1. ABOUT THE HELPMANN ACADEMY INREVIEW MENTORSHIP
The Helpmann Academy InReview Mentorship seeks to develop the next generation of arts reviewers and rebuild the practice of robust discourse and analysis of South Australian performing and visual arts.
The mentoring program, a partnership between Helpmann Academy and InReview, will connect experienced arts writers with emerging voices as part of a project to strengthen coverage of arts and culture in South Australia.
InReview is a unique non-profit arts journalism project designed to nurture professional arts reviewing in Australia, particularly for areas in which the practice is under threat. InReview publishes free-to-access reviews and journalism every week for the benefit of the arts sector, audiences and the community, covering the full breadth of arts and culture practices.
The successful mentee will be matched with an InReview mentor(s) who will be assigned based on the interests and background of the mentee and will work with them in all aspects of writing reviews as well as providing career advice. The mentorship will be conducted over eight hours per week for ten weeks. Throughout the program, the mentee will build their skills with the aim to produce several written reviews for publication on InReview.
The Helpmann Academy InReview Mentorship recipient will be engaged from Monday 12 May to Monday 21 July and receive a fee of $2,500.
This role provides a unique opportunity for an emerging creative to gain hands-on experience in building up content for a site that promises to be a model for arts journalism throughout Australia. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to attend and review a range of creative events that may include Illuminate Adelaide, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, State Theatre and State Opera seasons, UKARIA concerts and exhibitions at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
This significant opportunity will allow the successful applicant to strengthen their creative practice with arts writing experience.
For more information about InReview, click here.
2. WHO CAN APPLY
Applications are invited from final year students and graduates of supported degrees from our partner institutions – the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, and Flinders University – up to 5 years from graduation.
Honours students and graduates (up to 5 years following the final year of study) are also eligible to apply, provided honours study was undertaken directly following their undergraduate degree.
Please note that Masters and PhD graduates and candidates are not eligible to apply unless they still qualify through their undergraduate or honours degree.
To check your eligibility, please visit the Who We Support page on our website.
3.RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful applicant will be required to:
- Be available for at least eight hours per week over the between Monday 12 May to Monday 21 July 2025
- Produce a minimum of three publishable articles for the InReview website
- Consent to their work being published on the InReview website and shared on InReview social media pages
- Consent to their work being shared via the Helpmann Academy website and social media pages
4. APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
Applications CLOSE on Monday 28 April at 11:59pm.
Applications must be submitted via the Helpmann Academy website form.
We aim to make our application process as accessible as possible. If you would like to submit your application through alternative means, such as through video, please get in touch with our team to make arrangements.
Applicants are required to provide responses to the following questions:
- Tell us about yourself.
- Outline why you are well positioned at this point in your career to undertake this mentorship.
- What are the professional development outcomes you will gain? How will you leverage this opportunity to further your creative career?
The following support material is required:
- Artist CV – maximum two (2) pages
- Official academic transcript – this must be an official transcript showing your conferral date
- The name and contact details of one (1) referee
- Between three to five samples* of your written work
* These examples don’t need to be published works. This could be a good opportunity to flex your reviewing muscles! Get creative.
Assessment
Applications will be assessed by a panel comprising a Helpmann Academy representative and an InReview representative. Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend a panel interview on Thursday, May 1 in Adelaide.
Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Response to the opportunity: if the applicant can clearly identify and articulate the professional development potential of this mentorship
- The applicant’s readiness to take on the role
- Artistic merit as evidenced by the written material provided
If your application is successful, you will be required to:
- Commit to at least eight (8) hours per week over a ten-week mentorship period from Monday 12 May to Monday 21 July 2025 as agreed with InReview.
- Update an activity log to reflect actual hours committed and activities undertaken.
- Consent to your work and/or photos taken about the mentorship being published on the InReview website and shared on InReview social media pages.
- Consent to your work and/or photos taken about the mentorship being published on the Helpmann Academy website and shared on Helpmann Academy social media pages.
GET IN TOUCH
Interested applicants are encouraged to get in touch to discuss how we can help with your application.
Please contact the Helpmann Academy on (08) 7089 0720 or info@helpmannacademy.com.au to make an appointment. Phone or Teams meetings are welcome.