FROM THE CUTCOMMON TEAM
Ever wanted to learn how to write about the arts?
You may be an aspiring music journalist, or a performer-turned-critic. Perhaps you’re an established composer looking for a way to communicate your personal story.
Or maybe, you just need a good bio for your website.
Written communication is an essential skill for any arts practitioner. That’s why our founding editor Stephanie Eslake is creating a new resource to help you along the way – no matter where you are in your arts career.
A new resource for Australian arts practitioners
Arts Tasmania has awarded Stephanie a grant to produce a new book for arts practitioners. One of 37 projects supported through the Tasmanian Government’s ‘New work for new markets’ program, Stephanie’s book will function as a creative and professional development resource to assist writers and arts industry practitioners of any medium.
Chapters in Stephanie’s book will provide practical tools for interview techniques, commentary and criticism, artist biographies, storytelling and narrative structures, program notes, editing, and building a portfolio – a collection of skills relevant to all areas of the arts.
Stephanie, 30, says the program will allow her to “share core industry skills with artists, bringing benefit to our creative communities”.
“All artists should understand how to communicate their practice,” Stephanie says.
“Communication skills can empower artists to identify their individual ‘voice’ while operating in a highly competitive and content-driven environment,” she says.
“We have entered an era in which digital content thrives – and this means artists must have the ability to write for their own platforms and portfolios. Website content, artist bios, event listings, and statements are all essential elements to an artist’s career.”
This is the first grant Stephanie has received in her arts practice. To her book, she will bring a decade of professional experience in Australian arts media, having worked in the newsroom as a lead arts writer for The Mercury before establishing her freelance career as a content creator, arts journalist, and editor. Her writing has been published in The Guardian, SBS, Limelight, and ArtsHub among other leading Australian magazines and newspapers.
As an arts copywriter, Stephanie has written program notes and marketing materials for Australia’s major symphony orchestras and arts organisations. As an educational content creator, she has designed and written academic courses about writing, editing, design thinking, and entrepreneurship for Foundry (partners: University of Tasmania/Swinburne University of Technology).
Voices from the Australian arts industry
The book – its working title A Writer’s Guide to the Arts – will be designed to upskill professional arts journalists and content creators. But it will also provide essential writing and editing techniques to all artists.
Speaking in support of Stephanie’s new book for arts practitioners, Australian arts leader and Melbourne Digital Concert Hall co-founder Adele Schonhardt says it “will be an excellent way for Stephanie to share her industry skills and experiences with others”.
“Having worked closely with countless musicians and journalists alike in my own career, I feel the topics put forward in her project would be of great value to our community,” Adele says.
“I have known Stephanie in a professional capacity for several years, and have watched CutCommon grow into its position as a leading and innovative arts publication in Australia.
“Where other arts media companies have struggled in recent times, Stephanie has been a trailblazer – forging a new digital path in a shifting landscape, amassing thousands of fans, and emerging as one of the country’s most exciting voices for young classical artists.
“I firmly believe that she’ll be among our strongest leaders as we reshape our sector post-COVID-19.”
Wayne Shafton is a major force behind the scenes of the Australian World Orchestra, undertaking the role of marketing and communications coordinator. In support of Stephanie’s project, he shares: “When I studied music journalism, there was no textbook. It would be extremely valuable in that setting, and I can easily picture it as required reading.”
Stephanie founded independent Australian arts publication CutCommon in 2014. The publication is entirely self-funded. Reaching up to 20,000 visits each month, CutCommon has published thousands of stories and reviews of musicians, composers, arts administrators and their projects. Through this platform, Stephanie has volunteered her time to mentor tens of emerging arts writers across Australia, Europe, and America.
Perth music journalist and West Australian Symphony Orchestra violinist Jasmine Middleton has become a leading contributor to CutCommon in recent years.
“As an emerging music journalist, I have gained important skills in writing and communication under the guidance of Stephanie as my editor,” Jasmine says.
“I have found her ongoing editorial mentorship to give me lifelong skills that I will use in my career as a classical musician as well as an arts journalist.
“Now more than ever, this is the perfect time for musicians and arts practitioners of Australia to spend time learning. That way, we can all return to our careers with fresh knowledge, in light of the changed performing arts landscape.”
Stephanie will be working on the project in the coming months, starting with conversations and interviews with fellow arts practitioners. She is also developing a reader survey (distributed through CutCommon) for artists to share what they would most like to learn through this new resource.
For her contribution to the arts, Stephanie has been named 2017 Hobart Young Citizen of the Year, won the inaugural 2017 Kill Your Darlings New Critic Award, 2018 Tasmanian Young Achiever of the Year Awards (Arts), and was shortlisted for the 2017 Classical:NEXT Innovation Awards placing CutCommon as one of the 10 leading classical music initiatives in the world.
To stay up to date with Stephanie’s new book for arts practitioners, sign up to our CutCommon mailing list where we’ll share updates in the coming months, and check back in with us here!
Stephanie’s new project is produced through her personal writing practice.
This project was assisted through Arts Tasmania. To learn more about the Arts Tasmania ‘New work for new markets’ program, visit the website.
There were 37 projects supported in this round, listed below. Congratulations to all!
- Fiona Cutler
- Rant Arts
- Tricky Walsh
- Island Magazine
- Christina Booth
- Allison Bell
- Mudlark Theatre
- Archipelago Productions
- Grace Roberts
- Jabra Latham
- Sofie Burgoyne
- Arts Health Agency
- Music Tasmania
- Duncan Meerding
- Donovan Miller
- Terrapin Puppet Theatre
- Anthony Bonney
- Justine Phillips
- Sam George-Allen
- Stephanie Jack
- DRILL Performance Company
- The Unconformity
- Neil Haddon
- Jane Bamford
- Richard Cyngler
- James Brennan
- Darryl Rogers
- Deborah Wace
- Michelle Boyd
- Second Echo Ensemble
- Big hART
- Dylan Sheridan
- Justin Heazlewood
- Navri Niara
- Tash Parker
- Harry Holcombe-James
- Stephanie Eslake
