Young and Emerging Artist Professional Development Program 2024-25

The peers discussed the overall quality of the applications and made the following comments:

• Applicants were strongly encouraged to focus on professional development activities, rather than creative projects, in line with the guidelines and aims of the program.
• Applicants over the age of 25 years were also strongly encouraged to carefully explain how they fit the definition of emerging as included in the program guidelines (in their first five years of practice).
• The stronger applications to this round clearly articulated:
  • why the specific opportunities or activities were chosen, and why they were timely and relevant
  • what specific professional development benefits would be gained and how they would impact the applicant’s practice and career in the longer term
  • the possible benefits for the wider Tasmanian arts sector (through skills sharing after returning from a national or international opportunity) and/or benefits for Tasmanian audiences.
• Where possible, applicants were also encouraged to include:
  • confirmations for any proposed opportunities
  • evidence of partnerships and professional connections
  • letters of support from others in the sector, further speaking to the assessment criteria.
• The applications focused on developing sustainable professional arts practices were particularly valued by the peers, who noted that applicants shouldn’t try to do too much with the available grant funds.

Arts Tasmania carefully manages actual and perceived conflicts of interest for both staff members and peers involved in the assessment process.

For more information on the management of conflicts of interest, please visit how decisions are made.