Valued at up to $3,000, these mentorships are tailored to the emerging artist’s needs and goals, providing guidance, training and industry connections relevant to their stage of practice.
The Elevate Mentorship program will give you the opportunity to grow your practice in a way that works for you, with:
- Tailored, self-directed learning and development
- The freedom to choose your own mentor
- Funding support for both you and your mentor
Applicants will outline how the mentorship will be structured and the outcomes they hope to achieve.
Mentorship opportunities may include:
- Studio visits for hands-on learning and skill development
- Creative development sessions for dance, music, or theatre works
- Film script development, editing, or distribution guidance
- Curatorial advice for exhibitions
- Support to strengthen business or marketing skills for an arts practice
Whether you’re deepening your current practice or exploring new creative directions, this program is here to support your growth and future opportunities. Successful applications will clearly show how the mentorship supports career development, the value of the proposed activities, and the suitability of the mentor.
FRANCA LAFOSSE’S ELEVATE MENTORSHIP STORY
Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) (Honours), Flinders University| @francalafosse
Franca Lafosse is an Argentinian-Australian actress who graduated from Flinders University Drama Centre with First Class Honours in 2023. Franca works across film, theatre and motion-capture, both as a performer and creative. She made her professional stage debut this year in State Theatre Company of South Australia’s new play Housework, written by Emily Steel. Following her debut, she completed professional development training across Madrid, Barcelona and Buenos Aires, and was also selected as a resident for the ASSITEJ New Voices Fellowship program, attending the 2025 international gathering in Marseille, France.
In 2024, Franca co-produced and starred in the short film Chokeberries, shortlisted for the Sydney Underground Film Festival, Inner West Film Festival and Revelation International Film Festival. That same year, she launched Rotpunkt theatre collective with three other Flinders graduates and premiered their self-devised show H, an anti-fascist black comedy. Other recent credits include her lead role as Sara in the Flinders Graduate production of Glace Chase’s Wh*re, directed by Hannah Smith, and her upcoming co-produced short film Kin.
As a multicultural artist, Franca is drawn to stories that celebrate diversity, question identity politics and interrogate the status quo. She is committed to carving her path as an international artist.
“Helpmann’s support through the Elevate Mentorship has enabled me to forge a connection and seek guidance from playwrights from the two countries I call home, expanding my perception of what multicultural development and international collaboration can look like”.
Franca Lafosse, Actress | Elevate Mentorship 2025 recipient.
Photos: Courtesy of State Theatre Company of South Australia for their production of Housework by Emily Steel.
Applications for 2026 have closed.
The Elevate Mentorship Program is proudly supported through a giving circle of philanthropic patrons.