Image: 2023 Catapult mentee Fiona Castle-Schmidt (right) with mentor Julia Robinson. Photograph Lana Adams.
We are delighted to open the call out for the Guildhouse Catapult mentorship program for 2024, offering multiple mentorships at $5,000 for South Australian artists, craftspeople and designers.
Building on from many years of successful mentorship programs, this current round of Catapult continues a focus on applications that will provide a long-lasting impact on the professional practice of the recipient.
Catapult mentorships have supported a diverse mix of artists and learning outcomes, each with an ambitious drive to build on existing skills and extend the development and professionalism of their practice. Robust connections between the mentee and mentor and clear goals have proven to be the successful recipe for meaningful mentorships. We look forward to facilitating more transformational experiences in 2024 and beyond.
We encourage regionally based artists to apply as two mentorships are earmarked for regional artists supported by Country Arts SA and Country Arts Foundation.
The generous support of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield Council will also see a resident awarded a mentorship to the value of $8,000. This expanded funding is to support the recipients professional development and applicants are encouraged to develop ambitious goals to match.
Catapult is generously funded through the Guildhouse Creative Champions donor program, Country Arts SA, Country Arts Foundation and the City of Port Adelaide Enfield.
Our conversations during this time have answered some of my long-time questions and confusions both in art practice and life. The observation of Lindy working in her studio on her projects offered me direct knowledge of how she works with calibrators; the hands on her project to make work for her enabled me to learn directly how she handle material and realising concept. The conversation in her studio about our life experience as Asian artists living in western countries was truly inspiring and empowering.
I feel reinvigorated and know that my career has gained momentum. I now believe that I will be a better artist and by applying all we have discussed and will discuss I will get to the level I want and need. It is wonderful to be able to contact my mentor anytime with questions and achievements.
Application Criteria and Eligibility
Application Criteria
- A confirmed local, national or international mentor
- Single page Project Proposal, outlining what you stand to gain and the key goals of the mentorship
- Project Timeline
- Budget
- 200 word biography each, for mentor and mentee
- Contact details for the mentor – phone and email
- Single page CV, for the mentee
- One letter of support
- Supporting images, 5x for mentee and 1x for mentor
Eligibility
- Applicants must be financial Guildhouse members, residing in South Australia.
- This opportunity is not available to undergraduate students, studying at the time of application or during the project.
- Previous recipients of a Catapult mentorship are ineligible to apply
Online Application and Notification
Online Application
- Please complete the online application form to apply. The form includes tips and explanations for each field, please hover your mouse over a field for more information. Should you have further questions please visit the FAQs
- The form does not autosave your progress and should only be filled in at time of submission. We recommend having each section completed in a Word document or similar and copying each section over, so in the case of technical difficulties you do not lose any work.
- Once you have submitted the form changes cannot be made to an application.
- Please note: Applicants will receive an email confirming the submission of their application – if this notification is not received the application has not been submitted correctly.
Notification
- Applicants will be notified early October 2024 as to the success of an application.
- Mentorships must be completed by 1 June 2025.
Selection Panel
- The panel will include both a Guildhouse representative, Country Arts SA representative and an esteemed artist from the South Australian arts industry.
Project Reporting and Documentation
Project Reporting
The mentor and the mentee will provide Guildhouse with a progress report half way through the project, and again at the end of the project with a final report. Reporting documents will include an overview of activities, key goal indicators achieved, documentation of the project and receipts/invoices.
Documentation
We may engage a photographer or filmmaker to document the project outcomes, and your participation in this process is a condition in undertaking this opportunity. You are also required to submit visual documentation you undertake yourselves to record your mentorship experience. We collect information from the program to attract potential project partners for reporting requirements and for use on social media.
One-on-one Appointments
It is acknowledged that the aims and outcomes of a mentorship differ from a grant application and it is therefore advised that applicants familiarise themselves with the breadth of previous recipients and join a conversation with Program Producer Nicola Sutcliffe before forming their application. These sessions are free.
Visit the booking page here to view available times and to book your slot.
These are limited to one booking per person, if these are booked please email Nicola direct with enquiries about your application nicola.sutcliffe@guildhouse.org.au
FAQ & Key Resources
- Frequently asked questions can be found here.
- Information for Applicants factsheet can be found here.
- Visit the toolkit page on our website for guidance in writing your application. There you will find a toolkit specific to developing a mentorship proposal, as well as toolkits around how write a budget, an artist statement and a CV.
- Read Mentor Mentee: A creative relationship
- Watch – Jane Skeer and Richard Lewer on Catapult mentorships
Applications close Monday 9 September, 9am.
Please ensure you read the information above thoroughly before commencing your application.
For further information, please contact Nicola Sutcliffe, Program Producer at nicola.sutcliffe@guildhouse.org.au or on (08) 8410 1822.
