Call for Applications – MentorPods: A Mentorship Opportunity for Novice Artists in Public Art

Photography: Richard Johnson. Art: Re.Mem.ber by Gaston Soucy / SUMOfc Art Collective at Stantec Gallery

MentorPods: Opportunity for Novice Artists to Pitch Public Art Concepts with Expert Guidance

An initiative by SUMO Project in collaboration with DEXD
Deadline: May 21, 2025 at 23:59 ET

Mentorship Opportunity – SUMO Project in collaboration with DEXD, is receiving applications from Novice* Artists** to participate in MentorPods, a creative platform for novice artists to pitch public art concepts with expert guidance and support.

MentorPods will consist of small, interdisciplinary teams of experienced professionals (artists, architects, project managers, engineers, and technical advisors) mentoring selected novice artists or mentees (10 mentees will be selected).

Through mentorship, novice artists will be able to refine their skills, expand their networks, and navigate the often-challenging specialized field of Public Art ultimately allowing them to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the cultural sphere.

The project(s) will consist of temporary, low-risk, low-budget art opportunities, coupled with comprehensive support (technical, logistical, conceptual, and promotional) throughout the entire process.

This will be done through weekly, in person, mentorship sessions (4h) and practical work, for 4 months, plus some individual on line sessions. During this time, the selected mentees will be exposed to all stages of the process from call for submission and ideation to fabrication and maintenance manual while working collaboratively with other mentees and a group of mentors.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit the requirement as per list and deadline below.

The Mentorship Pods are funded by The Canada Council for the Arts’ Innovation and Development Grant.

*Novice Artist: an artist who is new to the field of public art. The artist may be a recent graduate, or have had an existing artistic studio practice for some time, but are new to public art (having created small pieces or being interested in becoming involved in the field of public art).

** The Canada Council for the Arts defines a professional artist as someone who has specialized training in their artistic field, is recognized as a professional by their peers, and is committed to dedicating significant time to their artistic practice. This definition does not require formal academic training, and recognition by peers working in the same artistic tradition is sufficient.

Eligibility:

• Novice Artist, as per definition above
• Canadian Residents available to meet weekly (in person) for 4h and create work in Toronto, ON, from June to September (4 months)

Who Is Not Eligible:

• Students
• Artist under 18 years of age
• Experienced artists in Public Art

How to Apply:

Submit all requirements below compiled in a single PDF file no larger than 10MB to suzitamorita@gmail.com with the email subject line: MENTORSHIP PODS// application lastname_firtsname (i.e MENTORSHIP PODS// application Smith_Carolina)

Requirements:

1. Your CV (max. 3 pages). Include your contact information (full name, phone number and email)
2. Short Biography (max. 100 words)
3. Artist Statement (max. 200 words) outlining:
   ◦  What is your work about
   ◦  Why do you want to enter the realm of public art / Why do you want to be a public artist
   ◦  Why this aligns with your artistic vision or ideals
   ◦  Number of years in studio practice
4. Something you want to share about yourself (max. 100 words)
5. Select up to 5 images of your studio work to share. Label each image with title, media and date.

Potential candidates will be contacted for interview in June. After the interviews, only 10 participants (mentees) will be selected.

Deadline: May 21, 2025 at 23:59 ET

This is a paid opportunity, based on CARFAC guidelines.

This project aims to strengthen and develop practices in the arts sector through a multifaceted approach, focusing on mentorship, inclusivity, and knowledge-sharing.

Mentees will be selected based on their art ideas, diverse cultural aesthetics and narratives in public art. Potential candidates contacted for an online interview, in June. After the interviews only 10 participants (mentees) will be selected.

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