We are so lucky to live in a community filled with creatives who have committed themselves to their art. This city is home to visual artists who have sold at countless markets, exhibited their work internationally and can write a Canada Council Grant half asleep. We have musicians who are expert songwriters, have toured with names big and small, and who have found themselves a loyal group of students to teach.
Guelph is also home to some of the best arts administrators this province has to offer, organizing famous cultural events like Hillside, the Guelph Jazz Festival and ArtsEverywhere.
This city is filled to the brim with wonderful artists who have so many valuable insights to share with the next generation of emerging artists and cultural professionals.
Guelph Arts Council recognizes the important role that mentorship plays in the careers of artists and cultural managers within the city and is excited to welcome a new group of emerging artists into the Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Project (GEAMP) this fall.
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This program supports emerging artists in the critical transition to professional life. Since our first round in 2017, we have watched this program provide intergenerational learning, lifelong friendships and countless shared opportunities in the Guelph Arts community
The Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Project would not be such a success without the ongoing support of the RBC Emerging Artists Project and the School of Fine Art and Music at the University of Guelph.
The program pairs emerging creatives with established professionals in their field. Emerging artists and mentors will engage in at least four to six hours of mentorship sessions during October and November, to share experiences, get valuable feedback and unique perspectives. This is an opportunity for emerging artists to network within their community while developing business and management skills needed for creative careers in Guelph. Mentors in the program enjoy connecting with like-minded creatives while honing their mentorship skills, accessing professional resources, and helping emerging artists learn within Guelph’s creative community.
The emerging artists’ mentorship experience will culminate in a group exhibition of their work that they plan, promote, and install with support from their mentors.
Applications for GEAMP 2024 close Sunday September 15. Emerging artists, musicians or cultural managers living and/or working in Guelph-Wellington are encouraged to apply online.
Mentees and mentors will be carefully selected and paired together based on common interests, goals and experiences, as well as commonalities in artistic practices and endeavors.
“Being a mentor in GEAMP was great! I was able to share my perspectives with someone who had similar interests and who was eager to launch their career in the art world. It also helped improve my own practice. By learning what was important to my mentee, I was able to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned – both the good and the bad – to pick out what felt important to share with someone navigating a similar path.” – Ahmri Vandeborne, Artist and Owner of Otherwise Studios.
“GEAMP has fundamentally changed my life. The arts is not a set path like it is for other careers and can be daunting during pivotal life transitions. GEAMP allowed me space to explore a variety of paths with the encouragement and guidance of my mentor, who was always rooting for me no matter what.” – Katherine Percival past mentee.
Strengthening ties to the arts community can help guide emerging artists through some of the most difficult years of their careers. The Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Project is the perfect place to ask questions, network with other creatives, gain critical skills in the arts industry, learn about Guelph’s arts community and prepare for the future of the arts sector.
For more information about the Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Project, visit our website, follow Guelph Arts Council on Facebook and Instagram or contact [email protected].
