The Betty Amsden Foundation has announced composer and researcher Dr Ciaran Frame as the inaugural recipient of the $100,000 Betty Amsden Fellowship – the largest of its kind backing innovation in arts business and operations.
Founded on the vision of the late Betty Amsden AO, the biennial Fellowship supports bold, game-changing ideas in performing arts management, with a focus on leadership, innovation and long-term sector sustainability.
Blending technical expertise with deep sector insight, Frame will use the Fellowship to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be ethically and practically applied to strengthen the operational systems that underpin a thriving creative sector.
“The arts can’t afford to be left behind in the AI revolution. This Fellowship is about providing fundraisers, marketers and producers with the tools and skills to make AI work for them,” said Frame.
Frame will investigate how AI can ease pressure on an overstretched workforce by streamlining grant writing, personalising donor outreach, improving ticketing access and enhancing data-driven marketing. These innovations will help arts organisations simplify audience engagement and boost operational efficiency.
Betty Amsden Foundation Chair Frankie Airey said the Fellowship comes at a pivotal moment for the creative industries.
“The sector is naturally concerned about ethics, intellectual property and job security. Ciaran’s Fellowship offers a chance to explore how emerging technologies can build capacity and improve efficiency without compromising the vital role of arts workers,” said Airey.
Over 18 months, the Fellowship will support a tailored mix of study, cultural exchange and applied learning, which may include:
- Study at MIT (USA) on the technical and ethical dimensions of AI
- An international residency focused on cultural and societal impacts
- Secondments in Victorian arts organisations to co-design and test applications
Through the Fellowship, Frame aims to:
- Advocate for smarter, more ethical AI adoption across the creative industries
- Identify gaps in digital capability among arts organisations
- Co-create free, open-access tools and resources
- Deliver practical training to empower arts workers at all levels
While AI’s creative potential often takes the spotlight, Frame will turn his attention to practical, sector-specific solutions, particularly the back-end systems and operational functions that support an efficient and sustainable arts sector.
Betty Amsden was a tireless advocate for courage and innovation in the arts. This Fellowship continues her legacy by investing in future-focused leadership and empowering arts professionals to shape meaningful change from within.
For more information about the Betty Amsden Foundation and the Fellowship, visit: www.bettyamsdenfoundation.org.au for details.
Image: Dr Ciaran Frame – photo by Jon McCormack