How does mentoring work?
You will be matched with an industry professional who shares your interests.
You will have monthly meetings with your mentor in a public space or online. You, your mentor and the Arts Emergency team can decide the safest option for you, where you feel most comfortable.
Together you will focus on your goals and what you want to achieve.
Your mentor will help by offering advice and guidance on education and careers as well as helping you to build your confidence and connections.
Who can apply?
If you are aged between 16 and 18 and live in London, Brighton, Greater Manchester, or Merseyside you can apply! We try to work with young people who most need the support of an Arts Emergency mentor the most, and therefore every mentee must meet at least one of the criteria below:
neither of my parents went to university
I am currently eligible for Free School Meals
I was eligible for Free School Meals between year 7 and year 11
I am a recipient of a 16-19 bursary
I would describe myself as Black, Asian or from an ethnic minority background
I have a disability*
I have a learning disability and/or I have special educational needs*
Arts Emergency also uses your postcode (the one where you spent most of your childhood) to assess the deprivation of the area as an indication of your eligibility for our mentoring programme
*Under the Equality Act 2010, you are 'disabled' or 'learning disabled' if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.
If you are not sure about your eligibility for the mentoring programme and would like to talk to a member of the team please contact us by emailing mentoring@arts-emergency.org.
How do I apply?
Applications are currently closed. If you are applying via a Partner School and need to access the form, please email mentoring@arts-emergency.org.
Who are Arts Emergency mentors?
Arts Emergency mentors are a team of volunteers from a variety of professional backgrounds. They've all signed up because they are connected, kind and want to help you get ahead! They are trained in goal-setting, working with young people and understanding safety procedures. Our mentors come from a range of established organisations including the V&A, Netflix, New York Times, Manchester International Festival, BBC, Tate Liverpool, Universal Records, FACT, Royal Exchange Theatre, HOME, Contact Theatre, National Museums Liverpool, Craft Council and more!
What areas do Arts Emergency mentors specialise in?
Architecture - Digital & Graphic Design - Fashion, Textiles & Costume - Fine Art - Interior Design - Product Design - Photography - Acting & Theatre - Dance - Music - Animation - Coding & Games - Factual TV - Film & TV Drama - Broadcast Journalism - Radio & Podcasting - Academia & Education - Classics - English Literature or Language - Fiction Writing - History - Non-Fiction Writing (Inc Print Journalism) - Politics & Activism - Poetry - Screenwriting - Archiving & Libraries - Arts Administration - Community & Engagement Projects - Event & Venue Management/ Production - Marketing, PR & Branding - Museums, Galleries & Heritage - Publishing … and more!
If you are unsure whether your interest falls under the arts or humanities, you can always email us at mentoring@arts-emergency.org.
How do you keep young people safe?
Mentors are trained by our team to work with young people and keep them safe
Every mentor is required to sign our code of conduct and complete an enhanced DBS check
Arts Emergency will conduct reference checks for all mentors
The Arts Emergency team checks in regularly with young people and volunteers
Do mentor pairs meet in person or online since coronavirus?
Mentor pairs meet once a month for about an hour and usually face to face. Mentor pairs can decide if they would like to take a hybrid approach, with some meetings in person and some meetings by phone or video chat. In-between sessions you may communicate by email.
What happens after mentoring?
After your year of mentoring, Arts Emergency will continue to offer you work experience, paid opportunities, trips, advice and industry connections until your 26th birthday. You can read about how this has helped people like Kristian, in the Our Stories section of our website.
Our Stories
"By the end of our meetings [we want] to have a solid plan of what she would like to do after college and what steps she needs to take to get there."
Jess was interested in media or arts production, but wasn't keen on university, so she and her mentor worked to find the best next steps for her.
Our Stories
"You are capable of a lot more than you may originally think, so set goals you can only dream of"
With help from his mentor Freddy, aspiring actor Rohan achieved his goals of getting an agent and joining a Youth Company!
Our Stories
"I wouldn’t have got this opportunity without Arts Emergency"
Taralea, aged 17 from London, is hoping to have a career in the music industry. In 2022, she did a 5-day work experience placement at independent record label, Partisan Records.