Applications for the 2026 program
are open November 9 - December 15, 2026
ABOUT THE PROGRAM - FREE TO APPLY
The 2026 NCWCA Mentorship Program connects experienced NCWCA members with emerging Bay Area woman-identifying and non-binary artists, curators, art teachers, art historians, and aspiring gallerists.
Each mentorship pair determines their own goals, but most focus on artistic critique, professional practices, goal-setting, networking, and navigating the realities of an arts career.
Connecting emerging arts professionals with experienced practitioners helps mentees envision what a sustainable career in the arts can look like. Mentorship benefits both people in the relationship. Our mentors consistently share how much they learn and gain from working with their mentees!
We'll match up to 5 mentor/mentee pairs this year, depending on mentor availability.
PROGRAM TIMELINE
Mentorships run for 6 months, from January through June 2026. Pairs meet at least once monthly (in person or virtually via Zoom) and stay in touch between meetings through email or phone.
APPLICATIONS & SELECTION
Applications for mentors and mentees are open from November 9 through December 15, 2025. We'll notify all applicants of their status by the end of December.
ELIGIBILITY
Mentees: NCWCA membership is not required to apply. Non-members need to live in one of the 9 Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma). Current NCWCA members in good standing can apply regardless of location.
Mentors: Must be NCWCA members in good standing. Location doesn't matter.
There's no fee to apply.
Note to applicants: AI is great as a brainstorming or editing tool, but your essay should be written by you. We’re more interested in learning about the real you than in perfect prose! If you've already submitted your application and want to revise your essay before the December 15 deadline, you have plenty of time.
The 2026 NCWCA Mentorship Program connects experienced NCWCA members with emerging Bay Area woman-identifying and non-binary artists, curators, art teachers, art historians, and aspiring gallerists.
Each mentorship pair determines their own goals, but most focus on artistic critique, professional practices, goal-setting, networking, and navigating the realities of an arts career.
Connecting emerging arts professionals with experienced practitioners helps mentees envision what a sustainable career in the arts can look like. Mentorship benefits both people in the relationship. Our mentors consistently share how much they learn and gain from working with their mentees!
We'll match up to 5 mentor/mentee pairs this year, depending on mentor availability.
PROGRAM TIMELINE
Mentorships run for 6 months, from January through June 2026. Pairs meet at least once monthly (in person or virtually via Zoom) and stay in touch between meetings through email or phone.
APPLICATIONS & SELECTION
Applications for mentors and mentees are open from November 9 through December 15, 2025. We'll notify all applicants of their status by the end of December.
ELIGIBILITY
Mentees: NCWCA membership is not required to apply. Non-members need to live in one of the 9 Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma). Current NCWCA members in good standing can apply regardless of location.
Mentors: Must be NCWCA members in good standing. Location doesn't matter.
There's no fee to apply.
Note to applicants: AI is great as a brainstorming or editing tool, but your essay should be written by you. We’re more interested in learning about the real you than in perfect prose! If you've already submitted your application and want to revise your essay before the December 15 deadline, you have plenty of time.
The truth is that women have never been treated equally in the art world and they’re dramatically underrepresented.
The NCWCA Mentorship Program provides and offers numerous opportunities to build communication, knowledge and patience for the mentee, so she can grow as a person and break these barriers. I think this program will give an edge to more women to be more visible and successful. It is, after all, women helping other women with their expertise!
My interaction with my mentee strengthened my own knowledge and my leadership skills as well. It was a great learning opportunity for both of us! To see a positive impact on her was truly amazing.
It was my pleasure to work with the NCWCA Mentorship Program and I will be glad to do it again!
2023 Mentor Nilou Farzam
2025 MENTORS & MENTEES
|
Mentors
Marie Cameron Marguerite Elliot Bianca Lago Sawyer Rose Leitha Thrall Victoria Veedell |
Mentees
Ally Kraus Madi Gentry Nikola Nardell Perry Meigs Car Nazzal Margaret Luo |
2024 MENTORS & MENTEES
|
Mentors
Shawna Vesco Ahern Marguerite Elliot Vicki Gunter Sawyer Rose Luz Marina Ruiz |
Mentees
Bushra Gill Annie Tull Bridgette Wilkerson Krisztina Lazar Quinn Keck |
2023 MENTORS & MENTEES
|
Mentors
Marguerite Elliot Nilou Farzam Karen Gutfreund Barbara Pollak-Lewis Na Omi Judy Shintani |
Mentees
Megan Broughton Nimisha Doongarwal Tracy Pullman Tanya Momi Ashima Yadava |
I was honored to be asked to be a mentor for NCWCA as a Curator. After having created so many exhibitions, one tends to forget all the steps it takes. Working with my mentee was a lot of fun and it gave me a new perspective from "fresh eyes." This helped me clarify my thinking around best practices for exhibitions and all the details, particularly since I'm writing a book on the subject. So I learned a lot too. My mentee and I will be working on an upcoming project and I look forward to that and our new friendship.
2023 Mentor Karen Gutfreund
2022 MENTORS & MENTEES
|
Mentors
Salma Arastu Lydia Nakashima Degarrod Sawyer Rose Victoria Veedell Ashley Voss |
Mentees
Sunroop Kaur Siana Smith Kiana Honarmand Renee Switkes Julia LaChica |
2021 MENTORS & MENTEES
|
Mentors
Sandra Yagi Elizabeth Addison Priscilla Otani Diane Williams Ashley Voss |
Mentees
Sofia Venegas Fleur Spolidor Ata'ataoletaeao Jayne Foster Linda Steele |
2020 MENTORS & MENTEES
|
Mentors
Carla Caletti Sawyer Rose Na Omi Judy Shintani Victoria Veedell Sandra Yagi |
Mentees
Melissa Bolger Cedar Ranney Shapiro Nicole Godreau Soria Rupy C. Tut Kathleen Yarnold |
2019 MENTORS & MENTEES
|
Mentors
Judy Johnson-Williams Bonnie Levinson Sondra Schwetman Zahava Sherez Sandra Yagi |
Mentees
Cherisse Alcantara Theresa Giammattei Erica Gomez Henao Sierra Lowe Sarupa Sidaarth |
