The Creative Leaders Program was a Vic Health Funded Project which ran from 2020 to 2022.
Designed to inspire, inform and develop the creative aspirations of school-aged artists in the south west, the program matched young people with industry mentors to assist in developing pathways to an arts career.
Outcomes:
- Increased social connections in the creative community
- Increased creative industry knowledge and skills
- Increased confidence to pursue a career or professional practice in the creative Industries
- Increased wellbeing through networks and connections
Participants:
Minami Deguchi – musician (Warrnambool)
Rose Deppeler – jeweller (Port Campbell)
Eliza McLachlan – film maker (Warrnambool)
Josh Lee – drawer (Warrnambool)
Caitlin Martin – painter (Terang)
Grace Moloney – musician (The Sisters)
Destiny Bambridge – photographer (Lismore)
Jorja Hermon – dancer (Hamilton)
Grace Silcock – painter (Hamilton)
Levi Parker – performing artist (Portland)
Niamh Howard musician and writer (Kilarney)
Jacob Paton-Lee – songwriter and singer (Warrnambool)
Molly Carey – performing artist (Koroit)
Ella Noonan – performing artist (Portland)
Sarah Lane – designer (Camperdown)
Tomas Barras – musician (Hamilton)
Zaine Reevesis – actor (Portland)
Leyland Jones – opera singer (Cavendish)
Bailey Warrick – game designer (Port Fairy)
Felix Gillespie – fursuits, cosplay (Warrnambool)
Nina Fitzsimmons – arts worker (Port Fairy)
Evie Mae – musician (Port Fairy)
Kakay Girls – Indigenous culture leaders (Warrnambool)
Clontarf Boys – Indigenous development group (Warrnambool)
Mentors:
Monica Curro – musician
Tom Richardson – musician
David Blake – sound engineer
Mary Callahan – designer
Marissa Bennett – actor/producer
Jimmi Buscombe – painter
Gareth Colliton – painter/multi-arts
Josh Beames – photographer
Freya Josephine Hollick – musician
Brett Clarke – Indigenous culture leader and artist
Mel Steffenson – Emerging Indigenous leader
Kyall Shanks – dancer/choreographer
Glen Morgan – painter
Lyall Brooks – actor/director
Daniel Newell (Dandrogyny) – performing artist
Lucinda Newton – jeweller
Alex McClaren – film maker
Leah Senior – singer/song writer
Richard Pritchard – animator/multi-arts
Jordan Phang – gaming
Kylie Thulborn – arts worker
This project occured on lands and waters over which a number of First Nations’ Traditional Owner and language
groups hold custodianship. Traditional Owners and language groups in the South West include people who identify as Bunganditj, Djabwurung, Djargurdwurung, Gunditjmara, Jardwadjali, Kirrae Whurrung, Kuurn Kopan Noot Maar, Peek Whurrong, Tjap Wurrung, Yarrowaetch (Tooram Tribe), Wadawurrung, and Wotjobaluk.
We acknowledge the land on which we live and work, and pay our respect to the First Peoples on all of these lands and those that surround them.
The Creative Leaders project is funded through the VicHealth Everyday Creativity Program and is supported by partners to the South West Creative Industries Strategy.
Image: Kakay Girls Performance Still by Sidney Davis