Introducing Edmund Black and Brooke Ferguson, the 2024 recipients of the Helpmann Academy InReview Mentorship program.
The Helpmann Academy InReview Mentorship is a joint venture between Helpmann Academy and InReview, that 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 – now in its fourth year – connects experienced arts writers with emerging voices to strengthen editorial coverage of arts and culture in South Australia.
Edmund is a recent graduate from the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide. He studied a Bachelor of Music (Advanced) and is an emerging jazz musician and highly accomplished pianist. Edmund has been playing music since he was eight years old and is dedicated to sharing his love of music with others both directly through his practice, and indirectly, through opportunities as a writer.
Through this mentorship Edmund is looking to hone his writing skills, develop his craft and build a portfolio of published articles. Edmund is also hoping that this experience will not only improve his writing skills, but that it may also lead to future opportunities to write more arts reviews and be published.
“I firmly believe that developing my skillsets as a writer and as a performer side by side will enable me to improve faster, develop further, and provide more nuance to both,” said Edmund.
Brooke Ferguson is a recent graduate from the Bachelor of Contemporary Art from the University of South Australia. She is an emerging visual artist and arts worker based in Adelaide/Tarndanya. Her visual arts practice encompasses mediums of photography, painting and dancing, with a particular interest in themes of abstraction, expression, and the everyday.
As an arts worker, Brooke is drawn to methods of arts communication, including curation, facilitating conversations, and writing. Of the opportunity, Brooke is excited about developing her skills to talk about her own visual arts practice, while also learning critical new ways of writing that supports her career development.
“The support of a mentor will help me stretch my writing and critical thinking skills and allow me to deepen my understanding of possible career pathways for an arts writer,” comments Brooke.
Edmund will commence his mentorship in late May and Brooke will begin hers later in the year.
We will share published reviews from Edmund and Brooke on our Facebook and Instagram pages over the coming months.
The Helpmann Academy InReview Mentorship is a joint venture between Helpmann Academy and InReview.
Images: (1) Edmund Black and Brooke Ferguson by Claudia Dichiera (2) Edmund Black performs at A Night of Jazz 2023 by Sam Roberts and (3) Time In Silence, 2022 by Brooke Ferguson; image courtesy of the artist.