Get creative as a mentor or mentee

Ideas and advice: Ballarat Arts Foundation chair Paula Nicholson is seeking participants for the organisation’s mentoring program. Photo: SUPPLIED

THE third annual Ballarat Arts Foundation Mentoring Program is set to return and the organisation is seeking people to take part.

BAF chair Paula Nicholson said the initiative aims to encourage and support the talent, growth, and goals of artists.

“Structured mentoring partnerships allow those being mentored to gain new skills and increased confidence in their abilities, while mentors can benefit from having the opportunity to share their skills and give back,” she said.

“If you are an emerging artist looking to elevate your creative practice, or a professional in creative, business, marketing, finance, coaching, and other field, apply now to be a mentee or mentor.

“The need to support local artists is considered more important than ever given the impact the coronavirus continues to have on the cultural and creative sector, with an exciting mentoring program again planned for this year.”

The Rotary Club of Ballarat is again supporting the program in 2023 and the partnership is set to continue for another three years.

“The promotion of Ballarat and the ongoing welfare of its citizens are of the utmost importance to both organisations as we aim to strengthen and support the community through the application of donated funds and relevant programs,” Ms Nicholson said.

Eleven mentee and mentor partnerships were formed for the first-ever BAF Mentoring Program, which ran from June to November in 2021.

Some mentors were artists, while others came from the wider business community, offering diverse skills and advice.

“The first year of the full program was supported by the City of Ballarat to the tune of $6000 through a Community Impact Grant, enabling BAF to compensate participants for their time at the opening and closing workshops,” Ms Nicholson said.

“A similarly successful program was run in 2022, with the program being funded solely by BAF with extraordinary in-kind contributions by facilitator Tamara Boyd, BAF associate Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling and others.”

Applications close on Sunday, 30 April, and you can visit ballaratartsfoundation.org.au/mentoring for more information or to apply.