Officer, Biennale of Sydney, said: ‘This is a great opportunity for the Biennale to provide practical training and support for emerging professionals in the Indigenous visual arts community. We’re delighted to be part of the NSW Aboriginal Professional Development Program and also look forward to learning from our two new team members, Anthony and Emily. The Biennale’s involvement in this program is part of our commitment to Indigenous contemporary art – something that has been important to us since 1979, when the Biennale first exhibited Indigenous art in an international contemporary art context.’

Anthony Hayward has recently relocated to Sydney from Broken Hill, where he completed a traineeship at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery and the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum. He is also undertaking further studies in business administration and was recently recognised as a regional finalist in the 2011 Trainee of the Year Awards, presented by the NSW Department of Education and Communities. Anthony is the descendent of the Ngiyampaa people of Western New South Wales.

Emily McDaniel has worked in a number of areas across arts organisations in Sydney in curatorial and public programming roles. At the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Emily worked closely with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curatorial Department to deliver specialised education programs. As an Educator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Emily delivered a range of talks and tours, including presentations on the 16th and 17th Biennale of Sydney exhibitions. At Object Gallery, Emily worked as Curatorial Assistant on Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture in 2009. Emily is a member of the Wiradjuri nation and the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council.

The two positions in the NSW Aboriginal Professional Development Program have been created with funding from the Australian Government through the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program (formerly NACIS) and the NSW Government through Arts NSW as part of the Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Strategy.