Youth Arts Mentorship Program
COMING SOON
Youth Artist Mentorship & Exhibition Program
The Dawson Creek Art Gallery (DCAG) and the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre (KPAC), in partnership with Arts North East (ANE), are launching a region-wide Youth Artist Mentorship & Exhibition Program designed to support, elevate, and celebrate emerging artists across the Peace Region. This initiative connects practicing youth artists with established professional mentors working in the same artistic mediums, fostering meaningful growth, skill development, and career-building experience.
Over the course of this two-month program, the participating youth artist will engage in a one-on-one mentorship with a professional artist selected to match their medium and artistic goals. Mentorships will focus on artistic technique, creative exploration, portfolio development, and professional practices. Following this mentorship period, each student will present their work in a dedicated one-month exhibition installed on the DCAG pilot wall at KPAC, complete with a formal exhibit opening and celebration. This exhibition provides the artists with a valuable professional experience that mirrors urban-level opportunities, helping them build the credentials and confidence required for career advancement or opportunities in post-secondary art programs.
This program directly addresses the gap in access between rural and urban youth by offering Peace Region artists the exposure, mentorship, and professional development opportunities often available only in larger centres. It ensures that rural youth with aspirations in the arts can build competitive portfolios and resumes, supporting them in pursuing further education or future employment in creative fields.
Funding for the program will be used to:
-Provide honoraria for both student participants and their mentors.
-Support supply reimbursement and framing expenses managed by the DCAG.
-Sustain the curator role, ensuring each exhibition is professionally prepared, selected, and presented.
Arts North East (ANE) will play a key role by promoting and recruiting both student and mentor artists from across the Peace Region and Northern BC, ensuring broad access for creatives from all mediums and communities. Together, DCAG, KPAC, and ANE are committed to fostering artistic growth, mentorship, and visibility; empowering the next generation of Peace Region artists to flourish.
Youth Artist Applicants
Are you a youth artist in the Peace Region looking to grow your practice and gain professional experience?
Selected youth artists will participate in a two-month, one-on-one mentorship with a professional artist tailored to their medium and artistic goals. Following the mentorship, each participant will present their work in a one-month professional exhibition installed on the DCAG pilot wall at KPAC, complete with a formal opening reception.
Youth Artists Receive:
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One-on-one mentorship with a professional artist
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Guidance in artistic technique, creative exploration, and portfolio development
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A professionally curated gallery exhibition
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Honorarium for participation
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Support for supplies and framing
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Valuable career-building experience
Open to youth artists across the Peace Region and Northern BC.
All artistic mediums are welcome.
Mentor Artist Applicants
Are you an established or professional artist interested in supporting emerging talent in the Peace Region?
We are seeking mentor artists to work one-on-one with a youth artist in a shared medium over a two-month paid mentorship period. Mentors will guide creative development, professional practices, and exhibition preparation.
Mentor Artists Will:
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Provide artistic and professional mentorship to a youth artist
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Support exhibition planning and preparation
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Receive an honorarium for their time and expertise
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Contribute to strengthening arts access in rural and northern communities
Open to professional artists across the Peace Region and Northern BC.
All artistic mediums are welcome.
Meet Our Team.
YAM is presented by a dynamic, women-led team from Dawson Creek. Taylor Mills (DCAG), Tiia Kand (ANE), Gwen Hawkins (DCAG) and Emma Hawkins (KPAC), bring their roots in the local arts scene and a passion for empowering young creatives. Together, they guide YAM’s programming, creating an opportunity where youth can explore their creativity, build confidence, and express their voices through art.
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