African Female Artist Mentorship Program 2026 2027

Applications are open for the African Female Artist Mentorship Program 2026 2027, an initiative of the Girl Child Art Foundation designed to support emerging female artists across Africa. The programme provides young women artists with access to professional mentors, practical artistic guidance, community engagement opportunities, and support tailored to their individual creative practices and professional ambitions.

The African Female Artist Mentorship Program is intended for female artists who are in the early stages of their professional careers and have a clear interest in developing their artistic practice. Rather than following a general classroom based curriculum, the programme provides individualized mentorship that responds to the goals, challenges, methods, and aspirations of each selected artist.

The 2026 2027 programme will focus on painting, textile and fibre, ceramics, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. Mentors are professional artists with substantial experience in artistic practice, exhibitions, grant writing, juries, curatorial resources, and galleries. The programme combines one on one mentoring with group sessions and opportunities for participants to engage with communities through exhibitions and other activities.

About the Mentorship Program

The African Female Artist Mentorship Program was created by the Girl Child Art Foundation in response to the need for greater support for young African women pursuing careers in the creative industry. It builds on the Foundation’s wider work through art workshops, exhibitions, and art based educational programmes.

The mentorship is particularly suited to emerging visual artists who maintain an active studio practice and have developed a body of work outside formal training environments. Participants are expected to remain committed to their practice throughout the programme and dedicate significant time to developing their work.

The programme aims to create a safe, free, and accessible environment where young women can strengthen their artistic skills, explore areas of interest, develop professional direction, and connect their creative work with wider communities.

Mentorship is delivered through individualized sessions with professional artists as well as group gatherings. The official programme information states that mentors are living and working in Nigeria and have at least ten years of professional artistic practice.

Mentorship Benefits

• Free participation for selected mentees

• One on one mentorship with professional artists

• Online and in person mentoring sessions

• Mentoring meetings at least once every two weeks

• Four group mentoring sessions

• Individualized guidance based on artistic goals and professional ambitions

• Opportunities to develop technical and artistic skills

• Exposure to professional artistic practice

• Opportunities to contribute to exhibitions and community events

• Access to a network of artists and creative practitioners

Programme Areas

The 2026 2027 cycle focuses on:

• Painting

• Textile and fibre

• Ceramics

• Drawing

• Printmaking

• Sculpture

Participants can use the mentorship to explore artistic methods and professional development needs connected to their creative practice.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a female artist

• Be African

• Be between 19 and 40 years old

• Be in the early stages of a professional artistic career

• Maintain an active visual art practice

• Have developed a body of work outside formal training environments

• Be able to commit significant time to developing their artistic practice during the programme

• Be willing to participate consistently in mentorship meetings and programme activities

• Applicants enrolled in post secondary study are not eligible

Required Application Materials

Applicants must prepare the following:

• An application letter of no more than two pages

• The application letter should describe the applicant’s artistic experience and studio activity during the past year

• A clear explanation of goals for the mentorship programme

• An explanation of how the programme would benefit the applicant’s current artistic work

• A plan showing how adequate time will be devoted to artistic development while managing other commitments

• A description of current challenges within the applicant’s artistic practice and the steps being taken to address them

• Ten JPEG images or ten short videos of artistic work

• Videos must be no longer than five minutes each

• An annotated image list containing the title, date, medium, and dimensions of each submission

• A letter of reference from an established artist or curator familiar with the applicant’s work

• Names and contact information for additional references who have experience with the applicant’s work

• A link to a personal website or a resume or CV of no more than two pages

Applicants may submit any combination of images and videos as long as the total number of submissions is ten.

How to Apply

1. Review the eligibility requirements and confirm that you qualify for the 2026 2027 programme.
2. Prepare an application letter of no more than two pages explaining your artistic practice, goals, challenges, and reasons for seeking mentorship.
3. Prepare ten artistic submissions using JPEG images, short videos, or a combination of both.
4. Create an annotated list containing the title, date, medium, and dimensions of each submitted work.
5. Obtain a reference letter from an established artist or curator who is familiar with your work.
6. Prepare additional reference contact information and provide either a personal website link or a resume or CV of no more than two pages.
7. Review the complete application to ensure that all required materials are included.
8. Email the application proposal to gcaf@girlchildart.org