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Photograph by Fiona Susanto, courtesy of the National Emerging Art Prize and Michael Reid Sydney + Berlin

Recent TAFE NSW Diploma of Ceramics graduate, Jeannie Holker, has won a prestigious national prize for her ceramic artwork – Giant Pill Millipede. In addition to national recognition, as the winner of the 2024 Morgans Financial Prize for Emerging Ceramicists, Jeannie receives a solo exhibition in 2025 at the prestigious Michael Reid Northern Beaches Gallery, mentoring and a cash prize.

Jeannie, who submitted the prize during her final semester studying the Diploma of Ceramics at TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour year, says access to the teaching facilities were a huge component of being able to develop skills, along with the highly personalised support from her teachers. 

“Winning this prize was intensely validating of the choices and sacrifices I have made for both my kids and myself. Sacrifices like dropping down to part-time work so I could go to TAFE NSW, the early mornings and late nights to consolidate my learnings, and the financial cost. I am enormously grateful to receive this recognition, and for the huge opportunity to build on this through the exhibition, I am trying to maximise it all,” said Jeannie.

Jeannie moved back to the Bellingen area after surviving two dramatic bushfires in Far East Gippsland Victoria, then two years of isolating COVID-19 lockdowns, said, “Moving to this area allowed me to focus on my art and devote time to developing it. While I still had to accommodate my studies around my family, work and travelling to classes, I was thankful for the individualised attention from my ceramic teachers. Having access to the teaching facilities and studio resources was a major contributor to developing my skills.”

Acting Head Teacher Media, Arts, Design and Entertainment at TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour, Cath Fogarty, congratulated Jeannie on her prestigious win, saying “Jeannie’s innate curiosity, creativity and dedication to her course embodied the resilience that is reflected throughout her work and in her winning piece. 

“Receiving this recognition will open so many doors to Jeannie, allowing her to build on skills she learnt at TAFE NSW to navigate the art world as a career.  This prize places her in a strong position to build a develop a sustainable art practice.  Pathways for TAFE NSW arts graduates are broad, and the training provides transferable skills and knowledge such as creative thinking and the confidence to find practical solutions to problems that can be applied in multiple professions. Our learners graduate with tangible outcomes and career pathways, allowing them to step into a creative career,” said Ms Fogarty.

According to Creative Australia, employment for people working in cultural and creative occupations in the Coffs Harbour federal electorate grew by more than 30% between 2011 and 2021.

Media contact: Melanie Pope, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, melanie.pope@tafensw.edu.au, 04000 074 007

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