The Good Initiative was launched by the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery in July, and is a biennale initiative awarding a $20,000 opportunity to an artist for a major commission.

Dean was born and raised on Ngunnawal/Ngambri County and of Worimi descent.

"I am thrilled to be announced as the inaugural recipient of The Good Initiative. Regional galleries are crucial to a vibrant visual arts sector and I cannot wait to work closely with the team at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery to push the limits of my practice," he said.

Mr Cross will present a solo exhibition at the Gallery in 2021 and receive this funding plus support and mentorship herein.

His practice encompasses a variety of media from painting to ephemeral installation. His exhibition in Goulburn will comprise new work created from and in the region, where he spent his formative years.

The first iteration of The Good Initiative called for proposals from early career artists born and/or living in our region to be awarded a solo exhibition at the gallery.

Goulburn Regional Art Gallery director Gina Mobayed said that Mr Cross is an artist whose work needs to be seen, considered and discussed.

"The ideas in his proposal were a vital and fascinating commentary on who we are and what is happening in contemporary society. I am so pleased we can support him and his work, and bring it in to Goulburn," she said.

Melissa Keys, Curator at Buxton Contemporary Melbourne said she was deeply impressed with the quality of the proposals entered in the inaugural 'The Good Initiative' developed by Goulburn Regional Art Gallery.

"It's always a great privilege to read artists proposals and to reflect upon their broader practices and ideas. It was an exciting decision to recognise Dean Cross with the first 'The Good Initiative' prize," she said.

"Mr Cross is clearly an exceptionally thoughtful and intelligent artist. His proposal stood out as particularly aspirational, critically insightful and timely. He is an artist who promises to continue to make a meaningful and enduring contribution to art and culture, and I'm excited in anticipation to see his project unfold and be exhibited in Goulburn."

Clothilde Bullen, senior curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections and Exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney said that Mr Cross's aim to re-enter community narratives is a timely and multi-layered approach to unpacking how people's connections to one another evolve and change during times of disaster and difficulties.

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