ELEVATE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
FOR APPLICANTS
Elevate your arts practice with an Elevate Mentorship. Since 2002, we have has facilitated over 200 mentorships for South Australian emerging artists.
Mentoring is a partnership between a more experienced person (the mentor) and someone less experienced (the mentee), to foster personal and professional growth. An Elevate Mentorship is a valuable way to build on your emerging career by providing knowledge and experience beyond your study at university, especially when you’re at a point of transition and exploration.
A mentorship can take the form of creative development or business and entrepreneurial development.
The mentorship structure can vary considerably depending on the goals of the mentee and what the mentor can offer. Your application should include a proposal outlining how the mentorship will be structured and what the expected outcomes will be.
Examples of how a mentorship can be structured include:
- Studio visits, allowing for the hands-on development of skills and observational learning
- Development sessions for a dance, music, or theatre work
- Film script development and advice on editing a film
- Advice on mounting or curating an exhibition
- Assistance with establishing the business and practical side of an arts practice (e.g., writing a business or marketing plan)
Consider approaching a mentor interstate or even, overseas. Proposing online alternatives for all activities is also welcomed. Remember, it’s more than likely that the mentor will be flattered when you contact them. The only limitation is your imagination! Please contact us if you would like assistance when considering your options.
Over the years, mentors have included film and television personalities such as Mary Coustas, Noni Hazlehurst and comedian Tom Gleisner, photographers Deborah Paauwe and Mark Kimber, visual artists Hossein Valamanesh, Helen Fuller and Marise Maas, ceramicists Kirsten Coelho and Akio Takamori, glass artist David Reekie, choreographers Amanda Phillips and Kate Champion, as well as South Australian Film Corporation audio mixer Pete Smith.
“As an emerging artist it feels important to be asking lots of questions, meeting other artists and building a strong practice through experience in projects and opportunities. Helpmann Academy presents many opportunities that can be vital to sustaining an arts practice and provide development. I feel extremely grateful to be participating in this mentorship, it’s helping me to achieve things that have been challenging or not possible to work out on my own!” 2021 Elevate Mentorship participant, Brianna Speight
KEY DATES 2022 Elevate Mentorships Round 1
Opens week commencing 7 February 2022
Closes Friday 8 April 2022 at 11:59pm ACST
For activity occurring between 1 June 2022 and 31 December 2022
For graduates from eligible programs (final year students are not eligible in round 1)
Elevate Mentorships Round 2
Opens week commencing 26 September 2022
Closes Sunday 6 November 2022 at 11:59pm ACST
For activity occurring between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2023
For graduates from eligible programs
RESOURCES Australia Council for the Arts Guide to Mentoring Code of Practice for Visual Arts, Craft and Design
For more information: Contact Helpmann Academy (08) 7089 0720 / info@helpmannacademy.com.a
FOR PATRONS
The Elevate Mentorship Program is one of Helpmann’s most valuable programs, presented by Commonwealth Private and supported through a giving circle of key philanthropic patrons. Each Elevate patron makes an annual contribution of $2,000 toward the program. Through the generosity of Commonwealth Private your contribution when you become an Elevate patron will be matched.
As a patron, you will receive regular updates from the supported artists, highlighting their development journey and the outcomes of the mentorship.
If you would like to become an Elevate patron and support an emerging artist to undertake a mentorship, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you.
Call Jane MacFarlane, CEO for a confidential chat on (08) 7089 0720 or email jane.macfarlane@helpmannacademy.com.au.
Donations can also be made directly and securely here.
Major Partner and Program Champions:
Images: Visual artist Anna Revesz undertook an Elevate Mentorship with the late Hossein Valamanesh in 2021 to expand her practice, photo by Sarah Sturm.
