2025 Mentor Arts Program

 

About our Program

The Peoria Art Guild is proud to announce the 2025 Mentor Arts Program. MAP was initiated in the mid 1990’s as a response to reduced arts funding in our schools. Through this program we wish to nurture budding talent among our community’s youth. While the program structure has evolved since its inception over 20 years ago, the original aim is the same: to foster the growth or individual artistic talent through immersion in a collaborative and creative environment. 

Targeting Junior and Senior High school aged students, this 16 week, FREE program pairs a small group of youth apprentices with professional, established mentor artists who specialize in diverse mediums. The program curricula centers on intense periods of hands-on individual and collaborative studio work. MAP also exposes participants to the business-side of being a professional artist from creation to promotion, culminating with the students acting as curators of their own exhibit, which includes exhibit installation and planning the opening reception.

Program Mentors are chosen based on their interest and ability in working with high school students and professional merit, which takes into consideration their experience in the visual arts, and their working knowledge of their chosen medium.

In order to be considered for acceptance into this program, all interested students must:

  • Submit an application form HERE

  • Submit a teacher recommendation form to education@peoriaartguild.org

  • Schedule a portfolio review HERE

Portfolios should include four to ten of the student’s best pieces of work. A variety of media is ideal, but not necessary. All work must be clean with no torn edges. Digital images may be may be submitted in lieu of work too large to transport. Students should also include a sketchbook with their portfolio.

When considering an applicant for acceptance into MAP, students are evaluated on the following:

  • Enthusiasm (student’s interest in the arts, including learning about artists and art history)

  • Creativity (student’s willingness to explore and use a variety of materials, tools & techniques)

  • Flexibility (student’s ability to transition for working in a group to working independently)

  • Motivation ( student regularly sees a project through to completion)

  • Initiative (student often goes beyond the minimum criteria established when completing a project)

  • Leadership ( student shows evidence of strong leadership skills)

When reviewing an applicant’s portfolio, the following areas are evaluated:

  • Composition/Design

  • Creativity

  • Craftsmanship

  • Motivation

  • Presentation

High School Juniors and Seniors are eligible to apply for MAP

2025 MAP Dates

MAP Application Portfolio Reviews - December 7, 14 or 21, 2024 9am - 2pm

Application Deadline - December 15, 2024 at midnight

Notifications - December 23, 2024

Orientation - January 8, 2025 6-7 pm

Program begins on Saturday, January 18, 2025 9:00-2:00 and students will meet every Saturday ending May 3, 2025 (No class March 29 & April 5, 2025)

Installation of exhibit -TBD

Opening Reception - TBD

Feel free to contact us at 309-637-2787 or education@peoriaartguild.org with any questions about the submission process.