Early-Career Artist Initiative
Cartwheel 2024
2024 Cartwheel Artists: Nat Newman (film & theatre maker), Joshua Ingle (interactive artist), Patrick Howlett (performer/theatre maker), Shaana-anne Crisp (visual artist), Kira Woods (screen/stage actress), Jada Laurie (multidisciplinary artist), Izaak Clifford (musician/general noise maker), Barney Donaghy (performer), and Bethany O’Sullivan (musician).
Cartwheel 2024
About the Program
Take a leap and springboard into a creative career.
Cartwheel is a new initiative from Tantrum that will connect, inspire and support up to 10 early-career artists in the Hunter region to advance their creative careers.
Through a carefully curated program of professional development opportunities, Cartwheel artists will undertake masterclasses and workshops, take excursions to see professional contemporary work, and attend industry events that will place them at the centre of the professional arts sector.
Cartwheel artists will also be forming their own community of early-career artists, a network of support that is crucial for sustainable arts careers, and one that will last beyond the tenure of the program.
Expressions of Interest for the 2024 Cartwheel program are now closed. Sign up to our early-career artists e-news to hear about upcoming opportunities.
What does the program involve?
The Cartwheel program will support up to 10 early career artists. Cartwheel artists will meet once a month for 12 months from Sept 2024-Sept 2025. The time commitment is approximately 6 hours per month.
Each month, Cartwheel artists will engage in professional development opportunities curated by Tantrum, including:
- Masterclasses with established artists.
- Creative Business workshops.
- Excursions to see contemporary work including theatre, dance, installation, digital, experimental and more.
Throughout the year-long program, Tantrum’s team will support and nurture the cohort to explore and extend their arts practice and forge their own pathways into sustainable creative careers.
The first meeting and excursion for Cartwheel artists will be on Friday 27 September 2024 in Newcastle.
What do you mean by early-career artists?
If you are 18-30 years old, or in the first five years of your arts career, then we’re talking about you! You might be just getting started, or you might have been at it for a few years and are looking to take the next steps in expanding your practice.
Maybe…
- You’ve just finished university and are about to embark on a creative career;
- You’ve got an idea for a brilliant short film but aren’t sure how to get started;
- You have been collecting found objects for a while but aren’t sure how to curate them for exhibition;
- You’ve been watching cabaret performers and are wondering how to develop your own act;
- You’ve been performing someone else’s words and you’re ready to write your own script or explore more expansive contemporary arts practice; or,
- You’ve been doing unpaid work on shows but you’re ready to start sending invoices.
If any of these descriptions sound like you, get applying!
Or if you’re interested but unsure if you fit the bill, we’d love to chat and answer any questions you might have. Get in touch!
What kinds of artists are you looking for?
Cartwheel is open to Hunter-based artists from all artistic disciplines, including performance, film, sound, digital media and installation.
Where does it take place?
Most of the monthly Cartwheel activities will take place in Newcastle.
Some of the excursions to see contemporary work will involve travel to Sydney (day trips only).
What does it cost to be involved?
Nothing – thanks to the support of Create NSW and our many partner organisations this program is free (but valued at $2000 per participant).
The program will support Cartwheel artists with a $500 stipend to assist with travel costs that may be incurred through taking part in the program.
What will I get out of it?
As a Cartwheel artist for 12 months, you can expect to gain:
- New artistic approaches and ideas to inspire your own art making.
- Know-how and skills in starting, running and sustaining a creative freelance business.
- Free access to performances, festivals and exhibitions in Newcastle and Sydney.
- Ongoing support and mentorship around your individual career pathway.
- A network of creative peers.
- Connections with the professional sector.
Check your eligibility.
- Are you 18-30 years old or in the first five years of your arts career?
- Are you committed to forging a creative career?
- Are you based in the Hunter region?
