Spark: All About Mentorship
Who is a mentor? A mentor is an experienced and knowledgeable person who works alongside an emerging person in the same field to help them in their professional development and to succeed in their goals. In the SPARK program, the mentor would be the Arts Council's Performing Arts Coordinator or other qualified Arts Council member and the shared goal is to present a live performing arts show in the community. It is important to note that the role of a mentor is not to delegate tasks but to let the SPARK coordinator be in the driver's seat. You are the trusted advisor and role model who provides support, guidance, and practical assistance.
Benefits of Mentoring (for you and your Arts Council)- Grow the skill base in your Arts Council and community
- Renewed enthusiasm, inspiration, and confidence in your own skills and duties
- Gain leadership and communication skills
- Learn new ideas and approaches that the mentee may have to offer
- Diverse networking and increased awareness of the Arts Council in new groups in the community
- Opportunities to welcome new audience members and volunteers
- Positive mentorship experiences can attract, retain, and develop new Arts Council members
- Be a part of developing the next generation of arts presenters in Saskatchewan
Role of the SPARK Mentor
As the SPARK Mentor, your role is to use your knowledge and experience in presenting performing arts to guide and assist the SPARK coordinator as they present a live show in the community. Ideally, they will have participated in the selection of the artist and are confident that it is a show they can market to their peers. One of the principles of the SPARK program is that the mentor offers support, sound advice, and practical tools to empower the mentee to present a quality show, but in their own unique way. The SPARK coordinator will look to you for guidance, but it is likely that they will also have a few ideas of their own that may be new to the Arts Council.
DO'S AND DON'TS FOR MENTORS| DO | DON'T |
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Elements of the successful mentor-mentee working relationship:
Mutual Respect and Understanding. A priority in mentorship is having a positive relationship in which both participants feel a sense of trust and that their opinions are heard. Being approachable and unbiased opens up opportunities for more honest questions and feedback.
Availability and Commitment. Both the mentor and mentee must respect the time that the other is dedicating to the program. Be available and accessible, respond in a timely manner, and honour commitments so that the other person knows that their time is not being wasted. Give notice in advance if you are delayed on a certain task or unable to make a meeting.
Communication Plan. Regular communication is important in keeping both parties on the same page. At the start of the program, it may be helpful to agree on how Mentor-Mentee meet-ups will happen (ex: in person, over the phone, or email) and roughly how often they will take place. While it is important to be flexible, having this conversation early on will ensure that expectations are aligned and help prevent misunderstandings down the road.
Clear Communication and Active Listening. Mentorship is not a lecture in which the more experienced person projects everything they know onto the less experienced person. Rather, communication between the mentor and mentee is a two-way street. Conversations are focused on learning from each other and sharing knowledge, experiences, and practical information. Listen actively, ask thoughtful and open questions, and clarify. Confirming any action steps is a good way to remain accountable to each other and stay on track.
Follow-up. Conversations are an invaluable piece of mentorship, but moving forward on the action steps is what gets things done. This means that both parties follow through on their commitments and report back on their progress. Provide positive feedback or a simple thank-you for tasks well done to show encouragement and appreciation.
Getting Started.First Meeting. At the beginning of the mentorship, arrange a casual meeting to get to know each other and discuss the program. If you and the SPARK coordinator are not already well acquainted, allow time to get to know each other. Partnerships based in trust do not happen overnight. Every mentorship is different, and depending on how well acquainted you are with the SPARK coordinator, their familiarity with the Arts Council, and their experience working in presenting performing arts, this initial meeting may vary greatly across communities in the SPARK program. Some topics to cover may include:
- Introductions and sharing reasons for participating in SPARK
- Discuss how shows have traditionally been presented in the community, what concepts to keep, and new ideas to try. This may include but is not limited to: marketing, branding, media relations, ticket sales, target audience, program design, and other event details.
- Overview of the timeline for presenting the show. Make a checklist and set target deadlines.
- Agree on how often you will meet and best means of communication (phone, email, text etc). Exchange contact information.
- Allow time for questions!
Throughout the program. Every now and then, take a step back to evaluate how the mentorship is going.
- What is working well?
- Have successes been recognized and praised?
- What needs to be done differently?
- Are there any concerns and how can they be addressed?
- How can OSAC help?
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