Coonabarabran resident Jezekiah Brown has been announced as the first ever recipient of Orana Arts' Uncle Dick Carney Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship was awarded to Mr Brown last month on Saturday 22 May in Narromine, which is the annual Memorial Day for the inspirational Narromine Elder.

Orana Arts Communications Officer Danielle Andrews said the scholarship was set up in conjunction with their 'Not a Dress Rehearsal' Performing Arts for Regional Youth program which she is also producing.

"It's a new career pathways program connecting students between the age of 12 and 20 with industry professionals," Ms Andrews said.

"We do come together for workshops at Orana Arts, but we're mostly here to be that middle man to connect and create connections and help the students navigate the industry."

According to Ms Andrews, Orana Arts had a lot to do with Uncle Dick and his wife Aunty Ruth Carney, helping them taking their life stories as Indigenous Australians live on stage in the production 'A Little Piece of Heaven' which toured regionally in 2018 and was also performed in Melbourne in 2019.

She said the passing of Uncle Dick last year was a huge loss for the performing arts industry and she hoped this program would continue his legacy and help inspire the next generation of First Nations creatives.

She said the scholarship would take this a step further by helping students like Mr Brown with their term fees, as well as any other opportunities that require financial support, as well as mentorship from Aunty Ruth Carney, who is the program's Elder in residence.

"Jez is our first ever scholarship recipient - we are looking forward to expanding the program in the future but for now, are very excited to have him on board and have high hopes to support his big dreams," she said.

According to Ms Andrews, there are three groups in the Not a Dress Rehearsal Program, including junior and senior ensemble - where students learn a variety of different things about the industry - as well as Taikoz, a Japanese drum class where students can learn about a different culture of performance.

Mr Brown, who is passionate about filmmaking and is in the senior and Taikoz classes, said he was honoured to be the first recipient of the scholarship.

"I'm very happy I was awarded the scholarship because of what it represents - it gives a chance for youth to represent Uncle Dick and have opportunities to achieve their own dreams like he did," Mr Brown said.

"Uncle Dick was a First Nations man who got his story out there - there aren't a lot of First Nations people who get the chance to do that.

"Personally, I'm thinking of becoming a director but also want to become a script writer as well and explore more industry jobs such as editing and acting."

When asked for people who inspire him, Mr Brown said - aside from Uncle Dick - his main directorial idol was Tim Burton whose movie credits include 'Batman' (1989) and 'Edward Scissorhands', due to his passion for creating a "childlike" story that serves as a representation of both life and death through art.