Open Call for Springboard Mentorship Grant (Cambodia)

• The grant aims to enhance artistic practice (e.g., by taking creative risks, experimenting with new materials) and professional development (e.g., self-reflection on one’s artistic practice and decision-making) which ultimately contribute to the advancement of their careers. They strongly encourage applicants to consider this grant as an opportunity to innovate, take creative risks, and work in new ways to reach new audiences.

Benefits

• Mentorship experiences:
  • The goal of the mentorship is to empower a grantee to reach their full artistic potential and professionalism in their artistic careers, including various aspects of their artistic practice, technique, concept development, artistic vision, and creative problem-solving. This can also include participation in relevant training or workshops recommended by the mentor.
• Project Funding (up to 3000 USD):
  • This funding facilitates the project development process, which includes conducting in-depth research and exploring creative risks or approaches established with input from the mentor.
• Rehearsal Space/Studio Fund (up to 1500 USD):
  • The grantee can use these funds to secure rehearsal spaces or studios where they can work on their project, allowing them to experiment freely, practice their craft, and refine their work in a conducive environment. This also includes purchasing or renting essential equipment such as lighting, sound systems, and recording devices, as well as hiring technical support personnel like sound engineers, lighting technicians, and stage managers.

Priority 

• Priority given to projects centered around performing arts (including dance, music, and theater) and visual arts (such as painting, photography, sculpture, installation, digital and video art, performance art, printmaking, and mixed media).
• Multi-disciplinary projects that integrate these forms as their foundational elements are also welcomed.

Funding Information

• A grant of $6,500 is available for each of the following areas within the Springboard Mentorship Grant, which consists of three components.
• Component I: Mentorship (up to 2000 USD):
  • The goal of the mentorship is to empower a grantee to reach their full artistic potential and professionalism in their artistic careers, including various aspects of their artistic practice, technique, concept development, artistic vision, and creative problem-solving with the guidance of a mentor. This can also include participation in relevant training or workshops recommended by the mentor. The mentor, either local or regional, who possesses substantial experience and expertise in their chosen artistic field and within the scope of budget offered, can be suggested by CLA within their network or can be proposed by the applicant. CLA can redirect to another mentor if they think there should be a more suitable profile for the grantee. The mentor should be able to join final sharing either physical or virtually and program evaluations to provide feedback on the mentorship program’s effectiveness with the CLA team at the end of the program.
• Component II: Project Funding (up to 3000 USD): 
  • The grantee receives financial support to subsidize project-related expenses, or other resources essential for their artistic development. This funding also facilitates the project development process, which includes conducting in-depth research and exploring creative risks or approaches established with input from the mentor. The grantee has the option to either bring an existing project into the program or develop a new one in collaboration with their mentor during the grant period, provided they have a clear concept of their intended direction.
• Component III: Rehearsal Space/Studio Fund (up to 1500 USD):
  • This component provides funds to ensure access to experimental spaces. The grantee can use these funds to secure rehearsal spaces or studios where they can work on their project, allowing them to experiment freely, practice their craft, and refine their work in a conducive environment. This also includes purchasing or renting essential equipment such as lighting, sound systems, and recording devices, as well as hiring technical support personnel like sound engineers, lighting technicians, and stage managers.
  • For those who already own a rehearsal space or studio, the fund can cover costs for enhancing and optimizing their existing setup that respond to the project needs.
• Final Sharing:
  • This will take the form of a Critique Session, where the grantee will present their project results, such as exhibitions, performances, or other creative works-in-progress, demonstrating their growth and development throughout the mentorship program. The sharing session will involve a small group of local and regional experts to facilitate meaningful reflections on the grantee’s learning journey. Expenses related to this will be covered separately by CLA.

Target Participants

• Be a mid-career artist having at least 3 years professional experiences in creating works, including the visual art form, performing artform and multi-disciplinary form, as part of a group or solo. This experience doesn’t include those during the formal education.
• Having presented three works either as group or solo. It can be as a video, photo, website catalog etc.
• You can only apply as an individual. Registered organizations cannot apply and individuals cannot apply on behalf of an organization.
• The criteria that we will use to select participants for this program include:
  • Be a mid-career artist having at least 3 years professional experiences in creating works, including the visual art form, performing artform or multi-disciplinary form, as part of a group or solo. This experience doesn’t include those during the formal education
  • Having presented three works either as group or solo. It can be as a video, photo, website catalog…etc.
  • Cambodian or have K-Visa
  • Residing in Cambodia during the application and project implementation
  • Committed to the grant program and available for the implementation between September 2024- February 2026.

For more information, visit CLA.