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MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 

The Newcastle Art Space Mentorship Program promotes excellence in arts practice by providing opportunities for the Hunter Region’s most promising emerging artists to be mentored by the region’s outstanding and creative art practitioners.
 

The program focuses on flexible, informal but regular face-to-face mentoring sessions between a mentee and their mentor, combined with quarterly networking and professional development sessions with the mentorship cohort. 

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A key feature of the program is the curatorial mentorship, which pairs an emerging curator with an established professional in the field. The curatorial mentee works with the mentorship cohort to produce an exhibition that showcases the outcomes of the program.

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This year, mentors will have the option to be  involved in selecting a mentee from a shortlist recommended by our panel of 'matchmakers'.

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This year's matchmakers were:​

  • Courtney Novak - Deputy Director, Maitland Regional Art Gallery and Board Member Newcastle Art Space

  • Curatorial Mentor Peter Johnson - Curatorial Lead, Newcastle Art Gallery

MENTORS + MENTEES

Our participants for 2023/2024 are:

  • Curatorial - Peter Johnson (Mentor) and Wednesday Sutherland (Mentee)

  • Ceramics - Helen Dunkerley (Mentor) and Ramona Raven (Mentee)

  • Experimental / Painting - Lottie Consalvo (Mentor) and Megan Farquhar (Mentee)

  • Experimental / Installation - Louisa Magrics (Mentor) and Shaana-anne Crisp (Mentee)

  • Installation - Jen Denzin (Mentor) and Samantha Walsh (Mentee)

  • Painting -  Nigel Milsom (Mentor) and Constance Mcinerney (Mentee), Annemarie Murland (Mentor) and Jaymie Maley (Mentee), Pablo Tapia (Mentor) and Nick Howley (Mentee) , Lezlie Tilley (Mentor) and Lexie Worboys (Mentee) 

  • Photography - Hari Ho (Mentor) and TBC (Mentee),  Clare Weeks (Mentor) and Chris Brown (Mentee)

  • Public Art / Community Art - Ellie Hannon (Mentor) and Syann Williams (Mentee)

  • Sculpture - Peter Tilley (Mentor) and Max Blanch (Mentee)

  • Textiles / Fibre - Timeless Textiles: Cathy Jack Coupland, Wilma Simmons and Anne Kempton (Mentors) and  Sara Prince and Laure de Vaugelas (Mentees)

    Unfortunately, Rob Cleworth needed to withdraw from this year's mentorship.     Mentees applying for Rob were considered for their other mentor preferences. ​

THE BASICS

  • The program will see emerging artists apply to be mentored for one year, from October to September.

  • There is no cost associated with the program.

  • The program is competitive. Applicants will need to complete an application form. 

  • Applications deadline NOW EXTENDED TO MIDNIGHT TUESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2023.


Who is eligible?

  • Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. There is no upper age limit.  

  • Applicants must be emerging artists in the first five years of their full-time art practice.

  • Applicants must reside or have their working studio within the Mentorship Program Area, which includes Hunter region local government areas. Refer to the Mentee Application Guide below for more information. 


What is involved?

The successful applicant will be paired with their preferred established art practitioner for one year. The pairing process is performed by an external panel and in liaison with the mentors. Mentors may choose to interview shortlisted mentees to help find the most compatible match.

 

The nature of the mentorship is up to each individual mentor. It is an opportunity for skills, knowledge and experience to be passed from a practising established artist to an emerging artist. The mentee is expected to meet with their mentor once a month and attend get-togethers with the 2023/2024 Mentorship cohort. Mentees are also required to participate in an exhibition, alongside their mentor, showcasing the outcomes of their mentorship, as well as an end-of-program evaluation session.

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KEY DATES

Applications open: Tuesday 8 August
Applications close: NOW EXTENDED TO MIDNIGHT TUESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2023.

Successful curatorial mentee notified: 8 September

Mentorships announced: 15 September 

Mentor + mentee briefing session: Saturday 30 September (pencil this in your diary!)
Mentoring commences: from 1 October 

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GUIDE

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