This week (21 November), Andrea Michaels MP, the South Australian Minister for the Arts and Small and Family Business, launched a new program for the state that will not only boost the professional development of the creative sector but will also safeguard its future wellbeing.
To be known as IGNITION SA, the program stretches over two years and will provide mentoring with industry experts, resources and online learning experiences.
Introducing IGNITION SA – quick links
What is IGNITION SA?
It is being delivered by Creative Plus Business and builds on the success of Artselerate SA, which ran from 2024 and concluded earlier this year.
Creative Plus Business Principal Monica Davidson, who has designed IGNITION SA, told ArtsHub: ‘This new program is also open to any creative at any stage of their career, so we’re really excited to be meeting creatives from across that spectrum and helping this new cohort to develop their professional skills.’
She continued: ‘Whether it’s for a small business, arts organisation, or to work toward sustainable self-employment for themselves or their peers, we know from Artselerate and our other programs that [having] more confident creative business owners leads to a healthier and more resilient creative ecology with the skills and motivation to grow.’
She added that there is a demand in the state to support the development of creative businesses, and IGNITION SA has been designed to take a truly cross-sector approach to enhancing entrepreneurial skills and fostering new collaboration opportunities among South Australian creatives.
Read: How to find a mentor – and make the most of it when you do
What support will IGNITION SA offer?
Some of the core pillars tackled include business strategy, financial literacy, marketing and wellbeing management. Crucially, IGNITION SA is inviting participants from almost any discipline and at any stage of their creative business journey, including freelancers, sole traders, small creative businesses, and arts organisations.
The program features four core initiatives:
- IGNITION Events: Full-day workshops held in Adelaide City, Port Adelaide and Lobethal focusing on small business skills, financial literacy, marketing strategy and wellbeing specifically for creative professionals.
- IGNITION Toolkit: An on-demand online resource with video tutorials, templates and tools to help creatives build strong foundations for their business, accessible no matter where they live and work.
- IGNITION LinkedIn: A private, safe, and moderated group to help participants stay connected, share ideas and build lasting professional networks throughout the program and beyond.
- IGNITION Mentors: Providing up to 55 participants across the program with tailored, confidential advice and guidance from expert creative industry specialists including celebrated SA fashion designer Stavroula Adameitis, Emmy-Award winning producer Kirsty Stark, visual artist Michael Simms and SA-based theatre and cabaret producers John Glenn and Peta Spurling-Brown.
Minister Michaels had the final word: ‘South Australia is renowned for its incredible arts and culture. We are the festival state, home to so many brilliant artists, musicians and performers and many of these people operate as freelancers and sole traders. They have to manage all of the complexities that come with a business including taxation, finances, marketing and more. This can be a real challenge and so the Malinauskas Government is providing tailored support for artists to help them grow their business skills.’
IGNITION SA is inviting creatives to access the The IGNITION Toolkit and IGNITION LinkedIn group immediately. EOIs for IGNITION Mentors opened 21 November.
IGNITION SA is supported by the SA Government’s Office for Small and Family Business and the South Australian Small Business Strategy 2023–2030.
