MEDIA RELEASE
ICE Director named as Creative Catalyst
Released 26 May 2009
Information and Cultural Exchange
PO Box 4033 Parramatta NSW 2124 Australia
T: +61(2) 9897 5744 / F: +61(2) 9897 5766
ICE Executive Director Lena Nahlous has been named as one of Sydney’s key Creative Catalysts as part of the inaugural Creative Sydney festival.
This innovative new Events NSW festival celebrates Sydney’s creative talents – from fashion to film to history. The Creative Catalyst award is one of the key initiatives of the festival, honouring 100 inspirational Sydneysiders who make a contribution to the city’s creative culture.
Lena Nahlous was recognised for her work in supporting and developing creative communities of Western Sydney. For over 20 years, Information and Cultural Exchange has worked at the meeting point of arts, culture and technology. Through innovative projects including digital storytelling, filmmaking and music production, ICE has worked with thousands of artists in Sydney’s West.
Lena says she’s delighted that there has been a strong focus on the West in the festival. ‘I’m really excited that Creative Sydney has recognised the creative explosion occurring right now in Western Sydney. With over 100 nationalities living in the area, there’s an amazing cross-pollination of ideas, culture and fascinating collaborations occurring every day. We at ICE feel very privileged to be able to tap into this energy and Creative Sydney has done the same thing – through many of the Creative Catalysts included on its list and through making the Roxy in Parramatta one of its festival venues.’
ICE collaborators Ali Kadhim and Matt Huynh were also named in the list, selected from over 700 people suggested by creative leaders. Other Creative Catalysts include Andrew Denton, George Miller, Rachel Perkins, Morganics and creative leaders from FBi Radio, Sculpture by the Sea, Get Up, Tropfest, Dinosaur Designs, Earth Hour and The Chaser.
Many emerging creators were also named on the list. According to Creative Sydney’s Marcus Westbury the list is ‘about people who have taken the initiative to make a creative Sydney. Some of them are well known and obvious, others have simply inspired others in their field or changed the way Sydney does things or sees itself.’
Creative Sydney runs 27 May to 12 June – see www.creativesydney.com.au
MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Contact Vasinder Kaur at ICE on 02 9897 5744 or email vasinder.kaur@ice.org.au
ICE receives core funding through Arts NSW and the Australia Council for the Arts.
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