Fact Sheet

The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative is an international philanthropic programme devised by Rolex and run by a team at the company’s headquarters in Geneva. It seeks out highly talented young artists from around the world and brings them together with great masters, for a year of creative collaboration in a one-to-one mentoring relationship.

History and Objectives

The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative was launched in June 2002. It runs biennially and is now in its third cycle (2006-2007). Its objective is to help perpetuate the world’s artistic heritage. In keeping with its tradition of supporting individual excellence, Rolex is giving emerging artists time to learn, create and grow.

Programme Format

Rolex invites masters in dance, film, literature, music, theatre and the visual arts to provide individual guidance to gifted young artists. In six disciplines, a senior artist (the mentor) agrees to foster and counsel a young artist (the protégé) for one year. Each pair decides the most effective way of interacting.

Selection of Mentors

Every two years, a new Advisory Board of distinguished artists and practitioners suggests and endorses potential mentors. Once the mentors have been approached and have agreed to take part, Rolex works with them to establish a profile of the protégé they would like to work with.

Selection of Protégés

Then, six Nominating Panels – one panel per discipline – are assembled. The panels are made up of experts qualified to identify suitable potential protégés. To ensure that the process is impartial, panel members remain anonymous during the selection period. Artists do not apply directly to the programme. Each Nominating Panel recommends potential protégés, who are then invited by Rolex to submit applications. The Nominating Panel studies all the applications and recommends three finalists. The entire process has an invaluable spin-off, as it allows the panellists to become aware of about 30 talented young people in their field. Rolex then arranges for the mentor to meet the finalists and choose his or her protégé.

Year of Mentoring

Mentors and protégés spend a minimum of six weeks together, though many spend considerably more time sharing knowledge and experience. The place and time of these interactions are arranged by mutual agreement. The form of the interaction is flexible, ranging from a protégé being granted access to a master at work, to mentor and protégé actually collaborating on a work. During the year, Rolex keeps in contact with the mentors and protégés to provide logistical support as required.

Protégé Grant

Each protégé receives a grant of US$25,000 during the mentoring year, in addition to money to cover travel and other major expenses. A budget of a further $25,000 is available to each protégé after the year is over. This is offered specifically towards the creation of a new piece of work, a publication or a performance or public event.

Documentation

To help give exposure to both the protégés and the programme, Rolex documents the year of mentoring in a publication and a film. A website rolexmentorprotege.com also describes the programme.

Outcome

After the mentoring year is over, Rolex continues to keep in touch with the protégés, following their careers with interest. The outcome for protégés varies: a new novel, a new stage production, a dancing career with the mentor’s company, and a collaborative artwork with the mentor, are all examples of protégés’ achievements through the programme. However, Rolex is aware that the full benefits of the programme for many of the young artists may continue far into the future.

Global Creative Community

Since the launch of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative in 2002, 173 artists, art world leaders and other cultural luminaries have participated in the programme, including 54 advisors who have helped select mentors, and 91 nominators who have helped select protégés. Programme participants contribute from across the globe, building a Rolex community of artists spanning 39 countries that grows in depth and scope with each mentoring year.