Community Arts Mentoring Programme

“A supportive, learning relationship between a caring individual who shares his/her knowledge, experience and wisdom with another individual who is ready and willing to benefit from this exchange.” – Suzanne Faure

What is a mentor?

The person providing the mentoring.

What is a mentee?

The person receiving the mentoring. 

Benefits

How will participating in this project benefit the mentors?

As a mentor within this project you will:

• receive professional mentor training
• gain or further develop your mentoring skills
• develop best practice regarding mentoring
• be acknowledge on HCC's Website

How will participating in this project benefit the mentees?

• Receive mentee training
• Work with the mentor to identify and reach their professional goals
• Provide access to a community of arts practitioners who are also wanting to develop their careers

Programme details

What does the programme cover?

• Mentor and mentee training and orientation for participants
• A 6 to 12 month period of mentoring
• A review process of the programme.

How long is the programme?

It's a 6 to 12 month programme involving a minimum of ten one-hour monthly meetings with mentor/mentee, plus other contact (phone calls, email) by negotiation.

When does it start?

There will be a speed-dating event in February 2018 to give potential mentees and mentors an opportunity to meet, and to find out a bit more about what the programme is about. Interested people will submit a mentee or mentor application form following the event, and successful applicants will be invited to attend a training workshop. The mentoring relationships are expected to start in March 2018.

Who will be on the programme?

Up to 15 mentors and mentees.

Where do the mentors come from? How are they chosen for the programme?

Mentors will come both from within and outside of the arts sector. Mentors will be chosen for their expertise in their field, the match of their skills and experience to the needs of the local arts sector and their willingness, availability and suitability to participate in the programme.

Where do the mentees come from? How are they chosen for the programme?

Mentees will be living in the Lower Hutt area. There will be up to 15 mentees selected. Hutt City Council will make a selection based on the information provided by the mentee and mentor, and contacting referees provided.

What are the costs?

There will be no costs to mentors or mentees, other than their time. Mentors will receive gift vouchers for their contribution and petrol vouchers to cover any transport costs incurred. 

What information will you be asked to provide?

Mentors: We will ask prospective mentors to fill in an application form, provide a short 50 – 80 word biography, and a recent photo. The mentors’ biographies will be sent to the mentees in advance of the training day. 

Mentees: Will be asked to fill in application form outlining their goals for mentoring.

What if a mentor is not chosen?

We will have a pool of 12 - 15 mentors who will attend orientation and training and less mentees. This is to ensure the mentees have a choice of mentors. Mentors who are not chosen will be given the choice to remain in the pool for the following year’s programme, and to replace existing mentors if necessary.

What if the mentee and mentor want to extend the relationship once the project is finished?

You are free to keep meeting if mutually beneficial and agreed, but the mentoring arrangement will no longer be supported by HCC with further training, supervision and evaluation.

What if either the mentor or mentee want to end the relationship before the project is finished?

This might happen for two reasons:

• The relationship is not working out
• Either party has to withdraw from the project for other reasons.

If the mentee still fits the eligibility criteria, we will try to match them with another mentor.

We will have a ‘no fault divorce’ process to follow if the relationship is not working for either party.

What training will be given?

Participants will attend a 2 hour training course provided by HCC (details to be confirmed).

Mentor/Mentee toolkits will be provided.

If a mentor is already trained or experienced, should they still attend the orientation and training course?

The training covers orientation to this project and this sector so it would be worthwhile for even experienced mentors to attend the orientation and training day.

How will mentors and mentees be matched?

Mentees will provide HCC with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice of mentor from the pool provided by HCC. HCC will match mentees with mentors following the training, informed by mentees’ choice, and both parties will be notified promptly so they can begin arranging their meetings.

How often do mentors and mentees meet?

This is negotiated between the mentor and mentee, but meeting are expected to take place every 4 weeks.

What will I be expected to provide for evaluation?

From time to time you may be contacted by the Community Arts Advisor to check how things are going, and to see if there are any problems.

The programme will be evaluated at the end of the pilot programme to ascertain the benefit to all parties.

More information 

If you have any queries about this programme, please contact:  

Pippa Sanderson
Community Arts and Culture Advisor
The Dowse Art Museum
Hutt City Council

T: 04 560 1257 
M:027 356 4103