The Helpmann Academy InReview Mentorship program began this year, with the aim of developing the next generation of arts reviewers and re-building the practice of robust discourse and analysis of South Australian performing and visual arts.
The mentoring program, a partnership between Helpmann Academy and InReview, connects experienced arts writers with emerging voices.
The successful mentee will be matched with an InReview mentor or mentors who will be assigned based on the interests and background of the mentee.
Over the course of 10 weeks – about eight hours each week – our mentors work with the selected applicant on aspects of writing reviews as well as providing career advice.
With the guidance and support of mentors, as well as InReview’s experienced editorial staff, the mentee will produce arts reviews for publication to InReview’s growing audience.
The first mentorship was awarded earlier this year to recent graduate Michelle Wakim, who says her experience working with acclaimed reviewers and writers Samela Harris and Katherine Tamiko Arguile, accelerated her development.

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“I’ve learned so much from my mentors: they’ve been so generous with their feedback and their time,” she said.
“I didn’t really understand where the standard was leaving uni, and the mentorship has been so valuable in really accelerating my growth as a writer. Without having the chance to work so closely with such experienced people in the industry, it would have taken me so much longer to develop and work out where that industry standard is.”
Michelle’s development over the course of the program was so successful, she has moved on to become part of InReview’s suite of regular contributors. You can read her work here.
Applications are welcome from emerging creatives who have an interest in arts writing and are graduates from an eligible program at one of Helpmann Academy’s partner institutions.
Applications close next Monday (November 8) at 9am.
For full details, go here: www.helpmannacademy.com.au/mentorships/helpmann-academy-inreview-mentorship/
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