... cost?
Mentoring ... $85 per hour (in artmilk's studio)
For the initial session
is best to book two hours to show and view past work and ideas adequately, then in unison set goals, and priorities and develop
a plan of action.
Phone and or
Skype consultations ... $85 per hour
In mentoree artist's studio consultations 1 & 1/2 hours (within Brisbane) $100
... are mentoring sessions tax deductible?
Yes your mentoring and or class or workshop fees are completely tax deductible against the income from your practice or business as the case may be.
... what exactly is art mentoring?
To put it simply, mentoring is a flexible, personally crafted supportive relationship set up to help you achieve your goals.
artmilk mentoring is an effective and efficient way to develop the skills and techniques new and developing artists/writers/etc require to succeed. Whether you are right at the beginning of your journey and don't know where to start, or you needing instruction on specific approaches, media or techniques, maybe you want advice as to how to developing your own style, or needing help to set up your first exhibition, or book, or getting your professional practice together, artmilk mentoring can help you reach your goals.
Because appointments are flexible and as frequent as you like, mentoring is a great way to achieve your instruction according to your individual timetable and requirements. The personal one on one teaching relationship, a unique and supportive frame, works to develop an individuals art practice at a very quicker rate …
Mentoring is available for people living outside the Brisbane area and overseas through Skype and email …
'Sometimes mentoring is about straight knowledge transfer, but mostly it's about seeing opportunities for that particular person and making them aware of those opportunities.'
'Emerging artists are now realizing that they need to run their art practice like a business and so need to gain management skills. [They're asking things like:] "What is auspicing?" "How do you approach a gallery, write a media release?" "How do we sell our work?" "How can we attract sponsors?" We're not only helping the artists but the industry.'
Artists, writers and creatives, at all stages of their development benefit and grow with encouragement and support, sound advice and good clear information. For beginning artists focusing on your own areas of interest is your priority. Getting in touch with your uniqueness is your first task, followed by the development of a strong and clear line of research that inspires and supports your development. Technique then follows, as does artists to reference, the development of ways of looking, thinking as well as working, an overall plan, dealing with difficulties that arise, setting up a studio etc all important parts of beginning your life as an artist.
Once established, emerging artists then require assistance in the basics of launching a professional career - from folio development and presentations to booking galleries, to generating career opportunities, commissions and sales, navigating through the seemingly mysterious corridors of the art world not to mention the art market. At this stage you will need to learn how to build a career at the same time as consolidate and sustain your art practice. All these needs are addressed through artmilk's mentoring, art marketing and career development service …
... what are the benefits of mentoring?
'The mentor-mentoree
relationship is a transformative one that changed the course of my life.'
Some arts practitioners argue that the most important outcome of mentoring is that the mentoree obtains full-time work in their chosen practice. Others are focused on beginning an arts practice so they're concerns are in learning about creative options and techniques, building a body of work and strengthening it. Yet others are wanting support as they become a 'professional artist, as they begin approaching galleries, setting up portfolios and web sits etc. Others see the benefits as increased confidence, improved networks and higher profile. Either way, most of the arts practitioners involved in mentoring find that the benefits go way beyond the personal.
... who attends mentoring?
Always tailored to the individual artist and their needs and priorities, artmilk mentoring, both in-person or phone consultations are becoming 'the way' to move effectively and quickly through the emerging artist category/territory.
Past and present clients cover people of all ages and walks of life, all types of artists, both avant-garde, modern and traditional, painters, illustrators, designers, fabric artists, performance artists, street artists, photographers, sculptors, printmakers, fashion designers, art therapists, high school art teachers, poets, writers, singers, and musicians … these people have gone on to build successful careers, creating fabulous ideas and bodies of work, printed books, have successful exhibitions, gone on to run galleries themselves, be accepted into prestigious national art awards and competitions, exhibit overseas, become successful applicants for grants, be accepted into visual arts masters degrees both within Australian and overseas, set up art related business, set up fine art printing shops, be selected for overseas residencies, plus lots more.
Some have had previous training in their field others have not. Many people are now seeing mentoring as a viable alternative to tertiary study in that it is flexible, personally geared and cost effective.
... how do mentoring sessions work?
A contract is set up whereby over a period of time a particular topic or theme within the artists work is focused on …
... benefits?
'It's given me more
confidence to pursue photography as a career. And since the program, I have
approached a lot of people who under normal circumstances I wouldn't have. So
it's given me the confidence to push myself.'
Mentorees across the arts industry in Australia describe the main benefits of mentoring for them as:
access to, and contact with, an established artist
gaining confidence in artistic skills and ability
public recognition
networking opportunities
knowledge of the business/industry.
... is mentoring for you?
To help you decide what you want from a mentoring partnership, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
Is this the right time in my life/career for a mentoring relationship?
Can I take constructive criticism?
Do I have the ability and desire to learn new things about my practice and myself?
Do I need a mentor primarily to:
• guide me in my creative process
• teach me new skills
• be a 'sounding board' for my ideas
• support me through to the beginning, middle or end of my creative project
• help me learn more about the 'ins and outs' of the industry?
• give us advice about how to manage the business side of my work
• keep in touch and be interested in my work
• assist us if things happen to go wrong
• provide an opportunity for me to showcase my work
• help me to apply for project funds elsewhere
• help us to debrief and close the partnership, if it is for a limited time?
... what agreement will I make with my mentor?
For example have I thought about:
• how often I would like to meet
• how we can keep in contact
• what we should try to do together
• what my mentor's responsibilities and time commitments are
• what we should do if something goes wrong or if one of us is unhappy in the partnership?
... measurable successes?
Here is an example of some of the things artmilk mentorees have achieved to date, a list of their successes.
Numerous published authors
A myriad of exhibitions … highly successful shows, too numerous to mention, both within Brisbane, interstate and overseas.
Numerous successful grant applications for arts funding, gallery hire exhibition costs etc.
Numerous inclusions in Churchie Art Prize, with Highly Commended awards
Successful travel grants to study overseas, both in America and in Japan
Two acceptances into highly prestigious national art awards interstate
Numerous admissions to undergrad and master's level tertiary study (without an undergraduate training apart from mentoring)
The development of fashion portfolios and collections
The development of illustrations and outlines for published children's books
The development of innovative art techniques
The establishing of new groups of artists in Brisbane 's art community
The establishments of new artists run businesses
Numerous financially viable arts careers
Career shifts
into the arts industry
Plus the creation of dozens and dozens of strong bodies of work
... more questions or to book a session?
If after considering these points and mulling it over, are you ready to begin the process ... or if you have further questions and or if you would like to set up an appointment time please contact Majena Mafe via either phone 33531741 or email artmilkart@gmail.com