Mentoring Program for Early Career Artists from the Connecticut River Valley
Testimonials
"The benefit of having a mentor is immeasurable. As a graphic artist in the area just trying to find her place in the field, being able to link up with Seth and simply be able to bounce ideas off of and get advice is amazing. Seth is a wealth of information and I really do appreciate VAM for connecting me with him. It's a connection that I cherish and I hope that others get the opportunity to be a part of something so enriching."
- Nathalie Ortiz, Holyoke
"My time working with Sabrina was invaluable. She guided me through the process of applying to grad school, and without her I would have never been heading in the direction I am today."
– Jonah Godfrey, mentee theatre artist (mentor = Sabrina Hamilton, Artistic Director, Ko Festival)
"The one on one feedback and assignments that I received from [my mentor Lorna Ritz] were perfectly suited to my work and personal desires for growth in my drawing and painting technique. Her criticism and encouragement helped push against the fear and doubt, and has truly helped me to become a better artist. I am very grateful for this experience, and am glad that the VAM can support this work."
– Hannah Brookman, visual artist/videographer/director of makerspace "Looky Here" in Greenfield
VAM is currently accepting applications for mentors and mentees for a January - June, 2026 Cohort . . .
Revolutionary Art Stories: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Equity
Revolutionary Art Stories is a six-month mentorship program that brings together early-career and established artists to create new work rooted in the unfinished promises of the American Revolution. This cohort places contemporary artists in conversation with history, community memory, and each other. The project culminates in a public exhibition, artist talks, and a short documentary film.
We are seeking mentees ready to grow their practice, expand their creative thinking, and explore how their own stories intersect with the histories of this region.
We are also seeking mentors with experience, steady hands, and the desire to support the next generation through dialogue, craft, and shared inquiry.
Artists from Holyoke, Springfield, and surrounding communities strongly encouraged to apply. Application deadline: January 6, 2025. Note: artists not selected for this cohort will automatically be considered for future cohorts. The Revolutionary Art Stories cohort has two major selection criteria:
- Priority will be given to artists from Holyoke, Springfield and surrounding communities but all artists from Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin County are encouraged to apply
- The ability to match artists with a suitable mentor / mentee (as opposed to our judgement of "talent" etc.)
What Participants Receive
• One-on-one mentorship for six months
• Scholar-led workshops on Western Massachusetts histories including Shays’ Rebellion, Indigenous displacement, African American freedom struggles, immigrant and labor movements, and the ongoing pursuit of equity
• A structured curriculum integrating artmaking, research, and reflection
• Professional support in developing artist statements and public storytelling
• Inclusion in a public exhibition at Holyoke Media
• A video about the exhibition to help document the work
• A stipend for mentors and mentees
What the Cohort Asks of You
• Engage deeply with the histories, themes, and questions at the heart of this project
• Meet once every two weeks with your mentor/mentee
• Develop one completed artwork connected to the project themes
• Participate in workshops, check-ins, and the exhibition opening. The two dates artists must be available are Wednesday evening, Feb. 18 (orientation with humanities scholar) and Thursday, June 4th (Exhibition Opening).
Who Should Apply
• Visual artists, writers and performing artists working in any medium
• Artists at early, mid, or established career levels
• Artists who want to explore how “life, liberty, and the pursuit of equity” shows up in their communities and their own lives
• Artists interested in cross-disciplinary thinking, mutual support, and public engagement
Timeline
Applications open now
Cohort runs January–June 2026
Exhibition opening June 11, 2026 at Holyoke Media
Presented by Valley Arts Mentors, 50 Arrow Gallery and Holyoke Media.
Supported in part by Mass Humanities.
We match 10 - 15 mentor/mentee pairs a year on a rolling basis.
Commitment: Mentors and mentees connect online or in person once every two weeks for a six month period
Mentors
We are recruiting mentors who are established artists or arts professionals with 15+ years of experience in their field who would like to help up and coming artists and arts professionals in the Valley by sharing their knowledge, advice and potentially referrals to their networks. If you are interested in serving as a mentor please share your contact info on the registration form below and we will follow up with you.
Mentees
We seek applications from mentees who are:
- ages 18+
- reside in the Connecticut River Valley (Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties).
- Seek to make their living in the arts as practicing artists or arts professionals (curators, presenters, non-profit administrators, etc.).
- Applications from those seeking to make a career change are welcome as well as people "just starting out."