Two innovative young artists: composer Annika Moses and artist-designer Sarah Thornton-Smith have been appointed as trustees to the Mundaring Bicentennial Scholarship Trust, presenters of the annual Robert Juniper Award for the Arts. 

Annika Moses, a former winner of the Award and currently in her third year at WAAPA, studying composition and music technology, has recently been actively involved in Perth Fringe Festival productions. She said winning the award enabled her to bring an ambitious installation to life at the Mundaring Art Centre and to gain first-hand experience of the work of the Trust. 

“This award”, said Annika, “is the only one of its kind, as it enables young creatives to gain financial support to fund a project or develop their practice, rather than being a prize for a work already completed.” She sees exciting opportunities for the Trust to expand its involvement in the Mundaring community through providing performance, workshop and mentoring opportunities for creative young people. 

Sarah Thornton-Smith, who lives in Darlington, said she was honoured by the invitation. Stressing the importance of the Robert Juniper Award, she looks forward to promoting the work of the Trust and ensuring its longevity. “Supporting our youth will strengthen our future in many ways, and the arts hold the key to a future where innovation and sustainability will hopefully return our world to a more balanced one,” she declared. 

Chair of the Trust, Michael Ryan, welcomed “…the youth and enthusiasm that the new trustees will contribute to the work of the Trust”. 

At the same time, he warmly thanked longstanding Trustee Brian Hassell, who is retiring after 30 years with the Trust.  “Brian has contributed long and dedicated service both to the Trust and to the support of the arts in the Shire,” he said. 

Funding for the Robert Juniper Award for the Arts comes from a generous contribution from the Shire of Mundaring supplemented by fund-raising activities of the Trust. For further information on the Trust, please visit www.mundaringarts.org