Youth Art Mentorship Program: 2026

The Youth Art Mentorship Program (YAM) presents senior high school students with the opportunity to learn from professional mentors to gain valuable skills as professional artists and create work for a public exhibition at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. Selected youth artists will also gain transferrable employment skills in visual arts and creative administration, which can open doors to a breadth of careers including animation, industrial design, architecture, and the non-profit sector.

Guided by the Artist Mentor, AGP Curator, and Education Programming Coordinator, artists selected for the YAM program will work independently and as a collective of peers to develop new ideas and create artwork for their professionally curated exhibition at the AGP. Youth artists will also be given free access to studio time, materials, and equipment, as well as receive payment as professional artists for their exhibition.

Eligibility:

By submitting this application, you confirm that you have read the eligibility requirements for this program and that you meet the following criteria:

• You are a grade 11 or 12 student enrolled in high school or an alternative education program. 
• You are between 16 and 20 years old. 
• You live in the City of Peterborough or Peterborough County.
• You can arrange transportation to attend in-person programs at the Art Gallery of Peterborough.
• You have not taken part in the Youth Art Mentorship Program before.  

Please note: The Art Gallery of Peterborough (AGP) welcomes applications from all eligible candidates and works to reflect the diversity of our community. We are committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free environment and do not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or social class. Past participants are not eligible to apply.