NAAC MENTORSHIP & SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
The Network for Arts Administrators of Color
Mentorship & Sponsorship Program 2.0
Thanks to Mass Cultural Council’s support, NAAC Boston is pleased to announce the launch of its Mentorship & Sponsorship Program 2.0!
This initiative is designed to empower and elevate Boston’s emerging arts administrators and artists of color in different stages of their professional development. Mentorship provides early-career professionals with valuable individual support, guidance, and role modeling. Sponsorship focuses on advancement for more experienced professionals by tapping into resources of power and opening doors.NAAC Boston’s Mentorship & Sponsorship Program is built upon research showing that arts administrators of color are under-mentored, and that mentoring alone does not drive change in power structures of predominately white institutions and sectors.This second year of the program expands on the lessons of our 2019 pilot program; and addresses the dual pandemics — racism and COVID19 — that continue to affect our sector and community. In addition, this year’s program includes a Learning Cohort of workshops and tools for recovery that is open to the entire NAAC Boston membership to foster connections statewide and beyond.
2021 Mentorship and Sponsorship Program 2.0 Participants
Sponsors
Sponsees
Mentors
Mentees
How It Works
“I really love NAAC and want to see the best for it. This pilot program was very impressive and to think of the next phase is super powerful.” –Romy St. Hilaire, Pilot Program Mentee
The Mentorship/Sponsorship program consists of three components: program pairings and learning cohort, program workshops and panels, and a program toolkit.
Program Pairings: There will be one 6-month cycle for pairings to meet, consisting of 10 mentor/mentee pairings and 10 sponsor/sponsee pairings. Mentors and Sponsors will meet with their charges once a month (virtually or in-person) in addition to bi-weekly email check-ins.
Learning Cohort: All NAAC Members are welcome to join the learning cohort by attending any of 6 monthly workshops alongside the Mentorship/Sponsorship program pairs. Following each workshop, while mentees and sponsees meet with their mentors and sponsors, NAAC members will be invited to convene for a facilitated conversation centered in peer learning and support. NAAC will provide each attending member with a Learning Passport, which we will stamp following each workshop you attend. Participants who collect five stamps will receive a certificate of completion.
Program Workshops: NAAC Boston will host professional development workshops and panels to complement program participants’ learning. Program participants will be required to attend a minimum of 4 learning events over the year. These events will be open to the full NAAC membership and ACOM participants, with a small entrance fee. NAAC Boston will also host four socials over the course of the year, in which program participants will have the opportunity to build networking skills and opportunities.
Program Toolkit: NAAC Boston will partner with NAAC members on “Navigating the Recovery” Toolkit based, providing all program participants with important resources, including:
- Arts Administrative Glossary
- Self-Care Resources
- Legal Services
- Navigating Racism in the Arts
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- Learning Links
- Books and Reading List for Continued Learning
2019 Mentorship and Sponsorship Program Pilot Participants
Five mid-career mentors and five executive-level sponsors were matched with five mentees and five sponsees for our inaugural program, which ran March to December 2019.
Sponsors
Sponsees
Mentors
Mentees
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
ArtsBoston is a leading force behind Greater Boston's arts and cultural sector. In support of our 175 member organizations, we provide vital research and audience building programs that encourage participation in arts and culture, stimulate demand and raise attendance.