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This page: Helpmann Academy graduates Liz Tobias (below), Geordie Brookman (right), Anna Austin (centre) and Patrick Jeremy (far right, top) and Quentin Angus (right). Opposite page: The original South Australian arts visionary Sir Robert Helpmann performing in the world premiere of Apparitions in 1936 with the Vic-Wells Ballet. HELPMANN’S For 20 years, an arts body has been quietly nurturing local talent that can be enjoyed both here and away. So it is fitting that PRIDE such success honours SA’s most celebrated theatrical export. WORDS ARTS EDITOR LANCE CAMPBELL In 2007, the Helpmann Academy gave this issue’s Artist Sir Robert Helpmann remains SA’s most famous son in the in Residence Ross McHenry the Dr Tommy Norman Award for performing arts. He could dance, act, direct on stage and screen, outstanding jazz bass guitarist (see Page 114). This month Ross and had to go overseas to do it. He helped make the Australian and his afrobeat group the Shaolin Afronauts are off to the time- Ballet what it is, and laid down the law that Adelaide needed its honoured Glastonbury contemporary music festival in England. Festival Centre. State Theatre Company artistic director Geordie Brookman, His sister Sheila Helpman, herself an actress, was involved himself a Helpmann beneficiary, writes letters of support for in what Amanda describes as the “long gestation period” of the young artists so that they, too, can develop their skills along their organisation named after her famous big brother. chosen difficult career pathway. “Sheila Helpman thought it was very appropriate to use Sir For Liz Tobias, her ordeal by hurricane ended better than it Robert’s name,” Amanda says. “He was born in rural SA with started. After 28 hours in the air, she arrived at the Wangaratta a precocious talent, but no-one here knew what to do with it. Jazz Festival with only moments to spare before her sound check. Sheila knew the struggle he had faced, the lack of support in this Liz now sings and studies in Boston, and tours around the world. country. the universities already were doing that pretty well. The decision But she wouldn’t be where she is, and nor would she have been “If something like the Helpmann Academy had existed was made that the theme would be fostering talent, even down to able to fly home to Australia to perform, if it wasn’t for SA’s in Sir Robert’s day, his journey would have been so much advice on how to apply for grants. Helpmann Academy. easier. Twenty years ago Adelaide needed a local arts scene that With its expertise, the Helpmann Academy is also a conduit Liz’s story is one of thousands that can be told in the 20 supported its international festival, a scene that could be taken between the artists and the wider community, such as banks and years since the Helpmann Academy was created to nurture young seriously by drawing from the emerging sector. arts festivals. It has visual arts partnerships with the likes of the artists in a state that could boast one of the leading arts festivals “But you can’t pull a rabbit out of a hat. There could be no Women’s and Children’s Hospital and WOMADelaide. on the planet, yet did not match that reputation by backing locals expectation of a financial return. The results would be intangible, Geordie Brookman was part of the Flinders University Drama year in, year out. but beneficial. The Helpmann Academy is fortunate that a Centre graduating group that the Helpmann Academy helped Since 1994, the Helpmann Academy has given more than number of people cared deeply about it.” send to the eastern states to showcase its members’ wares. Now, 1500 grants to more than 5000 artists, who have five years after At first the Helpmann Academy was to be involved with on request, he sits on the very type of panel that selected him in graduation to qualify as “emerging” in their fields of visual arts, summer schools and further education, before it was agreed that 2001. “The Helpmann Academy is great,” Geordie says. “It creates dance, drama, music, screen and technical production, and a collegiate feel and its support is crucial for younger artists.” costume. It has established residencies in Sydney, Rome, New Some arts funding bodies make artists “jump through silly Delhi, and Jingdezhen in China. Left: The original hoops” to get assistance, says Liz, but the Helpmann Academy These are funded by private donors, as are prizes, awards Helpmann Academy is “no fuss”. Without it, she “would not have been able to leave and mentorships. Since 1994, more than $2 million in grants founders at the launch Australia to sing and, in effect, live out my dreams in a new have gone to the artists and technicians who emerge from the in 1994 at Government country”. Helpmann Academy’s member schools – Adelaide and Flinders House (front, from Likewise Quentin Angus, who lives in New York. “The INGER LIZ TOBIAS WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND Universities, University of SA and Adelaide College of the Arts. left) former Premier Academy has helped shape my career and make things happen,” herself stranded in Brooklyn by Hurricane Sandy, There is nothing else like the Helpmann Academy in Australia, Dean Brown, Sir he says. Patrick Jeremy says the Helpmann Academy has helped if it wasn’t for the Helpmann Academy. Nor would says its CEO Amanda Pepe. “The Helpmann Academy is incredibly Robert Helpmann’s him “not only through the direct financial support of my grants, guitarist Quentin Angus’s quintet have come second supportive for students starting out,” says Anna. “Even in Victoria, sister Sheila Helpman, but also by supporting and celebrating the contribution I could in an international jazz band competition in Belgium. they are surprised by the funding.” (back, from left) make as a performer to Adelaide’s arts scene.” The Helpmann Academy sent mezzotint artist The visionaries of the past, along with longstanding former SA minister Not many Australian artists make mezzotint their speciality. Bob Such, Helpmann Anna Austin to Chicago to learn from the great supporters over the two decades, will be honoured at the Academy project The Helpmann Academy has allowed Anna Austin to “go to other th printmaking studios there. It had Patrick Jeremy sing at Adelaide Helpmann Academy’s 20 anniversary edition of its annual co-ordinator David countries and learn the tricks of the trade. The travel has been Slaw firm Fisher Jeffries’s Christmas party as he took his talent Maestros & Apprentices black-tie dinner at the Convention Centre Meldrum and crucial to my work.” to opera, cabaret in New York and now The King and I around on Friday, June 27. This year’s theme will be “Academy” awards, DETAFE CEO Andrew Says Amanda Pepe: “We want to support these people. The Australia. glass objects hand crafted by UniSA students. Strickland. Helpmann Academy wants them to succeed.” 112 SALIFE SUNDAY S 5.30 ON CHA NNEL 7 SALIFE.C OM.A U SALIFE.C OM.A U SALIFE SUNDAY S 5.30 ON CHA NNEL 7 113 First published in SALife, June 2014. ©SALife Magazine, Adelaide, Australia..

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