Creative mentoring lifts artistic aspirations

Creative Hamilton is inspiring emerging young artists to take their dreams to another level.

Through the initiative Inspire, the organisation offers a free mentoring programme for up-and-coming creative young people 16 years and over.

Hannah Gilmour, 25, took advantage of the initiative last year to help her in her first venture into writing a novel.

As a music composer, Hannah is no stranger to the creative world but felt she needed an artistic boost for her burgeoning book.

A match was made with Wintec senior lecturer, book editor and reviewer Gail Pittaway and the two met for a goal-making session.

Hannah says Gail's input over the past year has particularly helped her formulate a structure to her book and gave her a sense of purpose and direction.

"We met about once a month and I would also send her chapters and sections of the book that I had finished writing," Hannah says.

"Having a mentor gave me confidence that I could do this."

Although the book is not yet finished and the mentoring ended last year, Hannah and Gail are still in touch and have since become friends.

Applications for Inspire mentoring close Friday, March 2 and the programme will run for 20 weeks starting in April.

For more information Phone 838 6424, email Jayne@creativehamilton.org.nz or Adrienne@creativehamilton.org.nz or visit http://creativehamilton.org.nz