Our Latinx Artists Mentorships has traditionally been made available only for visual artists specifically offering sketching, portraiture or painting. However, we are looking to expand to other mediums in the performing arts, such as music, dance, theater, etc.

Through this program, young Latinx artists will be connected with experienced mentors who will help you strengthen your artistic skills, provide you with a public space to show/perform your work, and also teach you how to market yourself. Because we work as a cooperative gallery and a non-profit organization, visual artists will also learn all facets of gallery operation from planning, to publicizing, to hanging a show. Performing artists will learn how to create a Portfolio.

What sets us apart from any other existing Mentorship Programs is that we offer a bilingual-bicultural setting where you can learn, shape and share your artistic expression in both English and Spanish as an emerging Latinx individual.

How it Works
A jury made up of members of the Rhode Island Latino Arts Network (RILAN) will select two semi-finalists to show 2-3 pieces of art in the gallery for one month. Additionally, one visual artist and one performing artists will be selected for a 4-month mentorship. All finalists will be invited to participate in scheduled gatherings of the RILAN.

To be a Mentor: If you are a Latinx artist who resides in Rhode Island, please make sure you are listed as a RILA Teaching Artist before being considered for this position. Non-Latinx Artists, please continue to read the sections below.

If you are interested in giving back and sharing your talents by mentoring a young, emerging Latinx artist, this program is for you. You do not have to currently live in Rhode Island, but you must have lived here for at least 12 months either as a student, working/practicing artist or are a native of Rhode Island. [We will not be providing housing or travel expenses] You must be willing to interview and later meet with your young Mentee for a 4-month session. You set your own hours, but the meeting location must be during weekends in our Artists Studio Space at La Galería.

After your first meeting with your Mentee and you have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), you will be paid a $500 stipend at the end of the 4-month internship. Additionally, we will assist you with any applications for fellowships with local or regional arts funders or refer you to other jobs that we know about.

Mentor Artists who are bilingual/ and of Latino heritage are strongly encouraged to apply. However, it is not a requirement. We strongly encourage Mentors who are bilingual / bicultural and familiar with Latin American art & culture and with the Rhode Island Latino arts community.

Mentee Eligibility: Applications are open to young Latinx artists with strong discipline and who are serious about their art practice. You can be between 16-20 years old and must have no history of professional gallery consignment in Rhode Island or surrounding areas of Southeastern New England or New York. Eligible visual arts applicants must submit digital samples (JPEG 300dpi or higher) of their work in any visual art medium.

Performing Artists Mentees must express a strong interest and show discipline in meeting with a Mentor to learn or expand your talent in a bilingual setting. Be clear on the online application about your goals, desires and why you want to participate in our program.

You do not have to be fluent in either Spanish or English to participate in this program — sessions will be offered in either or languages, whichever you feel more comfortable.

Please note: If you have shown your work in a public setting (a school, library or community center) of if you have performed in a live setting, to be eligible for our program, you must show that you have not had an established relationship with a professional gallery or performance center in the area.

We strongly encourage emerging Latinx artists who are practicing or independently creating their own unique style and have a vision. We will accept applications from student artists currently enrolled in a high school, trade or training school, or performance program who have instructor-driven pieces or performance videos. All work must be original and created by you, and we will request a strong letter of support from a teacher or instructor.

You are eligible to be in the Emerging Visual Artist Program only once every 18 months, but you may apply again if you were not accepted as a finalist in previous years.

If accepted, you will be asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) stating that you will complete the program in its entirety. If you are under 18 years of age, we will also ask for parent or guardian's permission and for someone to sign a liability form

Deadline:
We will begin accepting applications on September 1, 2021 for a mentorship program to begin January of 2020. Deadline for submission is October 31, 2021. Interested applicants to be either a Mentor or Mentee should plan to attend our upcoming RILAN Gathering, scheduled for Friday, October 4, 2022 at La Galería. You may also inquire via E-Mail by writing to: lagaleria@rilatinoarts.org.