SAQA Mentorship Program

Member Benefit

The Mentorship Program is for artists beginning an art practice and also for experienced artists that want to explore growth opportunities with another experienced artist. Mentors can provide a wide array of options to consider and offer constructive critique, all with the permission of the Mentee.

The mentorship program begins in the first month of the year and can last for up to 12 months. Artists are paired in relation to goals. We try out best to work with time zones. It is a fun and rewarding benefit of being a SAQA artist. 

The deadline for applications has passed. The next round of applications will open in December 2025. 

If you have any questions, please contact mentorship@saqa.art

 

About the Program

Mentorships will focus on assisting an artist to achieve specific goals or projects within a prearranged timeframe. Goals can range from guidance in artistic development and finding an artistic voice to more task-oriented goals such as composing an artist’s statement, completing a grant application, developing a record-keeping system, or preparing work for exhibition.

SAQA mentoring is a partnership in professional development. The SAQA Mentor is a friend, a trusted guide, one who shares knowledge and resources with a less experienced colleague. The Mentor’s responsibility is to provide guidance, support, and feedback. The Mentee’s responsibility is to identify goals and make reasonable progress towards attaining those goals.

Mentors are recruited and matched to applicants based on availability and areas of interest. A Mentor will initially review the application of a potential Mentee. If the Mentor accepts the applicant and the Mentee is amenable, both will be notified and begin the Mentorship process.

Since SAQA is an international organization with members located across the globe, most often mentees and mentors are not able to meet in person. Various alternative options will be suggested to the pairs and they can choose a method that will work for them.

The mentor program is like having a really good friend with so much experience - a place to go for all those nagging questions and receiving really great answers. - Sharon Jaeger

Wavy Lines