Mentorships

One of the key Helpmann initiatives is our Mentorship Scheme – a vital part of our program linking emerging artists with leading practitioners in their fields in a one-on-one mentoring relationship.

The Helpmann Academy Scheme is supported by numerous private patrons. The scheme is for graduates in their first and second year out from all of the Helpmann Academy partner institutions.

Mentorship applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year and are assessed regularly by an independent panel.

Download an Application Form here (211 kB Word document)

Download Information for Applicants here (111 kB Word document)

Since 2002, the Helpmann Academy has assisted more than 150 emerging South Australian artists through the Scheme. Over the years, mentors have included film and television personalities such as Mary Coustas and Noni Hazlehurst, photographers Deborah Paauwe and Mark Kimber, visual artists Hossein Valamanesh, Helen Fuller and Marise Maas, ceramicist Kirsten Coelho, glass artist David Reekie, choreographers Amanda Phillips and Kate Champion, as well as South Australian Film Corporation audio mixer Pete Smith. Current mentors include comedian Tom Gleisner, ceramicist Akira Takamori and music critic Graham Strahle.

 The current participants include:

Actor

Laura- Jane Emes

Tom Gleisner

Director

Laura-Jane Emes (Flinders Drama Centre graduate) was paired with director, producer, writer and comedy icon Tom Gleisner. Laura travelled regularly to Melbourne to meet with Tom and visited the set of his feature film, currently in production, to observe the cast, crew and director in action. Laura's next project is writing a 'mockumentary'-style series, while continuing to pursue a career in comedy television.

Artist

Klaus Gutowski

Akio Takamori

Artist

Klaus Gutowski (AC Arts graduate) will be in communication with Akio Takamori, (a Japanese-American artist and professor at the University of Washington School of Art) leading up to the 2012 Ceramic Triennial in Adelaide in September 2012, and will meet upon Akio’s arrival in Adelaide. Klaus will take the opportunity with Akio to explore his work in a more narrative way. Klaus will explore the possibilities of translating his ideas into a more resolved method of constructing and decorating his work. Klaus anticipates that the unique approach Akio takes to surface decoration could help him to find different methods to enhance his work.

Artist

Loique Allen

Theo Tremblay

Artist

In April 2012 Loique Allen (AC Arts student) spent two weeks at Editions Tremblay NFP studios, participating in a mentorship with Master Printer Theo Tremblay. Loique gained valuable experience working in a professional printmaking studio over a two-week period. She learnt how to print large format relief prints on a hydraulic press and met many professional artists and printmakers working in the studio alongside Theo. From this experience Loique will continue to create and print large format relief prints and is looking forward to returning to Editions Tremblay studios in the future.