Become An Artist Mentor at New Urban Arts

“I first came to the studio to share what I know
about making comics. Now it feels like a second home.
I have a new understanding of what it means to be a creative person.”
Melissa Mendes, Artist Mentor, 2006-2008


Each September, New Urban Arts selects 20 Artist Mentors to participate in our interdisciplinary art studio on Westminster Street, across from Classical and Central High schools. Artist Mentors volunteer to mentor high school students in developing a creative practice they can sustain throughout their lives. Arts mentoring at New Urban Arts is a wonderful opportunity for artists and educators to learn how to effectively work with high school students in a community setting.

In the past, Artist Mentors have been high school students, college students, graduate students, and artists from the community. Because New Urban Arts emphasizes peer-to-peer and participatory learning in our studio, Artist Mentors must be able to connect on a personal and artistic level with teenagers.

Artist Mentors are nurturing, resourceful, flexible under pressure, open to taking risks, willing to learn, and able to commit 6 hours per week during an entire school year. Artist Mentors participate in a yearlong professional development program to support their growth as an artist and educator and are required to attend two weekend retreats held in Fall and Winter.

We also offer Artist Mentor positions through off-site work-study programs for eligible university students. Work-study students also have work responsibilities that include an additional four hours per week.

This year, New Urban Arts is looking for artist mentors in the following disciplines: drawing, painting, fashion design, sewing, printmaking, screen printing, sculpture, installation, film/animation, graphic design, web design, song writing, music, sound recording, radio, painting, drawing, poetry, mixed media, spoken word performance, digital and darkroom photography, art therapy, dance, yoga, mixed media, bookmaking and textiles. We are not limited to these media and are open to accommodate other media in our studio.

2010-11 Artist Mentor Applications now available at www.newurbanarts.org. To have an application mailed to you, please contact New Urban Arts at 401.751.4556 or info@newurbanarts.org.

Applications are due September 13, 2010.

For more information, visit our Mentor Open House on Wednesday September 8, 2010 from 5-6pm at New Urban Arts. Learn about the artist mentor selection process,
get a tour of our interdisciplinary art studio, meet New Urban Arts staff and pick up
a mentor application just in time before the deadline.