Established in 2020, the Art Apprenticeship Network is a program that funds student apprenticeships with established artists, curators and cultural workers. Through this program, Emily Carr students will assist artists with studio work and project production. Developed to build and strengthen the local art ecosystem through a part-time apprenticeship model, the program aims to create opportunities for paid work, social connection, and hands-on experience for emerging practitioners.

We invite artists, curators, or workers within the cultural non-profit sector to submit project proposals for student apprentices as part of the Art Apprenticeship Network in 2021 by November 20, 2020. 

The Art Apprenticeship Network is invested in creating opportunities that celebrate diversity and intersectionality in sexuality, gender, culture, race, ethnicity, religion, and ability. We extend a special invitation to practitioners from diverse backgrounds, including individuals of Indigenous descent.

How it Works

• You are an established artist, curator or worker within a cultural non-profit organization in the Vancouver area
• You apply with a well-defined project or scope of work for a prospective apprentice, including the must-have hard and soft skills for the position
• We share the opportunities with senior-level students at Emily Carr, who indicate which opportunities they’re interested in
• We give you the applications from students who have indicated an interest in working with you so you can choose the best match
• Your apprentice will work with you for a maximum of 150 hours, or 10-12 hours/week for twelve to eighteen weeks in 2021 (depending on the scope and timeline of the project you have outlined)
• Apprentices are paid by the Shumka Centre
• There are no participation costs

Mentor Eligibility

The Art Apprenticeship Network is open to all established artists and artist collectives located in the lower mainland, including regular and non-regular faculty at Emily Carr University engaged in projects and practice outside the school. Cultural workers associated with a not-for-profit art organization are eligible to apply as well. All applicants should be well-established in their careers.

For Artists:  All artists with an active studio practice are encouraged to apply. Participating artists must be engaged in studio practice or the development of applied projects or collaborations (as opposed to doing contract work) and must be able to commit adequate time and attention to train and mentor an apprentice.Artists must have completed basic academic training in a relevant field or should be recognized by their peers and must have publicly shared an independent body of their work within the last three years. Both individuals and collectives are welcome to apply. Apprentice roles may include studio production and fabrication work, administrative tasks, assisting with documentation or/ and post-production of artworks, packaging, shipping and handling works, or contributing to archive management or communications materials.

For Individuals Associated with a Cultural Not-for-Profit Organization: We welcome all individuals associated with a cultural not-for-profit organization with a well-defined project or scope of work fit for an apprentice to apply. Projects can relate to curation, public programming, exhibition design, art handling, or administration. Participating cultural workers must be able to commit adequate time and attention to supervise, train and mentor an apprentice: a mentorship should be led by a particular individual within the organization.

Selection

Please note that access to this program is competitive and limited to 14 spaces for this cycle (February  2021 – December 2021). Applications will be evaluated for clarity of project scope, ability to outline expectations, ability to demonstrate the learning opportunities for an apprentice as well as the benefit an apprentice would bring to the project.

How to Apply

Prospective mentors interested in this opportunity should submit an e-mail titled “Mentor Application: Art Apprenticeship Network 2021” to shumka@ecuad.ca with the following:

• A short proposal outlining the project, its timeline, the responsibilities of the apprentice, and stating the necessary hard and soft skills required for the position
• A CV or link to a CV
• For artists and curators: a portfolio link, or a zipped attachment containing maximum 8 images or 2 videos along with corresponding information such as title, date, media and dimensions/duration
• For other cultural workers: a brief bio or link to a website that outlines the non-profit to which you are associated and describes your role within the organization.

COVID-19 Guidelines:  All project proposals must be in line with social distancing guidelines for the Province of British Columbia and should implement necessary measures for a safe workspace. Please note any relevant plans and/or risk mitigation strategies related to current public health restrictions or directives that will help ensure the safety of your apprentice, including contingency plans should these protocols change.

For More Information

Contact Cemre Demiralp at shumka@ecuad.ca

Deadline: November 20, 2020

The Art Apprenticeship Network is generously supported by the RBC Emerging Artists Project.