Mentoring Artists for Women's Art (MAWA) encourages and supports the intellectual and creative development of women and gender expansive people in the visual arts by providing an ongoing forum for mentorship, education and critical dialogue.
Mentorship is the core activity of the organization, and a mentorship philosophy informs all aspects of MAWA. MAWA mentorships range in duration from 2-12 months, sometimes focussing on a specific media or theme, and often culminate in an exhibition. The in-depth learning that they provide is transformative. Mentorship shares knowledge, experience, networks and support, advancing individual careers and building a healthy, intergenerational arts community.
In addition, MAWA provides a wide variety of accessible visual art programming for people of all genders, such as: artist talks by local, national and international artists; critical reading and discussion groups; workshops in a particular artistic skills; workshops in traditional global and Indigenous artistic practices; professional practices workshops; theoretical lectures; critical writing opportunities; studio visits with established curator; critiques with established critics; film screenings; and a resource centre/lending library. Identity-based groups provide networking, peer support, artistic feedback and access to professional opportunities.
