Golden Guitar-winning artist Lyn Bowtell is the new director of the CMAA Academy of Country Music, which will run for the two weeks prior to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The academy has run for 17 years helping hundreds of up-and-coming country music artists learn the ropes of the country music industry and improve their musical skills.

Bowtell comes to the academy as a student of the first academy in 1997, a guest artist, vocal tutor and tutor, so has witnessed the growth of the institution and experienced it at every level.

“I felt like it was the right time and (CMAA vice-chair Roger Corbett) said I should step up,” she said.

“I wanted to do something more for country music than just tutor at academy. The sky’s the limit.”

The Country Music Association of Australia is currently finalising the tutors, but have thrown the door open for artists from 18 years and over to apply to attend the intensive school in January.

Bowtell said she loved what academy was about.

“My first experience, I remember was full of both excitement and fear,” she said.

“I formed friendships that I’ve had for nearly 20 years.”

The singer-songwriter has a background in education and said she was excited about helping young artists develop their careers.

“I learn just as much as the people I’m helping,” she said.

“It’s about mentoring them in a constructive way that allows them to grow.”

Bowtell said this was something she took very seriously and looked forward to working with all the students next year.

“It’s full steam ahead now and we’re asking for applications,” she said.

“This is such a major thing and it’s fantastic that we are in an industry that supports emerging talent. We’re really lucky that our age limit is greater in the country music industry than some other industries, so you have time to develop as a singer-songwriter.”

She said she wanted all future students to take away the sense of community that she always took away from the academy.

“You’re with like-minded people for a fortnight and you know you are part of something greater,” Bowtell said.

“We are all here with them and for them and, although it’s not going to be easy, something that makes country music so special is that family environment.”

Bowtell said the class of 2016 would probably go away a little ‘shell-shocked’ with all that they had learned over the two weeks, but everyone was there to support them, even after academy.

“I just want to allow them that communication and the chance to ask questions, because it’s okay to ask questions of the artists,” she said.

The 2016 CMAA Academy of Country Music starts on January 2 with applications via the CMAA website