Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative
It’s little known about Rolex dedication to ensure that the world’s artistic heritage is passed on to the next generation. The Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative was created in 2002.
From inspiration to creativity
Reveal the stories of the artists. Explore the recent mentorships of Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative.
About Rolex Arts Initiative
Since 2002, Rolex invests in young artists searching for a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Young artists from all over the world get sponsorship and mentor - the person who will teach them, who will train them, but continue to guide them along the way they have chosen.In previous years, Rolex has paired mentors and protégés in dance, film, literature, music, theatre, visual arts and architecture.
The whole concept is ancient, ever since the time of ancient Greeks. One example is Socrates and his scholar Plato. Artists, scientists, and philosophers used to have their mentors who supported them on their pathway. Another example of successful mentoring is the relationship of German composer Christian Gottlieb Neefe and the young genius child, Ludwig van Beethoven. These relations remain beneficial and it's well-known how students sometimes may overcome their teachers.
Mentorship comeback
After many centuries, mentorships is gaining popularity. A new phenomenon takes place on a global scale. Rolex intents to restore mentoring as the usual style of transferring knowledge from one generation to another. The intention is to support processes that will last, as a chain reaction, like an echo in an acoustic space, by transferring art, skill, and knowledge from generation to generation.
Benjamin Franklin said:
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
How the programme works?
The programme seeks artists from around the world who want to spend at least 6 weeks with their mentor, though many spend considerably more time. Young artists have chance to learn, improve themselves, to develop in a certain way. Many of Rolex protégés have created impressive careers owing to the support of this programme.
Advisory board of distinguished artists and arts practitioners suggests and endorses potential mentors per year. Once the mentors have been approached and have agreed to take part, Rolex works with them to establish a profile of the protégé they would like to work with.
Young artists cannot apply directly to the programme. Rather, nominating panels are assembled. The expert panel members identify suitable potential protégés, who are then invited by Rolex to submit applications. Panel members study these applications and recommend three finalists from their respective discipline. Finally, Rolex arranges for the mentor to meet the finalists and choose his or her protégé.
More than fifteen yearsof creative exchanges
In the field of architecture, the Rolex mentoring programme was attended by eminent British architect Ser David Chipperfield as a mentor and Simon Kreck, Swiss urbanist and teacher as a scholarship holder. They were part of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé programme for 2016-2017. Together they analyzed the development systems of major European cities.
Protégé Tracy K. Smith is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for the collection of poetry "Life on Mars" in 2012. Her mentor in the prestigious Rolex Mentor and Protégé programme was Hans Magnus Enzensberger in 2010, a German author, poet, translator and editor.
Support
Each protégé receives a grant of 40,000 Swiss francs during the mentoring year, in addition to funds to cover travel and other major expenses. Mentor and protégé agree on where and how they want to interact.
A budget of a further 30,000 Swiss francs is available to each protégé after the year is over. To compensate them for the time, energy and other resources they provide, each of the mentors is awarded an honorarium of 100,000 Swiss francs.
Rolex community
The Rolex Art Initiative is a global project. Since 2002 more than 1,100 people in 105 countries have been nominated for the programme. Advisors include 123 major artists and creative leaders, while 253 influential figures in the arts have nominated young artists and selected finalists. More than 50 of the world’s greatest artists have served as mentors.
After the mentoring year, Rolex stays in touch with the protégés and continues to promote their work.Rolex hope that this type of mentoring will be even more popular in the future, as well as this programme will bring out many new artists with successful careers.
