NEW Member Benefit: Potters Council Mentoring Program (PCMP)

We’re so pleased to bring back a benefit that truly embodies Potters Council’s purpose: MENTORING. In 2001, when Potters Council was born, mentoring was a benefit that featured highly in the Founding members’ list of how this organization could serve the needs of the studio potters and ceramic artists.

As we move into Potters Council’s 12th year, we’re thrilled to bring this updated member benefit to YOU!

 

“Mentoring is the pairing of an individual (mentor) who has expert knowledge or skill with someone (mentee) desiring to gain that knowledge or skill in order to further develop professional expertise.” — Michael Zey, The Mentor Connection

 

The introduction of the Ceramic Arts Daily Community forum enforced the need to establish a formalized mentoring program. The forum is an excellent place to obtain a quick answer/opinion, but many members have expressed the need to develop a one-to-one relationship with another member who can share their experiences, perspectives, wisdom, techniques and skill repertoire.

 

“Mentoring begins when a person strategically affects the professional life of someone
else by fostering insight, identifying needed knowledge and expanding the other person’s horizons.”
– Larry Ambrose, Mentor’s Companion

 

Potters Council organization includes artists at many different levels of expertise, ranging from student, to recreational, to professional ceramic artist. This wide range of expertise will provide a great mix of mentors and mentees.

 

Benefits of Becoming a Mentor

  • Gain personal satisfaction from enriching the emerging artists’, students’, or established artists’ current artistic needs.
  • Give back to the ceramic community through the development of our peers, emerging artists, students, and ceramic professionals for the future by personally and professionally supporting their growth.
  • Enhance coaching, feedback and existing skills.
  • Exposure to new and different styles, knowledge, and perspectives.
  • Receive a nomination from your Mentee for a Mentor Award.
  • Potters Council recognition.

Do you have knowledge and expertise to share with others? Are you ready to give back to the ceramic community as a mentor? You can get started by reviewing the Mentoring Guidelines and completing the online Mentor Application.

 

Benefits of Becoming a Mentee

  • Gain attributes and understanding of clay and ceramics as it relates to professional and personal development.
  • Learn and apply clay and ceramic skills.
  • Gain access to the experiences of working and established artists for guidance in technique, shows, career opportunities, educational opportunities, apprenticing opportunities, representation, communication and networking skills.
  • Develop skills and knowledge to become a future mentor.

Are you looking to develop new skills or gain knowledge on a particular ceramic subject? Interested in developing a one-on-one mentoring relationship? You can get started by reviewing the Mentoring Guidelines and completing the online Mentee Application.

 

Work Flow Process
Have questions about how the process works and what your next steps should be?  Here is the step-by-step process. For detailed information please review the Mentoring Guidelines.

 

Click Here for: Mentor Workflow Process

Click Here for: Mentee Workflow Process
 

Eligibility

The program is open to all active members of Potters Council. If you’re not a member join today and begin participating in the mentoring program.
 

How Do I Get Started

Members wishing to be Mentors should register for the mentoring program online using the
Mentor Application.

 

Members wishing to be Mentees should register for the mentoring program online using the

Mentee Application.

 

With completed Mentor and Mentee application forms, the Program Coordinator conducts a matching exercise based on the information provided in the form. This will include consideration of factors such as educational and ceramic genre background, emerging and student artist needs, career aspirations, common professional and artistic interests, ceramic career experience, time availability, and location, where applicable. All effort will be made to match a Mentee with a Mentor who is best placed to assist.

After the matching process is complete, mentors and mentees will be notified of their match. The Program Coordinator will provide each participant with the contact details for their match. Information introducing the details of the program along with the Mentoring Guidelines on the PCMP’s components and expectations will also be provided.

 

It is the Mentor’s responsibility to contact the Mentee to initiate the mentoring process. However, it is acceptable for contact to be initiated by either party.

 

Once contacted by the Program Coordinator and a mentoring relationship is established, a Mentor and Mentee start the mentoring process with an initial phone call reiterating the goals of the mentoring relationship. Also, this initial contact will include collaboratively filling out the Mentoring Agreement.

 

This mentoring agreement is important as it helps build the foundations of a relationship by communicating and recording the agreed mentoring objectives, method and frequency of communication/meetings as well as how the mentor and mentee will go about achieving the agreed goals.

 

Successful mentoring requires the “right” relationship between a mentor and a mentee. If for any reason a mentor and a mentee are unable to build the “right” mentoring relationship, for whatever reason, the Program Coordinator will re-match the individuals as an opportunity becomes available.
 

Participation Requirements

While there are expectations in relation to conduct and quality, we understand the demands on the time of both mentors and mentees. Therefore, the program allows mentors and mentees flexibility to choose the best mode of communication that best fits their schedules.

 

However, once you are informed about your mentoring partner, you must:

 

  • Work together to discuss and develop expectations, set objectives, and complete the formal Mentoring Agreement. There is also a sample mentoring agreement form in the Mentoring Program Guidelines.
  • Agree upon a set schedule to interact at least once a month during the established mentor/mentee relationship duration. This duration is flexible based on the needs and determinations assessed during the mentor and mentee application process.
  • The Mentoring Agreement must be completed and submitted within one week (7days) of a mutually agreed upon and endorsed document.
  • Fulfill commitments or provide adequate notice of changes to your mentor or mentee.
  • Participate in an outcome evaluation which will review the completion of your mentoring objectives.
  • Communicate with Program Coordinator to keep him/her informed of any mentoring relationship changes or concerns, or changes in your contact information.
  • Observe confidentiality and professional standards of behavior and safety. You will not disclose to others what you discuss with your mentoring partner unless with his/her agreement. Create a safe mentoring environment.

Some Do’s and Don’ts of Being a Mentor

  • Do challenge, motivate, inspire, and encourage.
  • Do be patient and build trust.
  • Do offer alternative perspectives.
  • Do encourage self-directed reflection, analysis and problem-solving.
  • Do establish boundaries with your mentee.
  • Do remember personal safety. Face-to-face meetings or apprenticing should take place in public places.
  • Don’t simply provide solutions, but advise or identify resources to assist the mentee to make their own decisions.
  • Don’t assume responsibility for the mentee’s academic or career success. Rather,. provide feedback on various approaches and strategies to encourage success.
  • Don’t offer “personal” counseling or life coaching that is not related to the artist’s development.
  • Don’t neglect agreed commitments without explanation.
  • Don’t hesitate to contact your mentee if you have not heard from him/her in a while.
  • Don’t meet in places that make you uncomfortable.

Some Do’s and Don’ts of Being a Mentee

  • Do be committed.
  • Do question and reflect.
  • Do communicate openly.
  • Do be open-minded to opportunities, new experiences and different ideas.
  • Do accept feedback and learn from it.
  • Do be prepared and organized in your presentation and participation in the mentoring relationship.
  • Do value your mentor’s time and volunteerism.
  • Do remember personal safety. Face-to-face meetings or apprenticing should take place in a public places.
  • Don’t have unrealistic expectations (i.e. such as work experience, job offer, etc.)
  • Don’t neglect agreed commitments without explanation.
  • Don’t hesitate to contact your mentor if you have not heard from him/her in a while.
  • Don’t meet in places that make you uncomfortable.

Examples of Mentoring Activities

Some suggested mentoring activities might include, but are not limited to:

  • Provide direction to or list relevant books, web resources, articles, DVD’s or other resources.
  • Serve as a resource.
  • Help with portfolio review and critiquing.
  • Help with photographing, submitting work, and self-representation ideas.
  • Provide job shadowing/apprenticing opportunities.
  • Offer ideas to gain momentum in the next hurdle in the artists’ career or educational path.
  • Offer an on-site studio visit.
  • Discuss training and educational opportunities.
  • Suggest methods for advancing mentee’s growth.
  • Request or offer resume, artist bio, artist statement assistance, and long-term career guidance
  • General business needs: Sales 101, retail sales, wholesale questions, business plans, finance and credit.
  • Help with grant writing, applications for internship, college, graduate school, scholarships, and fellowships.
  • Provide networking opportunities or assist the mentee in professional networking.
  • Recommend developmental activities.
  • Communicated experiences and challenges as a professional artist.
  • Attend a business-related event together.
  • Provide effective feedback.
  • Acknowledge areas in which you do not have the necessary skills and refer to other sources.

Forms

Highlights

 

Mentoring Program is FREE to Members of Potters Council

 

Program Contacts

Program Coordinator

Linda Stover,  Staff: lstover@ceramics.org