Investing in Our Community

Helpmann Academy
Supporting Young & Emerging Artists in South Australia

Formed in 1994, the Helpmann Academy is a unique support organisation for the major tertiary arts schools in South Australia.

The Helpmann Academy offers grants, awards, mentorships, events and exhibitions, a free publicity service, international residencies and Foundation Front membership to students and recent graduates of its seven visual and performing art partner schools.

The Helpmann Academy’s goal is to enlist support from South Australian corporations and individuals who are interested in enhancing the future of young and emerging artists in South Australia.

Ashington Mentorship Scheme

The Ashington Mentorship Scheme is funded by Ashington, private patrons and the Premier’s Partnership Fund. The scheme is for first and second year out graduate emerging artists of the Helpmann Academy partner schools.

Selected graduate artists are matched with established leadership artists or arts industry directors or managers in a program of mentorship partnerships.

Initiated in 2002, the program has supported over 90 successful mentorship relationships between South Australian emerging artists and professional artists from around the world.

Australian Dance Theatre

Kent Aughey the Managing Director of Ashington, is delighted to have been invited to join the Board of the Australian Dance Theatre.

Australian Dance Theatre is the pre-eminent contemporary dance company in Australia and has been producing consistently extraordinary new dance since it was formed in Adelaide in 1965.

Under the artistic direction of Garry Stewart since 1999, the company has embarked on a distinctive artistic trajectory that has won the company numerous accolades praising Garry Stewart's choreography and this formidable ensemble.

ADT dancers train in a number of specific physical disciplines. As well as contemporary dance techniques and classical ballet, they are coached intensively in ashanta yoga, martial arts and gymnastics. As a result ADT enjoys an enviable national and international reputation and currently regarded as one of the most distinctive and exciting dance companies touring the globe today.

ADT has developed new works created by Garry Stewart, including the highly acclaimed Housedance, Birdbrain, the multi-award winning The Age of Unbeauty, Nothing, HELD and Devolution. HELD was a critical and popular success in its debut season at the 2004 Adelaide Bank Festival and has since won six national awards, including the prestigious 2004 Helpmann Award for Best Choreography in a Ballet or Dance Work. Devolution won the 2006 Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work and Best Lighting Design.

Most recently Garry Stewart's latest work, G debuted as work in progress at the 2008 Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts to critical acclaim. ADT will tour G throughout Europe, including seasons in London, Paris and Barcelona, between October and December, 2008.

ADT actively promotes audience development and diversification, offering attractively priced tickets to ensure access and equity across the board. It also firmly believes in the importance of a strong youth policy as exemplified by the company’s annual season of Ignition and youth dance workshops.

Visit the ADT web site for more information on performances and tour dates.

Our People, Community, Social Responsibility & Environment

We provide opportunities for our people to apply their professional skills working with charitable and community organisations on a pro bono basis.

Ashington is also committed to addressing a range of social and environmental issues. We recognise that if we fail to address issues such as social disadvantage and environmental management we would place at risk our ability to attract and retain the best people. We also recognise that our clients are placing an increasing emphasis on corporate social responsibility (CSR) principles.

The CSR principles relates to a company’s voluntary interest in society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stakeholders, as well as the environment. CSR focuses on the quality of life for employees and their families as well as for the local community and society at large.

Ashington is committed to looking after the environment, whether it is in reducing carbon emissions, paper consumption or recycling materials such as paper, cardboard and/or toner cartridges. Our goal for the future is to further increase our recycling rate.