NESTOR
Mentoring Programme for Artists

The NESTOR mentoring program connects artists in the early or transitional stages of their professional careers with experienced figures from the field of contemporary visual art — including artistic practice, curating, and gallery work.

The program is based on individual collaboration between a mentor and a selected participant (mentee). The aim of the mentoring is to create space for reflection on one’s artistic practice, the sharing of experience, and orientation within the environment of contemporary art.

Mentoring can help, for example, to:

• articulate and develop the theme of one’s own work
• reflect on the long-term direction of one’s artistic practice
• consult a specific project or work in progress
• receive feedback on one’s work
• better navigate the contemporary art scene

Mentoring is not a production service and does not constitute direct financial support. Its purpose is primarily the sharing of experience and the support of professional development.

The program takes place through in-person meetings over the course of one year. The specific format of the collaboration is determined jointly by the mentor and the mentee according to the topic and the needs of the participant.

The call is intended for artists working in the field of contemporary visual art who are in the early or transitional stages of their professional careers.

The project is not intended for students (with the exception of doctoral candidates) or for artists with stable institutional backing (a permanent position at an art academy, etc.).

Mentoring is intended for those who wish to consult their artistic practice, reflect on the further direction of their work, or develop a specific project or theme in dialogue with an experienced mentor.

Applications are submitted through the internal online system available on the kalliopi.cz website. Applicants create an account, complete the online form, and upload the required attachments.

Application management and communication take place through the online system and via email.

The application must include:

• a brief introduction to the applicant’s artistic practice
• a description of the topic or project the applicant wishes to develop or reflect on during the mentoring
• motivation for participating in the program and expectations from working with a mentor
• selection of a mentor (primary and alternative choice), including a brief justification
• a portfolio or samples of work

The NESTOR mentoring program provides support in the form of individual collaboration between a mentor and a selected participant (mentee).

The program includes:

• an introductory coordination meeting (mentor – mentee – representative of the Endowment)
• at least five mentoring meetings over the course of one year
• ongoing feedback from the meetings
• a final evaluation report

The Endowment covers the mentors’ fees and expenses – mentees cover all their own costs (such as travel) themselves.

All complete and formally correct applications are assessed by the Kalliopi Endowment in cooperation with the mentors. If necessary, we may contact you with additional questions.

The evaluation takes into account in particular:

• the relevance of the selected mentor in relation to the focus of the proposed topic or project
• the clarity and thoughtfulness of the topic or project the applicant wishes to develop during the mentoring
• the applicant’s motivation to participate in the program and their expectations from the collaboration

Based on this assessment, the Endowment proposes possible mentor–mentee pairings.

Selected applicants will then be contacted and invited to an initial coordination meeting. The collaboration is confirmed after this meeting between the representative of the Kalliopi Endowment, the mentor, and the mentee.