The Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship, an initiative by Façon Magazine and generously supported by Greater Bank, is thrilled to introduce the esteemed mentors for the 2025 program.
Now in its third year, the program empowers Indigenous storytellers from across New South Wales by providing resources and industry guidance to support their creative aspirations.
This year's mentors include a talented lineup featuring Casey Donovan (Music), Samantha Harris (Fashion), Kassidy Waters (Dance), Rheanna Lotter (Digital Art), Melissa Greenwood (Art Painting), and Marley Morgan (Photography), with additional mentors for Writing, Film, and Accessory Design to be announced.
These accomplished individuals will play a pivotal role in guiding and inspiring each of the nine finalists, with an aim of nurturing and amplifying Indigenous voices across diverse creative industries.
Casey Donovan, the Scholarship’s music mentor, is one of Australia’s most celebrated First Nations artists, known for her powerful voice and storytelling through song.
In support of the scholarship, Casey stated: “For me, this scholarship is an amazing experience and opportunity for people to learn and grow and have another voice and helping hand.
“I think that through this mentorship, it's really important to have truth and honesty and transparency into what the world can be like, but also finding the positives. I think throughout my career I've been able to find those positives and be able to step up, ask questions and grow.
“You're continuously growing in this industry, and I think that it’s really important to have open doors and open conversations with people,” Casey said.
The program will award one deserving recipient with $10,000 and each of the eight finalists with $1,000 each to support their creative aspirations, provided by Greater Bank.
All nine finalists will also have the unique opportunity to receive mentorship from a leader within their specific field, further enhancing their growth and impact in the creative landscape.
Façon Australia’s Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Lara Lupish, said it is a pleasure to see the program grow and the calibre of mentors in the program each year.
“Having such incredible mentors joining our program this year ensures our creative finalists are supported by some of the best in their industries,” Lara said.
“Each mentor brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, ensuring the scholarship finalists receive invaluable insights and guidance.”
NGM Group Head of Community and Sustainability Kirrah McClelland, of which Greater Bank is a part, said the vast experience of the mentors was exciting.
“The scholarship mentors are leaders in their fields who know what it takes to succeed and navigate the industry,” Kirrah said.
“Sharing your journey with someone who has walked that path before is an incredible opportunity, and one that I know our finalists will benefit so much from.”
The Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship is dedicated to fostering creativity and providing a platform for Indigenous voices in various creative sectors, including music, fashion design, dance, writing, accessory design, film, art painting, digital art and photography.
Indigenous individuals who reside in NSW are invited to submit their applications online until the deadline on 1 May 2025, with the scholarship recipient to be announced on 10 July at a special event during NAIDOC Week.
For more information about the Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship and its mentorship program, please visit Façon Magazine and Greater Bank.