A Sri Lankan-born Australian choreographer, performer and researcher and a Canadian writer, educator and filmmaker have been awarded 2026 Forrest Research Foundation Creative Fellowships.
Dr Amaara Raheem, an artist-in-residence researcher and graphic novelist Dr Jamie Michaels have received the prestigious two-year fellowships.
Image: Dr Jamie Michaels and Dr Amaara Raheem.
Launched in 2020, the Creative Fellowships seek to harness the imaginative and practical skills of creative and performing arts practitioners to deliver research initiatives with high impact outcomes.
They are unique in both the generosity of a two-year award and that they place creative practitioners and researchers among some of the world’s best early-career scientists at Forrest Hall.
Based at Edith Cowan University, Dr Raheem will develop an online broadcast artist-in-residence platform, hosting choreographic labs, sonic art, performances, talks, criticism, experimental music and a reading group.
Formerly a resident artist for ABC Top 5 and Call-Waiting (Blindside Radio), Dr Raheem’s research aims to create a living archive of creative research, empowering artists, organisations, and communities to voice what truly matters.
Currently based in Melbourne, she will research the way arts-based residences impact both the artists who receive them and the communities that host them.
Moving from Canada Dr Michaels will join The University of Western Australia’s School of Humanities in English and Literary Studies, where he will create eight stand-alone but interrelated short comics exploring the frontlines of climate change.
In addition to translating the science of bushfire research and social influence, his comics will showcase the personal impact on researchers of fighting climate change, policymakers and wildland firefighters, as well as Indigenous and settler communities.
Dr Michaels was involved in fighting wildfires in Canada where he was inspired to bring together the stories of those affected by fires.
Director of the Forrest Research Foundation, Professor James Arvanitakis, said this year's selection drew exceptional talent from national and global applicants.
“Reflecting the Creative Fellowships’ reputation for contributing to the WA arts sector, the calibre of talent was exceptional, making the selection process highly competitive,” he said.
“Congratulations to the new Fellows, who will join 50 early-career Forrest Research Foundation researchers residing at Forrest Hall.
"Their world-class research will further strengthen our State’s vibrant research community and foster innovation to position WA as a global knowledge, research, and creative hub.
“The Forrest Research Foundation is a world-leading, collaborative centre for excellence that enables exceptional scholars and fellows undertake groundbreaking doctoral and postdoctoral research at WA’s five universities.”