‘IndigenousX’ and the ‘Monthly’ launch Indigenous arts critic mentorship

6 June 2018 Books+Publishing

The Monthly and IndigenousX have launched a new mentorship for an emerging Indigenous arts critic.

The joint initiative will offer the successful candidate a six-month fellowship, during which time they will be commissioned ‘on a regular schedule’ to write for the websites of both the Monthly and IndigenousX. The recipient may work across the art forms of theatre, film, music, television, books, dance, visual arts, fashion and architecture, and will be paid at the Monthly’s standard online rates.

The mentorship is offered ‘with a view to an ongoing working relationship’ with both publications, and the successful applicant will be offered editorial guidance and writing mentorship alongside commissioned pieces.

IndigenousX’s Jack Latimore, who helped establish the mentorship, told Books+Publishing that through partnerships like this one, IndigenousX aims to improve representation of Indigenous writers and perspectives. ‘We’re very conscious of the power of collaboration—that’s where everything is heading as resources become more limited,’ said Latimore. ‘Hopefully we can situate another black writer in the mainstream of criticism and reviewing,’ he said.

Latimore noted that while ‘a lot of these sort of initiatives have been attempted before’ by mainstream media outlets, they don’t always work. ‘If [publications] can work in collaboration with organisations or outlets like IndigenousX, it’s always going to be more fruitful. It’s contributing in a meaningful, genuine way towards self-empowerment,’ he said.

‘When IndigenousX first raised the idea (in collaboration with our music critic Anwen Crawford) we jumped at it,’ said Monthly editor Nick Feik. ‘We admire their work, and what they proposed in this case would benefit not only the successful candidate but our arts coverage too. Bringing new perspectives and voices to arts criticism can only help the culture around it.’

The mentorship is offered to Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islanders who are published writers (in print or online) or journalists with ‘a demonstrated interest in the arts’. Applications for the mentorship are open now, until 20 June.

See more information here.

Category: Local news