Five Years of Innovation: Creative Innovator Program    

By James Watson

Since its inception in 2021, the Creative Innovator Program has prepared emerging artists with the tools, confidence, and inspiration to forge sustainable and impactful careers. Innovation is the lifeblood of South Australia’s cultural and economic future. This signature program has supported 71 creative entrepreneurs to establish enterprises that offer creative solutions and products in a rapidly evolving world, embracing new technologies and experimenting with contemporary forms.

This six-month intensive program is tailored to the needs of creative practitioners and incorporates one-to-one creative and business mentoring alongside a series of workshops and masterclasses ranging from branding and digital media to market research to public presentations. The focus is on professional skills and personal development and building resilience to survive and thrive within the world of creative business.

The program culminates in final pitches presented to a panel of industry experts with the chance for participants to be awarded up to $20,000 of seed funding. Despite the obvious competition for seed funding, peer learning and collaboration is a key feature of the program. With a wide variety of creative practices within cohorts, participants are encouraged to draw on each other’s strengths and talents to lift each other up. Collaborations continue beyond the program, as support for each other and as creative teams for future projects are formed.

Through the guidance of mentors and guest presenters, the alumni emerge from this experience as self-directed creative leaders, equipped not only with practical tools but with the belief that their artistic endeavors have the power to make a lasting difference. 

For Emily Bettison (2021) who established STAK, a vocal and musical sample pack company, our program bridged the shortfalls in her knowledge: 

 “Despite my years of study and experience in the creative industry, there were gaps in my knowledge regarding starting, managing, and growing a successful business. This opportunity was one full of education and support and has equipped me with the knowledge that I need to take the next steps forward in my career.” 

Gemma Salomon (2023), founder of Whisper Tree Productions, a film production house focused on telling femme-focused genre stories, the program provided the confidence to develop a 10-year plan towards international studio funding. 

“It helped me bypass my imposter syndrome and provided the scaffolding to build a powerful and realistic plan to work toward my dream”. 

Acknowledging that filmmaking is a ‘long game’, her latest short film Lie Down, Breathe Out recently debuted at the 2025 Adelaide Film Festival to great acclaim and was an opportunity to employ a team of South Australian actors and crew.

Emily Bettison who established STAK. Photo: Lauren Connelly.

Musicians, Any Young Mechanic (2024) received the $20,000 in seed funding whilst known as Wake in Fright. Members Sam Wilson, Jacin Mee, Thea Martin, Allan McBean, and Luka Kilgariff-Johnson, credit the program with teaching them to navigate the complex world of booking agents, legal agreements, record labels while always remaining authentic to their artistic values. They are touring internationally, playing festivals in Leeds, Reading, and Paris and back at home, they are featured on line ups for Harvest Rock (2025) and WOMADelaide (2026).

Over its five year history, the program has received strong cash and in-kind support. In addition to the $20,000 in major seed funding, other cash awards and extended mentoring opportunities offer participants a chance to continue their learning and development. Support from  University of South Australia Innovation and Collaboration Centre, incubator programs at ThincLab and Flinders University New Venture Institute, in-kind support from the State Theatre Company of South Australia, as well as business advisory services from Andrew Leunig and Perks Accountants and Wealth Advisors provide invaluable expertise to the cohort and foundations for networks and relationships beyond the program.

In a recent survey of program alumni from the past five years, 85% of past participants are still running the creative business they set up during the program. Furthermore, 90% of those surveyed still work in the creative industries. These encouraging figures are a testament to  the program’s commitment to building diverse revenue streams, connections and sustainable career pathways for alumni. All of alumni surveyed would highly recommend this program to future creatives seeking to build sustainable long-term arts careers. 

We’re incredibly proud of all the other success stories from the Creative innovator Program. Anthony Robinson (2021)  has established Ship It Studios, whose new game Blood Vow: Survive the Night was recently demonstrated at PAX expo, the biggest gaming convention in Australia. Speaking with Anthony, he credits our program with giving him the skills to lead a team and pitch for further development opportunities. Since their participation The Cram Collective (2022) have been creating gripping theatre projects around Adelaide, recently sharing that they have employed one hundred artists since their time in our program. Their latest work, Meteors, will be premiering at the 2026 Adelaide Fringe Festival. Setting up at studio 215 in Magill, Ellis Moseley (2023) is currently setting up a bespoke furniture business, Skangaroovia, which will start producing furniture for commercial sale. “The program opened my eyes to what was possible with my creative practice. I finished the program with a clear plan of how I can utilise my skills in a sustainable and viable way.” Says Ellis. 

With many alumni crediting the impact of the program as a contributor to their success, a number are returning to the program eager to share their creative business journeys with current participants. This ‘giving back’ and sharing of stories further strengthens the program and enhances connections within the arts ecosystem. 

We would like to thank all the creatives who have been part of the past five years of this program, for sharing their ideas and successes and extend our thanks to the many supporters of this program. We are thrilled to share that the Creative Innovator Program will return in 2026 and continue to inspire and teach the next generation of emerging creative entrepreneurs.

Any Young Mechanic performing at Harvest Rock 2025. Photo: Danysha Harriott

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