Walk This Way
Funded by the City of Gold Coast
August 2022 - August 2023
About
Walk This Way is a professional development program that brings together emerging music artist managers (each with up to 5 years working in this capacity) for a 12 month, one-on-one mentorship, alongside a series of professional development activities.
Walk This Way focuses on building networks, career paths and provide industry support that is tailored specifically to music artist managers working in regions outside of capital cities and/or major commercial markets who are seeking to build national and international pathways for themselves and their artists. This 2022 - 23 pilot program was made available to 4 music artist managers working within the Gold Coast, thanks to the generous support of the City of Gold Coast.
Participants in this program have a rare and invaluable opportunity to take part in a full year mentorship, comprising 12 x 1 hr mentoring sessions over 12 months (1 per month) with a senior music artist manager. This extended mentorship is designed to foster real guidance and change; it allows participants to strategise, prepare, implement and review changes and activities within their own, and their artists, businesses, all the time being guided by a senior artist manager mentor. Our 2022 mentors were Jess Beston (Tiny Monster Management), Larissa Ryan (Hutch Collective) and Kristie McCarthy (Lemon Tree Music).
The program kicked off with an in-real-life workshopping day on Wednesday 31 August, 2023 at the Kirra Hill Community Centre, where participants met their mentors and the other mentees, set goals for their mentorship and undertake other activities. During the course of the 12-month program, there were 3 x 1 hour ‘Ask Me Anything’ virtual PD sessions, led by experts in various fields of the music industry. Each workshop began with a short presentation by the facilitator covering key topics & information in their area, followed by a Q&A. The 3 topics were determined by participants' PD preferences.
Manager participants receive a $2500 bursary for their involvement in this program, to go towards business expenses and professional development expenses. They also received a complimentary pass to BIGSOUND 2022.
2022 - 23 Participants
Who Can Apply
2022 Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2022-23 Walk This Way program you must be:
18+ years of age
An Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
A current resident of the Gold Coast
A music artist manager with up to 5 years experience in artist management OR; a self-managed artist who can clearly demonstrate your intention to pursue a career in artist management and has been managing at least 1 musical act (other than your own) for at least 2 years. (Please email kate@aam.org.au if you are unsure about your eligibility).
Applicants must agree to the Terms and Conditions in the program application form in order to be eligible for this program
Note: You do not have to be an AAM member to apply
You are ineligible for this program if:
You are a full-time employee of an organisation currently funded through the Arts Organisations Triennial Funding Program
You are an employee or contractor to the City of Gold Coast, a City of Gold Coast entity, a strategic partner, or a service provider participating in the program UNLESS your application includes a letter from your employer (CEO / Senior Manager / Chair) stating that your application is not associated with the duties of your role with that entity / service provider.
Selection Criteria & Process
Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
Relevance to career development and ambition of applicant
Potential to contribute to ongoing arts and culture sector development, specifically in the music artist management sector
Ability to dedicate the required amount of time to the program
Selection Process:
Applications will be assessed by a panel from the City of Gold Coast and the Association of Artist Managers
Industry experts may be asked to assess applications if required