MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

We provide a support system for artists, designers, writers, and experts with scientific and traditional knowledge as they collaborate and explore the human connection to nature, creating new art-sci pathways to a healthier world for all creatures.

”Feeding On Our Fibers” tapestry by Leah Widdicombe

MENTORSHIP WORKSHOP REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW THROUGH JULY 31, 2025

Mentorship at Creature Conserve is a support system for artists, designers, writers, and experts with scientific and traditional knowledge as they collaborate and explore the human connection to nature, creating new art-sci pathways to a healthier world for all creatures. We also host Mentorship Fellows who are developing the reach and relevance of our Mentorship community.

We encourage each Mentee to forge their own creative path, develop a meaningful relationship with their Mentor, and expand their access to the wealth of expertise, knowledge, and talent across the Creature Conserve network of artists, designers, writers, other creatives, and experts with scientific and traditional knowledge.

Mentorship runs from October through the end of March and occurs exclusively online. Participants from all countries and backgrounds are welcome to apply: our program is conducted in English, access to the internet and digital comprehension are essential and required. Participants receive free, unlimited access to our online workshops for a full year.

MENTORSHIP WORKSHOP

Applying to Mentorship is a two-step process. The first step is participation in our FREE TWO-DAY Mentorship Workshop. It is open to everyone; it is also mandatory for those interested in joining our Mentorship cohort for the 2025-2026 season. From this workshop, Mentees will be invited to apply for the full program (October 2025 - March 2026.)

The Mentorship Workshop serves as the catalyst for creative ideas embedded within the collaborative process. Through a series of case studies, participants will design and develop artistic responses as groups with the support of Mentors and leading experts who work in wildlife conservation.

The workshop is an all-day intensive, from 10 AM ET to 2 PM ET. It will be hosted on two dates: August 3 and 10, 2025. Participation is mandatory for Mentee candidates. Interested participants from time zones where in-person participation is not possible may request to take the workshop asynchronously. The application period is July 1-31, 2025.

MORE ABOUT MENTORSHIP

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Mentorship program is a rigorous program, and we look to onboard Mentees who are interested in prioritizing their commitment to Creature Conserve and excited to join our community. On average, time contribution to the program is twenty hours per month. There will be five mandatory collaborative meetings over the six-month virtual program. Mentees meet their Mentors once a month for 1:1 engagement. Successful Mentees are invited to present their projects in a public forum at the end of our program known as the Mentorship Showcase. Download the full Mentorship Program details and FAQ here.

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM TIMELINE 2025 - 2026

  • July 1, 2025: Mentorship Workshop Applications Open

  • August 2, 2025: Mentorship Workshop Applications Close

  • August 3 and 10, 2025: Mentorship Workshop

  • August 10, 2025: Mentorship Program Applicants Invited (from Attendee Pool)

  • September 1, 2025: Mentorship Decisions Announced

  • October 5, 2025: Mentorship Program Kick-Off

  • November 2, 2025: Mentee Round Table

  • December 7, 2024: Mentorship Program: Early Develop- ment Check-In

  • January 25, 2026: Mentorship Program: Mid-Program Re- view

  • March 27 - 29, 2026: Mentorship Showcase

MENTORSHIP PILLARS

The Mentorship program stands on four core pillars:

RESEARCH Creature Conserve believes that artists are communicators. For this reason, informed making is critical.

COMMUNITY Making lasting and relevant relationships.

SKILL BUILDING Mentorship offers a safe space to experiment, contest, and redefine making practice in a way often not accessible in most professional environments.

MUTUAL KNOWLEDGE SHARING There is no hierarchy between a Mentor and a Mentee, for both it is a learning process, a constant exchange.

WHO IS A MENTEE?

Mentees are individuals seeking help or guidance on any personal or professional project, at any point in their careers. They will have the opportunity to explore the intersection of art, science, and wildlife conservation more broadly, and the relationships between scientific research and visual communication more specifically. Projects can range from individual pieces of artwork to projects such as establishing a creative studio or work toward an exhibition. For examples, see the Creature Conserve Alumni page and our Scholarship Program page on our website. The possibilities are endless, so as the program grows so does our collective knowledge. The parameters for what the Mentee would like to work on are intentionally left vague, so as not to stifle creativity. Mentees can also be individuals unfamiliar with Creature Conserve who are looking to expand their relationship with our organization. We ask that each applicant propose a specific project as the focus of the program; this can be an existing or new project.

WHO ARE OUR MENTORS?

Our Mentor pool is a constantly evolving roster of expert practitioners from a diverse array of backgrounds. They are vetted members of the Creature Conserve community who are excited by the potential of combining art and science for wildlife conservation, by working collaboratively across disciplines, and eager to share their experiences and impart wisdom. We do our best to match individuals that will provide the greatest benefit for the Mentee’s defined objectives, not necessarily someone with the same background. Through our pairing process, we look for asynchronicities and adjacencies that might cultivate the emergence of novel ideas.

GLOBALISM

Wildlife conservation is a global dilemma. It is a solution to a human problem that requires a diverse, multiple, interconnected approach. Even as we consider an organism’s specific role in its environment, we also consider its role in the larger ecosystem, the human-dominated planet. Mentorship asks participants to consider their work on many scales; from the scale of the organism to the scale of the globe. Our program engages with globally significant concerns and themes as a way to enhance the accessibility to the understanding of natural and human systems; related but not limited to culture, geography, and politics.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MENTOR?

Please apply here if you are interested in becoming a Mentor.

Derek can be reached at mentorship@creatureconserve.com.