Margo Hill-Smith’s impact can be felt throughout the South Australian visual arts world. She and partner Sam have helped transform the practices of many local artists, supporting them to forge successful and sustainable careers.
The Hill Smith Gallery was a familiar Adelaide landmark, representing and exhibiting visual artists for more than 40 years before evolving in 2021 into its current iteration of the Hill Smith Art Advisory.
Henry Wolff, Helpmann Academy engagement coordinator, sat down with Margo to chat about what inspires her support of the arts.
You’ve been a long-term and prolific supporter of the arts and have been involved with Helpmann Academy now for more than 20 years – what inspires you to give?
Both Sam and I have lives which have benefitted enormously from the inclusion of art in many forms. Sam studied formally a visual arts degree in fine-art painting in the mid-’70s, and set-up Hill Smith Gallery over 40 years ago.
I commenced working life in an administrative capacity with the State Theatre Company here in Adelaide. After other career transitions, I’ve come full circle, back to working in the arts with Sam in the gallery over 20 years ago.
Together, we have enjoyed immersing ourselves as both participants and supporters of our local arts community. Our passion is born of this deep early love of the arts, and recognition of its central importance to healthy and thriving communities – emotionally and economically. It is a value we both share. Providing support allows us to develop and deepen ties with artists, curators and like-minded people who believe in the value of a thriving and diverse arts sector.
Sam and you operated the Hill Smith Gallery for many years. Through the gallery, and now the advisory, you’ve both supported countless artists to forge successful careers – are there any stories of the impact you’ve had that stick in your mind?
There are many artists over the two decades who we have formed close relationships with through them being recipients of the Helpmann Academy Hill Smith Gallery Award, some of whom we have gone on to exhibit and represent in Hill Smith Gallery over time, others achieving success with other galleries both locally and interstate.
In general, we believe that this sort of support provides an early boost to an artist’s confidence and professional development. When given endorsement from a professional sector such as a private gallery, it gives them a welcome boost. Often this strengthens their faith in their own goals and aspirations for the future.
It is difficult to single out any one or two as examples, as by naming some, we exclude others. Needless to say, there have been many artists, most of which we seem to have been able to continue positive and supportive relationships with, both professionally and personally. Being able to assist artists has provided us with a great deal of satisfaction and fulfilment.
Margo and Sam Hill-Smith share a deep love of the arts. Photo: supplied
You often curate student exhibitions and emerging artists into your programming. How impactful is support for artists early in their careers?
Early support for artists is critical, regardless of their age at graduating. They often leave learning institutions with a sense of anxiety about what the future will bring. Early support and curation into student and emerging artist exhibitions as part of a gallery exhibition program provides important skill development, mentoring, confidence building, networking opportunities, community building through support from successful mid-career artists, financial stability for a period (by way of earning an income), exposure of their work to a wider audience for sales, and an opportunity to experiment and take some risks.
These opportunities are where the journey of building long-term success starts, and that journey is often a long and difficult road to travel.
In 2023, you were instrumental in a new program with Helpmann Academy, the Gallery Assistant Mentorship. Through this program you were able to mentor emerging artist and arts worker Oakey. Can you tell us more about the experience and the exhibition you both worked on?
I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with and mentor Oakey – a very insightful and talented artist. We worked together on a group exhibition of Hill Smith Art Advisory artists, with both local and national profiles, as a pop-up exhibition at Mezzanine 55 in Kent Town.
It was useful for Oakey as a creative artist to be on the “other side” and see the administrative and production elements required to curate and pull together an exhibition, and then to assist with the marketing and direct sales of the artworks to clients. Bringing collectors together with artists and playing a conduit role is an interesting and satisfying part of the process.
For Oakey, I think it was an opportunity to learn more about some artists they may not have known prior to the mentorship and discover more about them. It was also an opportunity (enjoyable, I think) to discuss other artists’ works and clients, at times encouraging them to think about works with ideas and expressions not previously considered, or to embrace new thoughts and ideas.
It was a very happy working partnership, where I also learned from Oakey in discussion about arts-related issues and trends whilst we worked together.
Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program Finale 2023: Sam Hill-Smith, Mark Roderick (chair, Helpmann Academy Board of Governors), Jane MacFarlane (CEO, Helpmann Academy), Margo Hill-Smith and Gemma Salomon. Photo: Jack Fenby
How important do you think mentoring is in supporting the next generation?
Mentorship is vital. It provides emerging artists with guidance, knowledge, and connections that can significantly contribute to their growth and success. The mentorship is not defined by the duration of that moment in time, but often provides ongoing personal and technical support from someone who takes a very real, deep interest in them. The relationship is central to the mentorship’s success. A good mentorship should transcend time and form the beginning of a long and fruitful exchange.
Do you have any suggestions on how people can get involved with supporting emerging creatives?
Donating to the arts comes in many forms – as the volunteering of time and expertise, being a purchaser of a ticket to a show, buying an artwork, a donation of in-kind support, or sometimes in a cash donation, either once off or ongoing.
People choose different areas to participate in life and provide support. For Sam and I, donating in the arts has been one of them. Supporting the arts has given us enjoyment, and we feel grateful to have been in a position to do so. We unreservedly encourage others to consider it.
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An Illuminated Palette, curated by Hill Smith Art Advisory, is currently showing at The Light Room Gallery until February 8, 2024. It is open Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm until late, or by appointment.
Emerging artist Sam Matthewman was recently awarded a gallery assistant mentorship with Margo and Sam Hill-Smith and will be working at The Light Room Gallery to gain valuable experience. Alongside Sam, the following featured artists have received Helpmann Academy funding and professional development opportunities: Mirjana Dobson, Stephanie Doddridge, Louise Feneley, Anna Horne and Ellis Moseley.
Henry Wolff is a visual artist and arts worker living and working on Kaurna Country.
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