AFRICAN FEMALE ARTIST MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Girl Child Art Foundation created the AFA Mentorship Program in response to the need to empower and support young African female artists to succeed in the creative industry for additional support beyond GCAF’s successful art workshops, exhibitions, and other art-based educational programs.

The AFA Mentorship Program is designed to support the individual artistic methods and professional ambitions of emerging female artists in Africa by providing access to the skills and experience of selected mentors. AFAM is a specialized art program developed specifically for female artists who are clear about what they would like to learn or those seeking a one-on-one lesson style.

Mentees are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to their practice, the clarity and level of ambition outlined in their goals for the program, and the ability of the applicant to utilize the program to its fullest potential.

During the program, mentors will meet with mentees one-on-one online and in-person, at least once in two weeks and four times as a group.

AFAMP offers a safe, free and accessible space for young females to grow their talent and express themselves. the artists will work with professional artists and mentors, the young women in this program explore art forms that interest them, contribute to their communities through exhibits, and sometimes participate in community events.

The AFA Mentorship Program is tailored to support the needs of selected emerging artist’s methods and aspirations and is shaped by the skills of participating mentors. Its impact depends on participants’ openness, zeal, and resourcefulness in the program and their commitment to developing their art skills.

The goal of the AFAM program is to support emerging female visual artists who pursue additional career development or technical direction to develop their practice as practicing artists.

The program requires that mentees are committed to their visual art practice and commit a significant portion of their time to their craft throughout the program. Mentees must promptly keep to appointments.

The mentorship program best suits emerging female artists who maintain an active studio practice and have created a body of work outside formal training environments.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: AFRICAN FEMALE ARTIST MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 2024–25

APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 30, 2024

ELIGIBILITY

• Mentees are FEMALE artists in the early stages of their careers as professional artists; aged 19-40 years; an African.
• Individuals enrolled in the post-secondary study are ineligible to participate.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Mentee artists must submit:

• A letter of application – Describe your experience as an artist (art practice/ studio activity )over the last year. What are your goals for this program? How would your current work benefit from the program? How will you devote adequate time to the development of your work while balancing other commitments? What challenges do you have in your practice, and what are you currently doing to overcome those challenges? (max 2 pages)
• 10 jpeg images or 10 short videos – (max 5 minutes each) with accompanying annotated image list (including title, date, media, dimensions). You can also submit any combination of images and videos for a total of 10 submissions.
• One letter of reference – from an established artist or curator with experience with your work. This letter should demonstrate that you are a good candidate for the program. Also include the names and contact information of additional references who have experience with your work.

AND

• a link to your website

OR

• a resume/cv (max 2 pages)

Email a copy of your Application Proposal by October 30, 2024, to: gcaf@girlchildart.org

NOTIFICATION OF SELECTED ARTISTS

Notification of results will take place approximately one month after the deadline.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Program Duration: 3 months, from January to March, excluding the exhibition period.

MENTORS

Our Mentors are professional artists with at least ten years of professional practice (with extensive knowledge and experience with exhibitions in public, grant writing, juries, curatorial resources, and commercial or artist-run galleries is an asset); their peers recognize them as a mid-career or established artist. They are great communicators and exhibit the ability to educate through informal, one-on-one, adult-based learning experiences; they are living and working in Nigeria.

Mentors will be paid an honorarium for their participation. The AFAM program is free for mentees.

PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS:

2024/2025 will focus on painting, textile, ceramics, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. 

There will be an info session online and in-person at the GCAF studios (2a Shoyemi Close, Bamako Estate Ojodu Berger, Ikeja Lagos by hotel bus stop).

For inquiries, please send an email to gcaf@girlchildart.org.