Next Level Creative Mentorship

The 2026 Next Level Creative Mentorship Program has expanded to support writers, musicians, dancers, choreographers, actors, directors and/or producers with disability or who are d/Deaf from NSW, SA, NT and the ACT.

Ten artists with disability working in the performing arts will be provided with $3000 in project funding and access to a mentorship within a leading performing arts organisation to develop an innovative new project.

Mentorships will take place within one of our Partnering Organisations (listed below) and will result in the opportunity to develop a project concept brief and prepare it for effective pitches to relevant companies, venues, artistic directors, and producers. This is a hybrid program with both professional and project development outcomes.

Over a period of five months, a dedicated mentor will work individually with the selected participants to:

Assess your creative concept
Develop your concept into a project brief
Provide advice on drafting a detailed project outline, including budgets, timelines, deliverables, and key contacts
Provide guidance regarding potential pitch meeting opportunities with relevant companies, venues, artistic directors and/or producers

The program will involve facilitated sessions with a mentor and self-directed tasks. The mentor will be available for a total of 20 hours. The Next Level Creative Mentorship Program will be undertaken and completed between May – October 2026.