Horizons is a creative industry mentoring and career development program for NSW regional youth. The project will run over 18 months and will support a total of 75 young people from across NSW.
An ongoing mentoring and development program giving 75 young people in regional NSW aged 16-27 advice and consultation across the broad spectrum of career opportunities within the creative industries, developing their professional practice and mapping a career in their chosen industry.
Supported by the Regional Arts Network of 15 Regional Arts Development Organisations across NSW, Horizons is currently being conducted throughout 2024.
75 CREATIVES
14 MENTORS
15 REGIONS
This is project of the Regional Arts Network, made up of the 15 Regional Arts organisations across NSW, funded by the Office of Regional Youth through the Regional Youth Incentive Program.
ABOUT THE REGIONAL ARTS NETWORK
The Regional Arts Network (RAN) consists of 15 Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADO’s) supporting and advocating for arts development and engagement across Regional NSW.
You can find out more about the network HERE
Project news
New films about the Horizons Creative Industries Career Launchpad project for young people in regional NSW aged 16-27, including Central West participants.
Mudgee based 18-year-old singer/songwriter has released her single Ricochet.
Here Klancie talks about the music and her influences.
See the work of the four outstanding young participants from the NSW Central West.
Parkes Young Citizen of the Year is Isabella Hughes.
Congratulations to Horizons participant, musician, Anabelle van Wyk who received the Orange City Council Young Citizen of the Year award at the Australia Day awards over the weekend. The Young Citizen of the Year was presented to Anabelle for her contribution to the arts and passion for encouraging young people in the region to participate in the performing arts.
The young Orange based musician is one of four young artists from the Central West receiving mentoring and support through the Horizons youth career launchpad program in 2024.
Participants in the theatre group of the state-wide Horizons mentoring program were in Bathurst, meeting each other and their mentor Kate Smith in person for the first time.
CENTRAL WEST PARTICIPANTS
Klancie Freebody
Music
Mudgee
As a 17-year-old indie pop singer/songwriter, Klancie is a young and creative musician based in regional NSW, passionate about creating meaningful music pieces that showcase her as a person. Through her love of music from a young age and experiences with collaborations, songwriting contests and many live performances, Klancie has gained confidence in her stage presence and songwriting abilities, allowing her to transfer this into her work.
Klancie has found influence in many of her favourite artists including Coldplay, Celeste, Gabrielle Aplin, Yebba and Taylor Swift. After placing first in the Inland Sea of Sound songwriting competition, Klancie was allowed the opportunity to record and release her first single “Inevitable” in July of 2023 which is accessible on all streaming platforms. She is now working on her new single “Ricochet”, which she hopes to release in the first half of 2024.
anabelle van wyk
Music
Orange
Anabelle is a 16-year-old singer and musician based in Orange, NSW. She brings a different flavour by combining soulful vocals with her saxophone. She is a multi-instrumentalist who regularly performs solo and with other musicians, engaging in a range of genres from jazz and blues to rock and pop. South African born, she has been passionate about music from a young age, performing at many venues, events, concerts and competitions over the years. Anabelle has been a regular busker in different towns and venues which has helped fund her music career. Her beautiful vocal tones and skilful sax playing has captured the attention of many, winning her a host of Awards and Championships over the years. Some of her accomplishments include but are not limited to: Australian National Busking Champion; Carnegie Hall Solo Performance & Sydney Opera House; Featured artist at the Parkes Elvis Festival.
isabella hughes
Theatre
I am a 16-year-old student in Year 11 with a passion for theatre and performance. I’ve been actively involved in my local theatre scene, having performed in several productions like “Anne of Green Gables” and “Freaky Friday.” In 2023, I had the exciting opportunity to attend work experience at the Australian Theatre for Young People, where I gained valuable insights into the industry. I also dedicate time to building my confidence through weekly classes with The Actors Pulse, enhancing my skills and knowledge. Acting is more than just a hobby for me, it’s a form of expression and storytelling that I’m deeply passionate about. I aspire to continue exploring the world of acting and pursuing my dreams of performing.
Bethany osborne
Theatre
Bethany Osborne is a mid 20’s emerging creative artist, growing up and currently residing in Central West NSW. Bethany Osborne has most recently completed an Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts, that followed a Diploma of VIsual arts. Where she learnt drawing and printmaking techniques as well as some color theory and other creative skills. She has also Completed a Bachelors of Communications (Theatre Media) where she developed a range of design and performance skills.
She has been presented works in TAFE NSW Orange Creative Arts showcases from 2021-2023 Showing a range of works from drawing and collage to printed fabric aprons and a original stop motion animation titled ‘One Day At A Time’ Bethany has been a part of the community arts show, Waste 2 Art for a number of years and Won the Waste Theme Award in 2021.
CENTRAL WEST MENTORS
Horizons pairs participants with successful practitioners from their chosen field working within regional NSW. By pairing young people with creative industry professionals working in regional NSW, we will be highlighting the career and business opportunities within their home context.
kate smith
Theatre
Kate’s rich arts practice has traversed acting, comedic performance, playwriting, academia, advocacy and arts in health project management. She has performed in numerous works for stages and screen and written six comedic plays, touring nationally and internationally.
Recent works: Fast Cars (Stage writer/performer 2020-24 Bathurst); Roast Night (TV Dir; Rick Donald 2023); Highway of Lost Hearts (Stage Dir; Adam Deusien, touring 2024); Creative Force: a podcast with exceptional women (creator, 2024); Keynote State of The Sector, (TNN 2022, 2020); Company member Lingua Franca Theatre, Create NSW Regional Arts Fellow.
tim hansen
Music & Theatre
Tim Hansen is a performer, creator, and teacher who lives in Carcoar, in regional NSW. A passionate believer in the arts as a means to address issues of social justice and empowerment, Tim has worked with organisations such as Musica Viva, Milk Create Theatre, ATYP, Shopfront and Canberra Youth Theatre to do so. A lifelong performer, Tim has recently turned his creative attention back to the world of cabaret and music theatre. In 2017 he was an artist-in-residence at the Red Rattler in Marrickville, where he wrote the original cabaret ‘Airlock’, and in 2018 he co-wrote ‘Schappelle Schappele’ , a musical about the dehumanizing media storm that surrounded Schappele Corby’s incarceration and release, which toured for four years. He also composed for and performed in Kate Smith’s smash hit comedy musical ‘Fast Cars’ in Bathurst in 2023 and 2024.
His side-hustle is performing under his alter-ego ‘Tim Handsome’. Performing original songs and comedy in cape, hot pants and makeup, Tim Handsome’s signature tunes include ‘Don’t Be A Dick’, for which he was a finalist in the 2018 Vanda & Young International Songwriting Competition.
Creative industry mentoring and career development program for NSW regional youth aged 16 to 27.
Location: State-wide. Participants selected from each regional arts development organisation area.
Funded by: The NSW Office of Regional Youth through the Regional Youth Incentive Program.
