Stella Young scholarship

Young artists with a disability can apply for a helping hand courtesy of a new award honouring late Stawell disability activist, writer and comedian Stella Young.

Young, born and raised in Stawell, died unexpectedly in December 2014.

Access Arts Victoria has opened applications for the inaugural Stella Young Award, which recognises the power of the arts to influence social change.

The award recognises young Australian artists with a disability, aged 16 to 30, who have demonstrated ‘significant impact or achievement in disability activism through their artistic practice in comedy, performing arts or screen culture’.

The award honours Young’s achievements, particularly through her early work with Disability Media Australia on the program No Limits.

The pioneering program challenged the representation of disability in Australian screen culture.

The award emphasises Young’s resounding call to action around disability pride: You get proud by practicing.

The annual $3000 award will support the professional development of young artists with a disability to help ensure the ‘next generation of activists who are driven by creativity and passion to transform our society’.

The successful applicant must be a person with a disability, who is deaf, neurodiverse or has experienced mental health issues, is between the ages of 16 and 30 and is an Australian resident.

People can visit www.artsaccess.com. au for more information or to apply by May 25.