Becoming a mentor to a developing artist has many benefits
Sharing your knowledge and experience makes you feel good and can be very empowering. Remember the challenges you faced when you were first starting out? Wouldn’t it have been nice to have someone you could turn to for advice and feedback to avoid those missteps you took?
There is a great deal of personal satisfaction that comes from knowing that you are helping someone else achieve their creative goals. It also challenges you to stay at the top of your game in order to provide your protege with the best feedback and guidance you can, which may in turn inspire you with some fresh ideas and perspectives on your own work.
When you become a mentor, you create a legacy that has a lasting impact on your protege. You’ll also be helping the SAQA organization to promote the art quilt through education and professional development.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Mentor
SAQA Mentors come from diverse backgrounds and bring various skills from personal experience, education, workshops, and other training. They are selected on the basis of their desire to pass on their knowledge to developing artists and their record of excellence in their areas of expertise.
Mentor Qualifications:
- Established practicing artist/ art-related professional
- Well-developed listening and interpersonal skills
- Significant technical knowledge pertaining to discipline/area of expertise
- Willingness to share their knowledge, connections, and experiences
- Ability and willingness to commit to the mentorship process
- Experience providing critical feedback in an individual and/or group setting
- Current SAQA membership
