Now in its 7th year, the Clitheroe Foundation Mentorship Program assists young emerging artists to develop their skills as sculptors under the mentorship of an established sculptor.

It's a great opportunity for young sculptors and art students alike to grow and receive:

• insights into the artistic process;
• critical aesthetic exchange;
• technical advice; and
• career advice.

Thanks to the generosity of the Clitheroe Foundation we once again have three mentorships each of $10,000 for young emerging Australian artists and their mentors, with every young emerging Australian artist who applies to be in Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2012 considered by our curatorial panel:

• Clara Hali, Sculptor, Lecturer, National Art School, Sydney;

• Tony Jones OAM, Sculptor, Principal Lecturer Sculpture, Central Institute of Technology, Perth;

• Dr Alan Krell, Associate Professor, Sherman School of Art History & Art Education, College of Fine Arts, The University of New South Wales; and

• Ron Robertson-Swann OAM, Sculptor & Head of Sculpture, National Art School, Sydney.

One of last year's participants in the program, James McCallum, was completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the National Art School at the time and had this to say about the program:

"The Clitheroe mentorship has evolved my understanding and confidence in the practical and experimental side of making sculpture. Bolting objects, developing my aesthetic judgement, expanding compositions, integrating colour and considering the context of the location of work are the main areas I developed and investigated with my mentor."

Applications are now open for Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2012. For an application form please follow the link below and return your completed submission by 10 April 2012 to be considered for the Clitheroe Foundation Mentorship Program.