Are you committed to strengthening our local arts and culture sector? City of Gold Coast is looking for local arts and culture hosts to mentor developing artists and creative workers.
The paid professional placement program last for up to 30 days and they’re a great way for your business to gain a fresh perspective from emerging and mid-career creatives.
Blank Street Press has participated in the program multiple times. This year's Content Writer placement, Danielle Read, was a copywriter seeking further experience in writing for print and expanding her network amongst Gold Coast's creative community.
Danielle spent 30 days working with Blank Street Press. She said of her experience:
"My time at Blank Street Press was an invaluable experience and one that has completely revolutionised my approach to business! I truly felt like part of the team during my placement and that my work, input and ideas really mattered. The trust that the team put in me was a refreshing experience that allowed me to finesse my writing skills while exposing me to new and fascinating areas of the media landscape, including writing for print. It also gave me new insight into effective leadership styles for remote teams.
"Nat was the most phenomenal mentor and I felt truly lucky to have such a talented, esteemed and kind person guiding my way. Despite the busy day-to-day, Nat made sure that I was always kept in the loop, answered all my questions and created a supportive environment. Her feedback, guidance and input on my writing has strengthened my skillset and boosted my confidence, which will continue on with me in the years ahead, following this placement!
"I was able to write articles about things that matter to me, run interviews with a wide variety of local creatives, converse with public relations professionals and attend events that enriched the entire experience and immersed me in Gold Coast cultural activities. I cannot recommend this placement and Blank Street Press highly enough. The entire team were so welcoming and I am in awe of the greatness they create!
Our group meetings with the City of Gold Coast were fantastic for reflecting and planning the trajectory of the placement. After running my business for nearly seven years, it was fantastic to take part in this placement that takes your workplace experience into consideration and catapults you towards new goals through their wealth of knowledge, connections and expertise."
Blank's Managing Editor Natalie O'Driscoll believes that the program has provided several emerging writers with an excellent platform upon which to jump further ahead in their careers, as well as benefiting Blank itself.
"Our professional placements have all been excellent in their own way, bringing their own set of skills, interests and perspectives to the role," she said. "Some of them have become ongoing members of the Blank family, and we've loved watching their careers progress after leaving us."
What is the Professional Placement Program?
It's a City of Gold Coast Arts and Culture Unit development initiative designed the program to help emerging to mid-career arts workers gain paid experience in a professional arts and cultural setting, supported by a mentor.
Calling out for hosts for the 2024 Program
City of Gold Coast is looking for hosts from all artforms and professional backgrounds. Hosts play a key role in both the short- and long-term development of the local arts and culture sector. The program provides hosts with a modest stipend to support the engagement.
Who can apply to be a host?
Artists, arts and cultural workers, local arts and culture sector businesses, organisations or associations who have specific artform knowledge or demonstrated experience in an arts and culture context. Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hosts, disability and culturally and linguistically diverse focused hosts are strongly encouraged.
Host responsibilities
Provide mentorship within a workplace environment.
Help your placement develop relevant skills and networks to boost their career
Eligibility
Hosts must:
- have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be based on the Gold Coast or up to 100kms from the City’s office in Bundall
- have strong professional connections and networks
- have no overdue City funding acquittals with the Arts and Culture Unit.
Mentors within a host must:
- Be a professional within the arts and culture sector with a minimum of 5 years accumulated experience:
- in their area of expertise and / or
- within an organisation in the cultural or creative sector, and / or
- managing their own company.
- Have already participated in other mentoring programs and / or mentored and / or provided training for at least one individual or project in the cultural, creative or other sector within the past 5 years.
Key dates
Host applications close: Monday 16 October 2023 at midnight
Shortlisted applicants notified: Wednesday 1 November 2023
Callout for placement participants: February 2024
Final hosts confirmed: March 2024
Placement duration: Up to 30 days
Earliest Placement start date: March 2024
Latest Placement finish date: May 2025
