NATIONAL YOUNG ARTISTS MENTORING PROGRAM

SPARK is a national mentoring program that assists talented young and emerging Australian artists to establish a professional career in the arts.

It is a ten-month program, which offers young artists the chance to develop a mentoring partnership that supports the exchange of ideas, networks, and experiences, with a professional artist of their choice.

SPARK provides a unique opportunity for young artists to focus on their practice and plan their career development. The program provides practical experience, skills training, national profiling support and direct funding to create and develop a project, with the aim of establishing young artists within the arts industry.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

During the ten-month program, mentorees (young emerging artists) continue their individual arts practice, guided by their mentor (arts professional), with regular meetings, discussions and planning sessions. Each partnership is different and specifically suited to the professional development needs of the mentoree. As well as developing the mentoring partnership, participants also have the chance to share information, ideas and opportunities with the SPARK national network of mentors and mentorees from across Australia. The program provides a structure to support the mentoring partnership and to assist the mentoree in pursuing their arts practice and achieving their professional development goals.

Participants are involved in the following:

Induction

Mentors and mentorees meet together for their induction to the SPARK program. This three-day session is a compulsory part of the program, focusing on mentoring training and defining goals for the mentorship and project partnerships. The induction provides opportunities for networking amongst mentorees, mentors and guest speakers, as well as forums for sharing ideas and plans for creative projects in the program.

Support

The SPARK Program Manager supports the individual needs of each mentoree, providing information and advice to facilitate an effective mentoring partnership. The Program Manager can also provide advice, referrals, contacts, assistance with grants and project development, and broker professional development opportunities.

Online blogging

Mentorees contribute to an online blog of their SPARK experiences and current arts practice on a fortnightly basis. The site will also be used to exchange information, ideas, advice and networks, and to post details of upcoming performances and exhibitions, for the mentorees and mentors across Australia.

Training / Professional Development

SPARK mentorees attend an intensive three-day professional development session approximately three months into the program. They participate in forums and workshops in arts law, arts marketing, media & profiling, documentation and networking. These are hosted by professionals with expertise in a range of arts and management related topics. In addition to this intensive session, planning, training and professional development opportunities are made available to mentorees online throughout the mentorship.

Project development and funding

Mentorees are given the opportunity to initiate a new project, or further develop an existing project, in a partnership with their mentor. Applicants are asked to propose a creative project to develop throughout their mentorship. Once they are accepted into the SPARK program, participants are asked to submit a more detailed application for project funding. Funding of up to $4000 is available to each mentoree to contribute towards project costs. $1000 is available for the project mentor.

Profiling opportunities

Throughout the program, the SPARK Program Manager will work with each mentoree to maximise exposure and profiling of SPARK artists and their work.