14 October 2025
The six-month long Creative Innovator Program for 2025 culminated in an exciting finale tonight, where the recipients of the Major Seed Funding were announced, at the new Flinders City Campus, One Festival Tower.
The award recipients were announced by The Honourable Andrea Michaels MP, Minister for Arts, and this year the Creative Innovator pitches were highly competitive and such great quality that Major Seed Funding of $10,000 was awarded to two recipients.
Chelsie Morey (University of South Australia) a mixed media illustrator, visual artist, and educator, was awarded $10,000 Major Seed Funding from Create SA. Chelsie plans to allocate this finding to public art training, business accounting subscriptions, startup supplies, studio access and paid time dedicated to business growth, which will expedite her transition to make her art practice a sustainable venture.
Josh Juett (University of South Australia) an artist and maker creating symbolically resonant paintings and functional objects that explore identity, ritual, and the emotional lives of the things we live with, was awarded $10,000 Major Seed Funding from Create SA. Josh plans to deliver a major body of work under his FAT DOG creative brand which bridges the gap between symbolic objects and functionality–so they have spirit, intention and purpose.
Josh was also awarded $1,000 (in-kind) from Leunig Advisory which will provide $1,000 worth of business advisory services from Andrew Leunig who specialises in working with corporates, fast growing companies, family businesses and Not-for-Profits, and has helped hundreds of organisations review and refresh their business model and review their strategy.
Adrian Mitton (Flinders University) a queer emerging visual artist from South Australia working with ceramics and floristry, was awarded $2,000 Seed Funding supported by CreateSA, K&S Langley Family and Helpmann Academy + $5,000 cash and an in-kind opportunity from The Innovation & Collaboration Centre, University of South Australia. This in-kind opportunity will provide Adrian with 12 months of access to the Innovation & Collaboration Centre co-working space and services–including weekly and monthly social events, professional services support and business workshops.
Kyle Davison (Flinders University) an up-and-coming filmmaker and award-winning sound recordist from Adelaide was awarded $2,000 Seed Funding supported by CreateSA, K&S Langley Family and Helpmann Academy + an in-kind opportunity from the ThincLab, University of Adelaide. This opportunity will provide Kyle with a ThincLab membership for six months, which includes: access to a hot desk space in ThincLab Adelaide; access to the ThincStart, ThincScale or ThincGrowth program; one to one meetings with ThincLab experts; access to ThincLab financial, legal and IP clinics; invitations to ThincLab Masterclasses and events; access to WIFI, printing, boardrooms and meeting rooms, kitchen facilities.
Cameron Rutherford (Flinders University) a speculative fiction writer and founder of Reed and Storm Editing, was awarded $2,000 Seed Funding supported by CreateSA, K&S Langley Family and Helpmann Academy + an in-kind opportunity from eNVISION incubator at Flinders New Venture Institute (NVI), Flinders University. This opportunity will provide Cameron with an incubator space at NVI’s incubator space (eNVISION) at Tonsley Innovation District which will include: one full time desk for six months for free; the option to extend this opportunity for six months at 50% full fee rate; access to all incubator support initiatives, including mentors, events and workshops; and community and networking activities.
Tony Saad (Flinders University) is a multimedia professional with a passion for sound and storytelling, was awarded $2,000 Seed Funding supported by CreateSA, K&S Langley Family and Helpmann Academy + an in-kind opportunity from eNVISION incubator at Flinders New Venture Institute (NVI), Flinders University. This opportunity will provide Tony with an incubator space at NVI’s incubator space (eNVISION) at Tonsley Innovation District which will include: one full time desk for six months for free; the option to extend this opportunity for six months at 50% full fee rate; access to all incubator support initiatives, including mentors, events and workshops; and community and networking activities.
Claire McKay (Flinders University) a fashion designer and editorial stylist who works on magazines, film, TV, and advertising was awarded $2,000 Seed Funding supported by CreateSA, K&S Langley Family and Helpmann Academy + $500 Helpmann Academy Highly Commended Award to put towards her next creative venture.
Katherine Shierlaw (University of South Australia) an emerging glass artist working primarily in kiln–formed glass was awarded $2,000 Seed Funding supported by CreateSA, K&S Langley Family and Helpmann Academy + $500 Helpmann Academy Highly Commended Award to put towards her next creative venture.
Thank you to the creative mentors for their guidance and leadership in 2025:
Andrew Leunig | Program Welcome & Business Model Innovation
Andrew Camens, Perks | Business Essentials
Tom Hendrick, Talent Academy | Pitching Your Enterprise #1
Jason Dunstone, Square Holes | Market Research
Elen Cuna, Jim Hannon-Tan and Onnie Chan, Flinders University New Venture Institute | Idea to Iteration
Lauren Byleveld, Studio Veld | Brand & Brand Identity | Social Media
Debbie Pryor, Helpmann Academy | Connecting the Dots
Helpmann Academy invited local alt folk band Any Young Mechanic, the 2024 Major Seed Funding award recipients, to address the crowd, providing a fabulous demonstration of hard work and success supported by the Creative Innovator Program.
“Helpmann Academy’s support has allowed us to discover and meaningfully explore new artistic approaches in our creative practice. Making this record has been the best experience of our artistic career and we are extremely thankful to have been given the opportunity to engage in this project so wholeheartedly.”
Any Young Mechanic, Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator recipients (2024), band members: Sam, Allan, Jay, Thea and Luka.
UNIVERSITY PARTNERS AND PROGRAM SUPPORTERS
The 2025 program was generously supported by our University Partners and Program Supporters:
- Andrew Leunig Advisory
- Create SA
- Flinders University
- K&S Langley Family
- Flinders New Venture Institute, Flinders University
- Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers
- Square Holes
- Studio Veld
- Talent Academy
- The Innovation & Collaboration Centre, University of South Australia
- ThincLab, University of Adelaide
- University of Adelaide
- University of South Australia
A huge thank you to the team at Perks once more for their ongoing support of the Creative Innovator Program. Thank you to the following business mentors for sharing their knowledge and time:
- Alex Bosnich
- Emily Franz
- Henry Polglase
- Amelia Ebel
- Dylan Kelly
- Tom Welsby
- Hollie Ravenscroft
- Daisy Shirley
ABOUT THE HELPMANN ACADEMY CREATIVE INNOVATOR PROGRAM
The Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program is a six–month tailored program empowering participants to develop their business model and hone their entrepreneurial mindset. Each participant will receive $2,000 seed funding, matched one-on-one mentoring from an established artist, workshops and masterclasses delivered by leading business professionals, contact with a pool of industry experts and business advisors, access to a co-working workspace, and networking and pitching opportunities.
“The Creative Innovator Program is all about backing the next wave of creative thinkers who are ready to turn their ideas into real-world businesses. It’s exciting to see such a diverse group of artists—from filmmakers to fashion designers—bringing fresh energy to South Australia’s creative landscape. We’re proud to support a program that not only fuels big ideas but gives these emerging creatives the practical tools, funding, and connections to really make things happen.”
Jane MacFarlane, Helpmann Academy CEO.
Now in its fifth year, the Creative Innovator Program provides the next generation of creative entrepreneurs with the platform and in-depth support to turn their ideas for a creative enterprise into reality, and most importantly, empowers them with the tools to make it happen right here in South Australia.
The class of the 2025 Creative Innovator Program:
Adrian Mitton (Flinders University)
Cameron Rutherford (Flinders University)
Chelsie Morey (University of South Australia)
Tony Saad (Flinders University)
Josh Juett (University of South Australia)
Kyle Davison (Flinders University)
Claire McKay (Flinders University)
Katherine Shierlaw (University of South Australia)
Working in a vibrant mix of disciplines—including ceramics, design, literature, film, illustration, fashion design, painting, and glass—this year’s cohort showcases the diversity and creativity of graduate artists in our community.
IMAGE GALLERY
This initiative is made possible through the support of the Government of South Australia through CreateSA, and generously supported by the K&S Langley Family and Perks Accountants and Wealth Advisors.
Arts innovation is embedded in South Australia’s identity. In a first of its kind, the Helpmann Academy’s Creative Innovator Program adopted the techniques of the technology sector – where incubators, labs, and accelerator programs help to foster new business ideas – and applied them to the creative industries.
The Honourable Andrea Michaels MP, Minister for Arts, also announced that the Government of South Australia, through CreateSA, has made a commitment to continue to support the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program into 2026.
Congratulations to all the participants! We look forward to another year of creative entrepreneurship in 2026.
Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program is supported by the Government of South Australia through CreateSA, K&S Langley Family, and Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers, with special thanks to Square Holes and Andrew Leunig.
Header image: Creative Innovator Class of 2025 with The Honourable Andrea Michaels MP and Jane MacFarlane, Helpmann Academy CEO. Photography by Rosina Possingham. Image gallery: Photography by Rosina Possingham.