Mentorship can provide an opportunity to connect with experts in the arts sector, while also developing your skills and knowledge. The Creative Spaces Mentoring Network (CSMN) is a program directly for artists, arts managers, and community members responsible for a creative space. The program focuses on providing a platform for arts leaders to grow their business and management skills to oversee, renew and develop creative spaces.
Creative spaces can include:
- museums
- art galleries
- studio spaces
- art centres
- maker spaces
- market spaces
- arts institutions
… in short, spaces that support the arts!
The 2023-24 CSMN program will be its eighth iteration, and will be largely focused on themes of how to:
- Recover the vision and mission of your space, as well as your space-related goals
- Recalibrate your creative space: where will you pivot? What will be your new goals to better serve your communities?
- Renew your creative space and its vision moving forward
We look forward to learning about everyone’s creative space projects as the program kicks off!
About the program
Through the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network, leaders in Ontario’s arts community who are responsible for their spaces, capital-related issues, or are seeking to acquire or establish physical or digital creative space will have the unique opportunity of virtual one-to-one learning with an experienced professional in the Ontario arts and heritage sector. ABO encourages interested arts leaders who are engaged at any level of creative space development to apply!
In joining the CSMN 2023-24 cohort, you will have the opportunity to engage with like-minded peers.
Webinars
The three webinars in the program include a Kick-Off Webinar, Mid-Program Webinar, and a Wrap Up Webinar where you will have the opportunity to connect with fellow Mentees and Mentors on your projects.
How it works
ArtsBuild Ontario will match arts and cultural leaders from around Ontario with experienced Mentors from their own or other sectors. After an initial training webinar, the mentoring teams will meet online for a suggested time of up to three hours monthly from March 1st, 2023 to January 31, 2024. The mentoring team discussions are confidential and will focus on particular challenges and skills identified by the Mentee at the beginning of the partnership. All teams will take part in a Kick-Off Webinar, Mid-Program Webinar and a Wrap Up Webinar.
Program timeline
| Deadline for Mentee Applications | Wednesday, December 14, 2022 |
| Mentee Application Selection | December 2022- January 2023 |
| Program Begins | Wednesday, March 1, 2023 |
| First Training Webinar | Wednesday, March 1, 2023 |
| Mid Point Webinar | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 |
| Wrap-Up Webinar | Wednesday, January 24, 2024 |
| Program Ends | Wednesday, January 31, 2024 |
Call for Mentees
Interested in applying for the 2023-24 program? We are now accepting Mentee applications! It is free to apply for the program. If you are selected as a Mentee, a fee is required for the full program year.
How to apply:
- Complete the Application Form.
- Provide a letter of support for your Mentee application (eg. from someone you work or volunteer with in your community).
- Record a 1-2 minute video telling us: about you and your organization, your facilities plans and/or projects, and how this opportunity would benefit you. You can record your video using a smartphone or web camera, and upload via YouTube (privately), Dropbox, Google Drive etc. Please send a link via email to the video hosted on your platform of choice.
- Submit the application online, send the video link, and email the letter of support to Tatiana Doucette, Program Manager at programs@artsbuildontario.ca by Wednesday, December 14th, 2022.
If you are selected by ArtsBuild Ontario, will work diligently to match you with a suitable Mentor based on the skills outlined in your application. We will contact applicants to arrange meetings with prospective Mentors in December 2022- January 2023 when the Mentor-Mentee matching process is underway.
Fee
If you are selected as a Mentee, there is a $150 + HST fee. ABO will invoice mentees once a successful match is made.
Interested in becoming a Mentor?
We are currently seeking Mentors for current and future iterations of the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network! If you have been part of a capital project, strategic plan, or have knowledge to share in relation to cultural facilities, the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network is an opportunity for you to support fellow arts managers and foster strong arts and heritage sectors.
Please note that this Mentor role will be voluntary in nature. If you are interested in becoming a Mentor, please complete this Mentor Application Form.
Additional resources
For more information about the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network, please contact Tatiana Doucette, Program Manager at 519.880.3670 ext. 102 or programs@artsbuildontario.ca.
