Group Mentorship Program
Applications for the 2024 program will open November 2023
This program offers youth age 16-19 the chance to participate in an introductory group mentorship program run by partnering industry organizations in a choice of four different arts disciplines. Each program is FREE to accepted youth and offers 8 introductory group sessions between February – May. Programs include working with a lead mentor and guest mentors who are professionals in an arts career, collaborating with other youth participants, and working on a project for a final wrap up presentation. It aims to expose younger individuals to what a career in the arts looks like, and to inspire the possibility of a career in the arts. Program disciplines are subject to change year to year. The in person programs will offer bus tickets to those who need, and provide snacks at each session. Details for the 2024 program will be added in fall, 2023.
Creative Manitoba pledges to make best efforts to prioritize opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds or from equity-seeking communities, with the goal of 50% of programs holding space for participants who identify as IBPOC or from equity-seeking groups.
2023 PREVIOUS PROGRAM DETAILS:
1. Filmmaking with your Smartphone
Partner: Winnipeg Film Group
Dates: Wednesdays – February 22, March 1, 8,15, 22, April 5, 12, 19, 26
Times: 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Lead Mentor: Ben Williams
Location: Winnipeg Film Group – 100 Arthur St #304
Filmmaking with your Smartphone is a program to inspire and activate young aspiring artists, creative-types and storytellers. This workshop series will provide guidance and valuable information from an array of working professionals in Manitoba’s film community. Each week participants will join in person with the instructor Ben Williams and a professional guest mentor from the industry. The topics will range from independent filmmaking, how to get into Manitoba’s film industry – creating, producing and distributing a film; along with various aesthetic and technical skills. We will conduct an independent study lab where each filmmaker makes their own movie on their smartphone and has the chance to screen their film at the final session. This program is a great place for young people to network, create new work, and develop a pathway to a career in film!
2. Intro to the Music Biz
Partner: Manitoba Music
Dates: Mondays (virtual Group Sessions) March 6, 13, 20, 27
+ Thursdays (in person breakout group sessions) March 9, 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13
Times 6:00-8:00 pm
Lead Mentors: Alex Sannie & Ashley Au
Program Mentors: TBA
Location: Virtual (required access to laptop or desktop with internet, video and audio capabilities) + No Fun Club Recording Studio – 576 Wall Street
Intro to the Music Biz group sessions (4 sessions)
These virtual group sessions will focus on the ins and the outs of the music industry, how you can get started as a musician building your career, what it takes to put on big musical events, and much more! We’ll have guest speakers joining us each week to expand on these topics and share their own experiences. These gatherings will also allow you to meet and get to know the other participants.
Sessions include: ● Welcome & Intro to the Music Biz ● Social Media Marketing and Artist Development (Elise) ● Putting Together a DIY Show ● Releasing Music Independently
Break Out Group Sessions (6 sessions)
In addition to the Intro to the Music Biz sessions, Participants will also choose to join one of these hands on small groups with mentors in a specialized area of the music industry. These groups will be focused on:
● Songwriting – Work with your program mentor to sharpen your songwriting skills and learn how to co-write with others. Experience what it’s like to be in a real writing room with guests your mentor will bring in!
● Music Engineering & Production – Want to know how to better record, mix, and produce music? Get hands-on experience with your mentor each week as they show you different techniques to create the sound you want.
3. Exploring the Elements of Fiction
Partner: Manitoba Writers’ Guild & Winnipeg Public Library
Dates: Wednesdays – March 8, 15, 22, April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10
Times 5:45-8:00 pm
Lead Mentor: Carrie Hatland
Location: Millennium Library – 2nd floor The Buchwald Room / Final class – Carol Shields Auditorium
In partnership with Manitoba Writers’ Guild and The Winnipeg Public Library, join lead mentor Carrie Hatland, Director of Youth Programming at the Manitoba Writers’ Guild, and a roster of award-winning authors at the Millennium Library to explore the elements of creative writing, including theme and tone, setting, dialogue, and characterization. In this workshop series you will learn how to develop complex characters, write compelling scenes, experiment with point-of-view, hone your plot, and become more deliberate in your word choice.
In addition, we will celebrate how a life of writing adds to the world in positive ways. Our guest mentors are all active in their communities and fill leadership roles. It is not only the writing that is important, but the writer and the possibilities to make the world a better place.
Our guest mentors include Dawn Raffel (a former editor at O, The Oprah Magazine), Michael Redhead Champagne, Michael Hutchinson, Rowan McCandless, Donna Besel, Bob Armstrong, Frances Koncan, and Zilla Jones. We will also welcome special guest Jen Robinson, a board member from Prairie Fire Publishing to the last session to hear youth readings. Open to beginner & experienced writers.
4. The Art of Games
Partner: New Media Manitoba
Dates: Wednesdays – March 1, 8, 15, 22, April 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Lead Mentor: Olivia (Olive) Wilde
Location: virtual * required access to laptop or desktop with internet, video and audio capabilities.
See Blender requirements here
The Art of Games will explore designing using a program called Blender – a free to use open source 3D program which has been used on some of your favourite videos games and animated films. In this course we introduce you to the interface and core modelling concepts of Blender 2.9x as we create a model of our own. Each class will focus on a different aspect of this powerful program as we walk step by step through the process of 3D creation including modelling, animation, rendering, compositing, and more! Learn how the pros do it.
HOW TO APPLY:
- Read through the program details above, pick the program you are interested in
- Download the required nominator form and have it completed by a teacher or unrelated adult familiar with your work
- If you are under 18 download the required permission form and have it completed by your parent or guardian
- The Art of Games and Exploring The Elements of Fiction give you the option to share sample materials that you will need to collect and save to attach as well. You will see these questions in the application once you click apply now
- Click APPLY NOW below, read through questions, fill in all answers and attach all require forms
- If application is successfully submitted you will be brought to a confirmation page. If you hit submit and this does not happen, scroll up and check for any error highlights to fix and resubmit
*TIPS
– Copy and paste your answers into a word doc in case you need to re-submit or want to edit ahead of time
– Be sure to include your name on all attachments (save as: YourName-GroupMentorship2022)
– You will have the option to save & send yourself an incomplete application to continue at a later time
– Make sure all attachments are in PDF unless otherwise specified
If you have questions at any point during the application process, do not hesitate to contact the Mentorship Program Manager mentor@creativemanitoba.ca.
