To continue the extraordinary legacy of entertainment powerhouse and visionary Brian Walsh a new scholarship fund has been established at NIDA to recognize and support emerging artists in an industry that he was so passionate about.
He was a great advocate of NIDA and known for fostering and mentoring new talent both on and off screen. Brian is remembered for launching a huge number of careers across arts and television and humbly devoting time to support and care for others. These scholarships will assist young creatives and performers with their studies at NIDA.
To support the Brian Walsh Memorial Scholarship please donate here.
NIDA CEO Liz Hughes said: “Brian was one of a kind and truly cared about the Australian entertainment industry and all of those who were part of it. His passion for fostering new talent and encouraging others to follow their dreams made an enormous difference to so many. He will be sorely missed. We are honoured to help continue his incredible legacy at NIDA.”
Brian was iconic in the world of media and entertainment. He began his career at the ABC before going into feature film production and distribution at Palm Beach Pictures followed by promotions and publicity at Sydney Radio Station 2SM. After Radio 2SM, Walsh joined Network TEN, where he launched major network events, including the acclaimed Kennedy Miller miniseries Vietnam, The Bangkok Hilton, and The Dirtwater Dynasty.
He was also responsible for some of Australia’s most iconic moments in television marketing and publicity, a creative force behind a series of live entertainment shows and was the much-loved publicist for the largest Australian international concert tours, including by Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Neil Diamond, Ricky Martin and Barbra Streisand.
He has also been credited with launching the careers of Hollywood superstars Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Guy Pearce and Kylie Minogue.
Part of the foundation executive team at Foxtel, many television series featuring NIDA graduates were commissioned by Walsh during his 28-year career at Foxtel. These include Love My Way, The Kettering Incident, A Place to Call Home, Wentworth, Secret City, Upright, Deadline Gallipoli, Lambs of God, and The Twelve.
Brian’s passing leaves behind a legacy of incredible achievements in Australia’s media industry, with two of his final creative projects the Foxtel drama Love Me and comedy Colin from Accounts both starring NIDA alumni Hugo Weaving, Bojana Novakovic, Heather Mitchell, Harriet Dyer and recent graduate William Lodder.
