VIBE Arts is seeking upcoming or early-career artists between the ages of 16-29 to join Cohort V of NExT, our Black youth mentorship program.
To apply, you must:
- Be between the ages 16-29
- Identify as Black
- Consider yourself to be an upcoming or early-career artist
- Have the willingness or ability to travel within Toronto
About the opportunity:
We are looking for applicants to join a group of dedicated, Black youth artists. Upon selection, successful candidates will join our 2023-2024 Cohort and will each be granted a residency supported by a roster of NExT Mentors. In these residencies, artists will work towards developing an artwork (or body of) to be celebrated and shared with the community in a final exhibition event in March 2024.
Mentees will be required to participate in mentorship sessions, attend a mixer, and participate in numerous PD workshops, including an Artist-Talk, retreat, and the final exhibition event. NExT Artists will receive compensation for their participation: up to $3,500, with $2,500 going directly towards art creation.
For more information, please reach out to Onika at onika@vibearts.ca or Jason at mentorship@vibearts.ca. Artists who are selected to be a part of the program will be notified by Thursday September 28th. Artists that are selected to the NExT program, must be available to attend a Mandatory onboarding session taking place on October 4th, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm (on Zoom).
About NExT:
NExT is VIBE Arts Black Youth Mentorship Program. NExT – short for Network and Explore Together – was built on the vision to build, connect, and strengthen networks of Black artists throughout the GTA.
The program was developed, with barriers in mind, to increase the visibility of Black Youth Artists in public Canadian exhibitions. Throughout the program, members of the cohort receive multiple one-on-one mentorship opportunities and access to valuable programs and opportunities.
NExT creates a shared understanding and space to overcome the barriers faced by upcoming artists in pursuit of artistic success.
The NExT Program is made possible by the CIBC Foundation and the Canada Council for the Arts.