WaPa Muylatina.

What is Wapa Muylatina.

Wapa Muylatina is a place-based mentoring program that will support the development of a Tasmanian First Nations Creative Producer through placements across our partnering organisations, Performing Lines Tas, Contemporary Art Tasmania and Assembly 197 (Tasdance and Situate). All placements are personally, culturally, and creatively supported by WaPa supporting culturally safe and strategic capacity building for our artists and arts worker workforce.

This customised model incorporates intergenerational, professional, cultural, and creative knowledge and skills sharing, in culturally safe, appropriate, and productive ways. 

As a Tasmanian Aboriginal community multi-arts initiative. WaPa has established sustainable and culturally informed processes of learning within the creative sector incorporating cultural ways of knowing and being into a program that empowers Tasmanian Aboriginal artists and artsworkers to work and thrive within the arts and cultural space.

This place-based model of learning is tried-and-tested. Wapa Muylatina expands a culturally specific developmental model undertaken by respected pakana practitioner, Sinsa Mansell, within the deep learning she committed to over five years of multi-faceted sector engagement. Sinsa has succeeded in positioning herself, through WaPa and sector endorsement, as one of Australia’s leading voices within the Indigenous arts and cultural sector.

Shifting from ‘mentee/learner’ to ‘mentor/sharer’, Sinsa will lead the mentoring, bringing her extensive experience as our islands leading First Nations Producer, along with her deep cultural knowledge as an important knowledge keeper in the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

About the Program 

This is a paid mentorship opportunity that will be tailored to the successful applicant. 

The mentorship is for 16hrs per week for 12weeks, or equivalent .

You will undergo an intensive, customised program for professional development as a Tasmanian First Nations Creative Producer.  

You will undergo placements with, and receive mentoring from all of our partnering organisations, Performing Lines Tas, Contemporary Art Tasmania and Assembly 197 (Tasdance and Situate), in Hobart and Launceston.

A national professional development component will expose you to the national landscape of multi-disciplined creative practice. Accomopanied by Sinsa, you will have the opportunity to attend, observe, participate in, and contribute to two key events on the Indigenous national platform: The Rising Festival and APAM (Australian Performing Arts Market). National engagement is core to the professional and creative development of our creatives and an essential element to this project establishing a national understanding, connectivity and relationship building. Connecting individuals to nations across Australia broadens our creative network and potentiality. It celebrates our unique stories, histories, and practices on the inter/national platform.

Is this program for me?

Are you interested in learning the skills to make and produce events, performances, exhibitions and projects?

Are you committed to building strong foundations for a future career path?

Are you ready to be challenged and dive into a rich professional development experience?

Are you keen to build your network in the creative sector, and learn from Tasmania’s leading organisations and individuals in performance, contemporary art and First Nations creative production?

This project is for community, led by community with lead principle/mentor, Sinsa Mansell supported by the WaPa guiding council, local arts organisations, and community elders and seniors that grow our creative workforce.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Applications are open to First Nations people resident in Tasmania (includes the islands) 

• You must be available to undertake a 2 day a week commitment between May to August 2023.

• Available to travel to attend 2 key national events - APAM, and the Rising Festival, with lead mentor Sinsa Mansell,  between June 14th to 19th (all travel and accommodation costs included).

• Available to undertake placements in Hobart with Performing Lines Tas, Contemporary Art Tasmania, and with Assembly 197 in Launceston.

• Capacity to manage your own travel to the varying workplace locations.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

● Understand the role of a Creative Producer in a performance, contemporary art, and design context.

● Understanding logistics, budgets, grants

● Budgets, grants, funding and financials

● Developing, managing and producing projects

● Leadership skills

● Creative development

● Stakeholder and relationship management

● The exhibition and curatorial context