Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett has announced the thirty-six successful applicants to JUMP – Australia’s largest national mentoring program for young and emerging artists.

The 2010 JUMP mentorships cross a broad range of artforms from community arts and theatre to Indigenous arts, music, visual arts, dance, literature, and interdisciplinary and hybrid art. Over half of the artists selected for the program proposed projects featuring more than one artform practice.

JUMP’s first round attracted over 160 applications from all states and territories. Artists selected for the 2010 program come from metropolitan and regional areas across Australia.

The JUMP program, funded by the Australia Council for the Arts, provides a national framework for young and emerging artists to partner with an established industry professional to gain knowledge and skills in how to build a sustainable career.

JUMP is managed nationally by Youth Arts Queensland (YAQ) – Queensland’s peak body for children and young people in the arts.

Julie Woodward, CEO for YAQ, said first round applicants set a high standard.

“The successful artists demonstrated an ability to challenge their own artform practice to further develop their creativity, as well as great commitment and drive in becoming Australia’s next generation of arts leaders.”

Through JUMP, artists are offered opportunities to advance their artistic practice through project funding and showcasing opportunities, along with access to national industry networks.

The national JUMP induction sessions will be held April. These sessions provide practical assistance to artists and mentors to work through the logistics of their partnership and to make the most of professional development opportunities offered throughout the ten month program.

State delivery partners, Carclew Youth Arts in South Australia and Propel Youth Arts WA , work with YAQ to deliver quality mentorship experiences that respond to the local needs of young and emerging artists.

JUMP applications are open to Australian artists, aged 18 – 30 and in the first five years of their career, across all Australia Council funded artforms and from all geographical and cultural backgrounds.

Second round JUMP applications open on 30 August 2010 for mentorships in 2011. Mentorship places are also available in 2012.

Further JUMP information can be found at www.jumpmentoring.com.au.

Congratulations to the Music participants in this year’s Jump program

• Balvinder Khaira (WA) will be mentored by Glenn Rogers (WA)
• Elliott Hughes (WA) will be mentored by Mace Francis (WA)
• Kelly Menhennett (SA) will be mentored by Heather Frahn (SA)
• Matthias Schack-Arnott (VIC) will be mentored by Eugene Ughetti (VIC)
• Rafael Karlen (QLD) will be mentored by Mike Nock (NSW)
• Ray Bourne (QLD) will be mentored by Tim Levinson (NSW)

Join the Jump mailing list here to hear about it in future, or read the full list and more information on the Jump website