ArtsLink NB is once again accepting applications for the second iteration of our mentorship program. Artists of all disciplines who live in Atlantic Canada face the unique challenge of pursuing their practice from a marginalized area of the country. Building networks through lifelong engagement in peer-to-peer and mentor-to-mentee discourse is vital to pursuing a career for any arts professional, but the need is especially high in New Brunswick.
In response to this, ArtsLink NB runs an intensive 12-month mentorship that connects artists who wish to share their professional experience and guidance with other artists.
This program builds on the traditional mentorship model, with an open door to lateral and cross-disciplinary collaborations between mentor and mentee.
Each participant (mentee) will be paired with a mentor for a year-long mentorship. Ten artists will be selected for a mentorship with a mentor whose experience and knowledge can enhance that of the mentee. Mentorship candidates will be practicing arts professionals who aspire to gain knowledge and skills to expand their current practice. The mentor’s role is to advise on professional activities and guide the mentee in a career-building process through peer-to-peer dialogue.
Application Criteria:
- Successful candidates must be a member of ArtsLink NB whose primary residence is in New Brunswick. Mentors may reside anywhere in Canada.
- Artists at any stage of their career are encouraged to apply.
- Applicants must have the time over the next year to commit three to four hours a month to this mentorship.
- Applicants must detail how a year-long mentorship would positively impact their practice.
- Applicants do not need to have a mentor in mind, but are encouraged to make suggestions.
If Selected:
- Each of the 10 mentees in the initial cohort will complete a pre-mentorship survey detailing their goals and expectations for the mentorship.
- Based on each survey, potential mentors will be proposed by ArtsLink.
- Mentors are contacted to determine their interest.
- Available mentors are contracted by ArtsLink NB
- Mentors receive remuneration of $1,500 to be disbursed in two installments to help ensure satisfactory performance throughout the program.
- An additional $500 is available as a discretionary fund for travel, materials, or to attend workshops together, etc. This will be paid by mentor or mentee upfront, and reimbursed upon submission of receipt.
- Mentors and mentees will meet virtually or in person, for an average of 3 to 4 hours per month.
- At the 6-month mark, mentors and mentees will each complete a short report detailing the work they have done, whether they feel they are progressing to their stated goal; and comment on the success/challenges of the mentor-mentee relationship.
- At the conclusion of the 12-month period, a final report will be submitted by both mentor and mentee to gauge the success of the mentorship program. These reports will detail the progress made on the goals established at the outset.
Timeline:
- Tuesday, February 13, 2024: Call out for participants announced
- Friday, March 1, 2024, 11:59pm: Deadline for application submission
- Thursday, March 7, 2024: Mentees will hear back on the status of their application
- April 15, 2024: Mentorships begin, mentors are paid 1st installment
- October 15, 2024: 6-month progress reports submitted (by both mentor and mentee), mentors are paid second installment
- April 15, 2025: Mentorship ends, final reports and expense reports submitted
To Apply:
- Fill out the application form.
Send your artist CV to jeri@artslinknb.com with the subject line Mentorship Application.