Western Artists Mentorship Program

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The City of Maribyrnong’s Arts and Culture Strategy 2018-2023 acknowledges that the arts enable individuals and communities to engage on multiple levels, with differing skill sets and experiences, and seeks to actively remove physical, social and other barriers to arts practice and participation. 

The Western Artists Mentorship Program aims to enhance the skills and experience of First Nations artists, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse artists, and artists who are D/deaf or Disabled, and create pathways to sustain the professional practice of participants.

Mentoring can create an informed, flexible and culturally appropriate environment to share knowledge.  It provides benefits for participants including the capacity and confidence to pursue their goals with dedicated support; provides new perspectives to mentors; and enhances networking relationships and connections for all participants partaking in the program.

By providing a mentoring opportunity, Council seeks to support individual artists’ creative practice and career pathways while actively supporting stronger access and inclusion for artists of diverse backgrounds in Maribyrnong.

About the Program

In 2023, the Western Artists Mentorship Program will offer five (5) independent artists with the unique opportunity to work one-on-one with a Mentor on a project of their choice to build their knowledge, skills and professional networks.  The Mentorship Program is to be undertaken any time during 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024.   

Participation in this program is specifically to support the careers of artists who identify as First Nations, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, and/or D/deaf or disabled and is open to emerging, mid-career and established artists in all disciplines. 

During the Western Artists Mentorship Program, artists propose a specific project to work on with your mentor.  Artists will be empowered to define their own project scope, by presenting a personalised budget and timeline outlining professional development and mentorship activities that will help them boost their skillset or build capacity. They will be paired with a mentor of their choice to assist during the lifecycle of this program.  

To support the Western Artists Mentorship Program Arts and Culture will:

  • Provide a stipend to the Mentorship Artist of up to $5,000 (excluding GST) towards pursuing a self-defined goal within their arts practice with the support of a mentor.  This is intended to cover artist fees, a contribution to materials and can be leveraged to apply for other sources of funding.  Using MEAA or NAVA award rates as a guide, Artists can shape their own timetable during this period from 4 weeks full-time to up to 3 months part-time. 
  • Provide a stipend to the Mentorship Mentor $2,500 (excluding GST) towards their mentorship of the artist, with milestones for this mentorship to be outlined in the application process;
  • Provide in-kind access to the Bluestone Church Arts Space for up to 2 weeks or ArtsBox (subject to availability) or connect the artist to other spaces such as libraries or community centres if more appropriate;
  • Cover the cost of hire fees for technical equipment in the Bluestone Church Arts Space;
  • Provide marketing to promote the project through our channels, and provide producer advice as required.
  • Provide an Introduction and Welcome Session for the Artists at the commencement of the program, to meet others participating and answer common questions.

Click here to download full program guidelines(PDF, 1MB)

Key Dates

  • Proposals open: Monday 3 April 2023
  • Proposals close: 11.59pm, Sunday 21 May 2023
  • Final decisions advised: Week of 29 May 2023
  • Introduction and Welcome session: Week of 3 July 2023
  • Mentorship: Undertaken within 1 July 2023 - 30 June 2024.

 

How to Apply

Applications are now closed.

 

2023-2024 Mentorship Program Artists

  • Mary Quinsacara - mentored by Arun Ernesto Muñoz
  • Najib Warsame - mentored by Lukiah Bodley
  • Olivia Floate - mentored by Snuff Puppets
  • Sophie Cassar - mentored by Jane Trengove

 

2021-2022 Mentorship Program Artists

  • Cainne - mentored by Maddee Clark
  • Latifa Elmrini - mentored by Hoda Afshar
  • Carly Findlay - mentored by Nicki Greenberg
  • Lillian Hull - mentored by Charlotte Allingham
  • Danny Silva Soberano - mentored by Elena Gomez
  • Irihipeti Waretini - mentored by Amie Batalibasi

 

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