CultivART program – Mentor component

Who is eligible to apply?

Indigenous and racialized people with extensive experience and who are recognized by their peers in the artistic and cultural communities who wish to mentor an Indigenous intern in a professional arts organization.

This presentation is aimed at mentors, only if the organization/intern/mentor have not already been matched.  If the groups were formed before the submission of the application file (optional), Interns and mentors must create and/or complete an ORORA profile and then complete a simplified application, indicating the name of the host organization.

If the groups have not already been matched, interns should refer to the presentation Indigenous Arts CultivART Internship Program – Component 1 – Intern and organizations, Indigenous Arts CultivART Internship Program – Component 2 – Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Host Organization.

What are the program objectives?

The purpose of this component is to create a bank of Indigenous and racialized mentors to guide Indigenous interns in their chosen career path and within the internship setting.

This program aims to:

• build a new generation of Indigenous cultural workers in the arts and culture sector and contribute to the advancement of the Indigenous arts and culture sector
• foster fruitful two-way exchanges and intersectional dialogue on Indigenous realities
• bring more Indigenous perspectives within the Montreal arts and culture communities
• establish a professional support network between professional mentors and emerging cultural workers

To this end, the Conseil des arts de Montréal’s Indigenous Arts Committee has developed a paid internship program with established arts organizations These internships are for emerging Indigenous artists and cultural workers, who will be guided by a mentor from Indigenous and racialized communities in Canada

What type of assistance is provided?

The mentor will receive a fee of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) for approximately one hundred fifty (150) hours at an hourly rate of $33.33.

What is the duration of the internship?

The internship is meant to last approximately six months, but can take place over the course of a year if it is more suitable for the intern. Internships are available in the following areas:

• management
• curation
• project development
• arts assistantship
• communications
• production
• market development, etc.

Duration of mentorship

The mentor will be available for approximately 150 hours throughout the internship. These hours are flexible and will be determined according to the schedule established with the intern.

How are the mentors, interns and host organizations matched?

To ensure the best outcome for all those involved in the CultivART program, it is often advisable to match the host organization, the intern and the mentor together as a group before their submission is made.

Groups matched before the application (optional):

Interns and mentors must create and/or complete an ORORA profile and then complete a simplified application, indicating the name of the host organization.

Groups not matched before the application:

• the intern submits their application indicating their objectives and the environment in which they wish to carry out their internship
• the organization submits an internship proposal
• the mentor indicates their interest in being a mentor and outlines their experience
• the Indigenous Arts Committee starts the process by matching an intern, an organization and a mentor
• the intern considers the options available and indicates their preferred choices
• the Conseil’s Cultural Advisor contacts the individuals involved and ensures that all parties are in agreement

What types of projects are eligible?

• Artistic research
• Arts creation/production
• Specialized or multidisciplinary presentation, including artist-run centres and art galleries
• Publication of cultural magazines
• Production of an arts event or festival
• A museum
• Service organization, association or alliance with a mandate to support Indigenous arts or communities

What are the general eligibility conditions?

• Be an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis of Canada) or racialized artist or cultural worker
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
• Reside in Canada

Are there any special eligibility conditions?

Mentors must be Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis of Canada) or racialized and:

• be Elders recognized by their community OR
• have professional experience in arts and culture organizations OR
• be Indigenous or racialized cultural leaders recognized within their communities

When must the project be carried out?

Six months to a year, depending on the duration established between the organization and the intern

How many applications will be approved?

Approximately five applications will be accepted, depending on the allocated budget.

How many internships are available?

The program can accommodate approximately five internships, depending on the allocated budget.

Who is ineligible to apply?

Mentors

a mentor who is already employed by the host organization during the internship period

Applications

• incomplete applications
• applications received after the deadline

Ineligible applications will not be considered by the evaluation committee.

Can specific populations receive additional financial support to submit their application or complete their project (accessibility costs)?

Yes. Accessibility costs refer to costs that certain individuals, particularly those who are D/deaf and/or living with a disability, must pay to take advantage, in the same way as others do, of the services and programs offered by an institution for research, to create, produce or disseminate their art. Reimbursement of part of these costs by the Conseil des arts de Montréal may offset the financial disadvantage.

The Support Fund for Accessibility Costs is a financial assistance measure that complements the Conseil’s other programs. The deadline to apply for support for accessibility costs is the same as that for the program being applied to.

Artists, collectives or organizations that have obtained financial assistance from the Conseil to carry out a project can also file an application for accessibility cost support up to three months after the decisions related to the successful project have been sent out, provided the project is not completed before the deadline to send out decisions for accessibility cost support applications.

Support is divided into three components:

• component 1 – Financial support to submit a grant application or to apply for one of the Conseil’s initiatives
• component 2 – Financial support for accessibility costs for a project funded by the Conseil
• component 3 – Financial support for presenter organizations for accessibility costs to welcome audiences for a project funded by the Conseil

For more details, please see this additional information on the Support Fund.

Can I more than one application in the same year?

No. Only one application may be submitted per year

Can I submit a video application? If so, how do I proceed?

Yes, it is possible to submit a video application. If you choose to submit your application in video format, you must answer the questions on ORORA and ensure that your video does not exceed five minutes in length.

Who should submit the application?

Indigenous and racialized people interested in mentoring an intern working in an arts organization.

Can I submit an application in English?

Yes, you can submit your application in English. Please note, however, that the questions on the form are in French only.

What information and documents must I include in my application?

Mentors can indicate, for example, what type of intern they wish to mentor. They must include the following written, video or audio elements:

• a brief description of their skills and experience
• their ability to mentor
• what has led them to seek a mentorship role

Document to include:

Curriculum vitae or bio

How are applications evaluated?

Four-step decision-making process:

• the Cultural Advisor – Indigenous Arts, under the authority of management, receives and confirms the application’s eligibility
• the Indigenous Arts Committee (peers) studies the applications and makes recommendations on the candidates and potential matches
• the Indigenous Arts Committee proposes the allocation of grant amounts and makes recommendations to the board of directors
• the board of directors meets to make a final decision and award the funding

What are the evaluation criteria?

The evaluation committee will take into account the program objectives and the following criteria:

• quality of mentor’s experience
• ability as a mentor
• motivation for seeking a mentorship role

What is the response time?

It will take six to eight weeks from the deadline for the Conseil to process the application and the Board of Directors to reach its decision.

How will I be informed of the decision?

The person who submitted the application will receive an email invitation to view the results on the ORORA platform. No decisions will be communicated by phone.

Can I appeal the decision?

The Conseil’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal. However, Conseil staff are available to answer any questions regarding decisions. Equity, ethics and proximity are an integral part of our values, and listening and empathy will always be a priority in our customer relations. With the aim of improving the way we work, we are now providing you with a feedback form, which you can find here.

However, all organizations, collectives and artists wishing to share their concerns with us agree not to communicate with members of the evaluation committee or the Conseil’s Board of Directors about the management or evaluation of their application, or about decisions related to their application.

How will the mentor’s fee be paid?

Fees will be paid in two instalments by the host organization:

• 1st payment of $2,500: at the beginning of the internship, after meeting to review the intern’s expectations and objectives and establish the work plan
• 2nd payment of $2,500: after the mentor’s final report has been submitted

Accepting payment of the grant constitutes, for the mentor, an undertaking to complete the activities covered by the grant and to comply with the accompanying conditions, which will be communicated upon selection of the application.

The mentor agrees to:

• carry out the project as planned
• notify the Conseil as soon as possible if unable to carry out the project in the fiscal year for which the grant was awarded. In this situation, the recipient may be asked to reimburse the grant in full or in part.
• submit a final project evaluation report no later than 4  weeks after the end of the internship
• if applicable, include in the report photographs, videos or any other relevant, royalty-free visuals that the Conseil may use for promotional or archival purposes