MAWA Foundation Mentorship Program 2024/2025

The Foundation Mentorship Program (FMP) is a professional training program designed to help women and non-binary, trans and Two-Spirit woman-identifying people in the visual arts develop skills and define their decision-making philosophies by providing information, resources and support. In this year-long professional training program, established artists (mentors) meet individually with their mentees for 4 hours per month to share their experience, expertise and advice. The entire FMP group meets for 3 hours each month for critiques, discussion, gallery visits and other activities.

Applicants will be selected based on the quality and potential of the artwork submitted, the emerging artist’s willingness to dedicate time to the program, and the mentor’s ability to work with the emerging artist through a shared medium or conceptual interest. Mentors choose their mentees. If you have applied before and were unsuccessful, consider revisiting your application and the quality of your images and applying again. Note that demand for this program far outstrips available spaces. Sometimes the mentors agree that an artist’s work is excellent, but they do not feel that they have the specific skills or experience to help. Another year, another mentor might select you.

Potential mentees of all adult ages and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Students are not eligible. There is no fee to apply, but successful applicants will be charged $300 for the program. If you require accommodations such as ASL for the application process or the program itself, or if finances would be a barrier to a successful application, please contact Adriana at [email protected].

To apply for the Foundation Mentorship Program, send a single PDF document labelled with your name and FMP (e.g., Sarah Wong FMP) containing:

• a letter outlining why you want to participate in this program and what you hope to achieve through mentorship, including a description of your art practice, and information regarding how we can contact you by phone, email and post
• an artist résumé (maximum 3 pages)
• up to 20 embedded images of your artwork, with an image list or captions giving the title of the work, medium, date completed and dimensions; or links to up to 3 minutes of video

Email your application to [email protected] with “FMP 2024” in the subject line. (If English is not your first language and you would like to apply verbally, please call the office and we can make accommodations.)