The presentation of the $5,000 cheque to Scott Morrison, was held at the Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral July 18th.

An emerging digital artist will be able to pursue opportunities in Berlin and Japan thanks to a Southern Highlands Foundation (SHF) scholarship.

Scott Morrison says he was “excited and rather humbled” at receiving the award, which is funded by SHF’s Reg Rowe Fund.

Mr Morrison said his work is focused on audiovisual installation and performance and takes inspiration from the local landscape.

“I also present these works in a live setting where the created artworks are re-imagined as loops of audio and video mixed and presented altogether new,” he said.

“For the most part, all the sights and sounds I use are taken from the Southern Highlands area.”

The scholarship will be injected into Mr Morrison’s practice, being put toward a tour of Japan later this year and toward a “large-scale video installation for Berlin in 2012”.

Mr Morrison said he also had Australian-based projects to pursue. This year was Mr Morrison’s third application for the Reg Rowe Scholarship, and he was pleased with the success.

“I guess it proves that if you knock hard enough, people do hear and remember you,” he said.

“I’m well aware that in the arts you’ve got to be persistent and constant in achieving your goals.” SHF board member Steven Foster said Mr Morrison’s repeated applications had impressed the judges. “It was a difficult choice this year, but Scott had a lot of support from the judging panel,” Mr Foster said.

“We also noted the fact that he had applied previously and we liked that his work had matured over those years.”

The Reg Rowe Fund was established and is maintained by a bequest of paintings by Southern Highlands painter Reg Rowe.

For information on Mr Morrison’s work, visit his website at www.scottm.com.au. The SHF website has information about the Reg Rowe Scholarship. It can be found at www.southernhighlandsfoundation.com.au.