NAAC MENTORSHIP & SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

In its fourth year, NAACBoston’s Mentorship & Sponsorship Program built upon research showing both that arts administrators of color are under-mentored and that mentoring under-represented categories of professionals (women and people of color)—by itself—does not drive systemic change in the current power structures of our predominately white institutions and sectors. 

What is needed is both mentorship and sponsorship. Mentorship provides valuable individual support, guidance, and role modeling, whereas sponsorship focuses on advancement by tapping into resources of power and opening doors that add value to mentoring relationships and disrupt entrenched power dynamics. 

The Mentorship & Sponsorship Program 4.0 used both components of this two-step process to help increase the talent pipeline and develop propel emerging leaders of color in Boston’s arts sector. 

Year 4.0’s program was themed around Sustainability, building on the lessons from the 2019 to 2023 programs to address the ever-changing needs of BIPOC arts administrators as we continue to navigate the pandemics of racism and COVID-19. The program included workshops and tools centered on how to responsibly maintain momentum and avoid burnout in the changing arts sector. 

Thanks to the generous support of the Massachusetts Cultural Council for the NAAC Mentorship & Sponsorship Program 4.0! 

The Mentorship/Sponsorship program consists of two components: program pairings and program workshops and panels.

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.

“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