Curro Create’s Advanced Mentorship Programme gives talented learners the chance to develop their creative skills through individual projects with industry professionals. In 2026, just 14 learners earned a place after thousands of entries to the Curro Arts Superhero (CAS) programme.
The initiative offers a practical example of how schools can help young people move beyond classroom learning. By connecting promising learners with professionals, the programme gives them opportunities to develop their craft and experience the standards of their chosen industries.
CAS received 15 152 entries in 2026 across its Performance and Submissions categories. Entries covered disciplines ranging from singing and dance to photography, filmmaking and coding.
Of these, 355 learners achieved Kryptonite, the programme’s highest certification. Only Kryptonite recipients could be considered for the Advanced Mentorship Programme (AMP), from which Curro Create selected 14 learners.
How Curro Create Identifies Exceptional Creative Talent
Curro Create begins by drawing up a shortlist. Independent specialists in relevant creative fields then help select the final group for AMP.
According to Penny Youngleson, Creative Head at Curro Create, the selection process considers more than technical ability. Mentors look for originality, insight and a strong understanding of the learner’s chosen craft. She says,
“Our mentor-adjudicators are quick to spot those entries that stand out from the crowd, the exceptional insights, rare skill sets and uncommonly savvy understanding of their craft are some of the reasons learners are selected for AMP.”
However, some qualities are harder to measure than others. Youngleson explains that the strongest candidates often demonstrate an instinctive creative ability that sets them apart. She says,
“But, truly, it’s usually the thing you can’t name. The way they just have their creativity in their bones and have to share it or else they’ll burst. Those learners you can’t stop thinking about all day because no one their age should be able to do what they can do. The ones you can see on a professional platform tomorrow, holding their own against the rest of the world with ease. That’s what gets them selected.”
Before the programme begins, Curro Create also checks that each learner can manage the commitment alongside academic responsibilities. The organisation consults the learner’s school and parents or guardians to ensure the mentorship is manageable.
How The Advanced Mentorship Programme Develops Creative Skills
AMP runs for eight weeks and centres on the individual learner rather than a standard project brief.
Curro Create matches each participant with a mentor whose professional experience aligns with the learner’s strengths. Together, they develop a project designed to stretch the learner’s existing abilities. Penny explains,
“The mentors are selected on the basis of what that learner excels at.”
Previous projects have explored a range of creative disciplines, including blade smithing, poetry cycles and African storytelling through movement. She says,
“If a learner can imagine it, we will find the right person to draw it out of their heads and into reality.”
This year’s mentors include professional musicians, choreographers and visual artists. Their role extends beyond assessing what learners can already do.
Instead, each mentorship focuses on developing a particular skill or project using the standards and processes of professional creative practice. As a result, participants gain experience of the work involved in taking an idea from an initial concept towards a finished outcome.
For parents and educators, this model also highlights the value of matching opportunities to individual strengths. Rather than following one prescribed route, learners can explore their interests through focused guidance and practical experience.
How Curro Create Turned A Learner’s Song Into A Recording
Grade 11 learner Luca Human from Curro Durbanville demonstrates how the programme can support a learner’s creative ambitions.
Luca, Curro Create’s 2026 Creative of the Year, secured her second AMP selection after submitting an original composition through CAS Produce it!
Her musical ability prompted Curro Create to develop the project beyond the original composition. Luca worked with professional session musicians, a sound engineer and a producer to prepare the song for release.
The finished track is scheduled to appear on public streaming platforms in November 2026.
This experience gave Luca the opportunity to work with industry professionals and experience elements of the recording process. Furthermore, it created a tangible outcome from her original creative work.
For Youngleson, this progression reflects the potential connection between creative education and future employment.
“That is a direct link between our programmes and our learners building a career for themselves in their chosen industries.”
Although a single project cannot guarantee a future career, it can help a young person understand the professional processes involved in their chosen field. It also provides an opportunity to develop skills, receive expert guidance and see an original idea progress towards completion.
What The Programme Offers Future Creative Professionals
The 2026 AMP cohort includes learners selected through both CAS Performance and Submissions. Their projects reflect the range of creative interests represented across the wider programme.
Curro Create is documenting the individual mentorships and final projects. Videos from this year’s programme are being shared on the Curro Create YouTube channel.
For the selected learners, the process begins with work that stood out among thousands of entries. However, what happens next depends on their individual abilities, interests and the guidance of their mentors.
The programme also offers a useful example for schools considering how to support talented students beyond conventional classroom activities. Identifying ability is an important first step, but learners also need opportunities to practise, experiment and develop their work with informed feedback.
Through its individual approach, Curro Create gives selected learners a chance to explore what their creative skills could become. For some, that experience may also help them make more informed decisions about further study or a future career in the creative industries.
