Applications for GEAMP are now open. Guelph-Wellington based emerging Artists, Musicians and Cultural Managers are encouraged to apply for the 2024 Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship program. Please read the application requirements below carefully and submit the online form at the bottom of the page.
Application Deadline: Sunday, September 15 at 11:59 pm
The Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Project (GEAMP) is a unique opportunity for emerging artists to receive support in the critical transition into professional practice. This project is presented by GAC in partnership with the University of Guelph School of Fine Art and Music (SOFAM).
Through the project, emerging musicians, visual artists, and cultural managers work with established-artist mentors to develop the professional networks, business and management skills needed for creative careers in Guelph. The collaboration has provided them with valuable opportunities to work creatively with each other and with established arts professionals, to promote their work, and to gain experience in curation, social media, marketing/publicity, graphic design, and more.
Participants in the project include SOFAM students and recent grads, as well as other emerging Guelph-Wellington artists. Participants have a discipline focus in visual or media arts, music, or cultural management.
Artist participants will be expected to:
1) engage in mentorship sessions with an established-artist mentor (4 – 6 hours per participant), who will share their own experience and perspective
2) collaborate with other project participants on a finale exhibition or performance, with support from mentors.
In leading the project, Guelph Arts Council will abide by its Code of Conduct and privacy policy, and expects its project partners, participants, and mentors to do the same.
Timeline: The Project will be implemented from October – December, 2024. Participation in the project requires a commitment during this period to a minimum of four hours participation in mentoring sessions and to collaborative planning of a group exhibition project.
Location: Training, mentorship, and other project sessions will take place in person, if possible, but GAC will assist in organizing online spaces for sessions if needed.
Application Requirements and Documents
- Current CV or Artist Bio (max. 4 pages) that includes artistic activities for the past 12 to 18 months.
- Three to seven images, MP3 files, or video links of previous work, if applicable
- List of images, MP3 files, or video links: Include file names, title, description, medium/instrument, dimensions (if applicable), date completed or performed, if applicable
- A brief letter (150 – 500 words) describing your interest in the project, your artistic and career goals, the areas of your practice you are seeking mentorship for and how you expect to benefit from the project. Please be specific – this letter is a key element in pairing you with your mentor and is a guide for your mentor.
Applications Closes: Sunday, September 15 at 11:59 pm
Notification: Wednesday, September 27, 2024
The project launched in 2017 with support from the Ontario150 Partnership Project, and has continued with support from RBC. In each round, the emerging artists’ experience culminates in a group exhibition of their work that they plan, promote, and install with support from their mentors. Since 2017, the Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Project has paired over 61 emerging musicians, visual artists, and cultural managers with established-artist mentors.
GAC and SOFAM are grateful for project support from the RBC Emerging Artists Project, which helps artists bridge the gap from emerging to established.
Watch one of our past participant’s speak to their experience in the program:
