Can you think of a student full of potential who needs support to break into the creative and cultural industries?
Arts Emergency partners with schools, colleges, and youth organisations in Greater Manchester, London and Merseyside to open doors for underrepresented young people with creative ambitions, by connecting them to each other and to a network of thousands of creative professionals.
We offer eligible students a year of 1:1 support from a trained, volunteer mentor - someone working in the creative or cultural industries. Our mentors provide information, advice and guidance, supporting young people’s next steps after school or college.
After completing a year of mentoring, mentees remain part of our Young Community where they can continue to access networking and development opportunities until their 26th birthday.
To partner with us on our 2027 mentoring programme you must submit a partner agreement by Friday 10 July 2026
For more information, please download our Partner Pack and visit our safeguarding page.
You can get in touch with us via: mentoring@arts-emergency.org
Our Stories
I 100% would not be where I am now without my mentor.
Aisha, 20, is from east London and is currently studying for a BA in Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts. Their journey with Arts Emergency started back in 2021 when they applied for a mentor.
Our Stories
"I was already confident in my drawing abilities but I lacked knowledge about the animation industry and the realities of getting a job in it."
We caught up with mentee Steph and their mentor Claire, both based in Merseyside, about the mentoring journey so far, what they’re getting from the experience and how the programme is helping plan for the future.
Our Stories
"I’d thought about studying architecture at university but I had no idea about the route to get there."
Louis, 22, from Manchester, first joined Arts Emergency as a mentee in 2020. Four years later, he's now a member of the Youth Collective and is well on his way to becoming an architect.