The ArtSeed Apprenticeship Program connects practicing Bay Area artists with young, at-risk or inexperienced artists in long-term mutually beneficial partnerships. Artists benefit from the fresh approach that a novice is likely to inspire while the apprentice gains a broad base of knowledge, practical experience and a mentor who is also a possible reference and guide through future opportunities. There are many time- saving (and back-saving) studio tasks that a youngster can help an artist, particularly an older artist, accomplish. Apprentices meet at least twice a month with their mentor and experience a variety of fundamental professional skills and artistic perspectives. Exposure to the professional discipline and artistic practice of a serious artist broadens the student's knowledge of artistic processes, relationship-building, and business skills necessary to being a professional in any field. Elements of the Program: Pairing: ArtSeed matches artists with youth in small groups, one-on-one or two-on-two pairings (a team of one or two mentors and one or two apprentices). Phone interviews, orientations and face-to-face meetings between youth and artists will be conducted prior to formalizing a match. A trial period of two months determines the suitability of the match for a yearlong commitment. Clinical psychologists are available for consultation. Interested Bay Area artists provide ArtSeed with references and complete a profile/application form. The profiles describe the artist's medium, professional experience (teaching and exhibitions) and availability to work with youngsters. Support: Volunteer interns, who are artists training to become mentors, can provide logistical support, documentation or administrative help to the mentors or to ArtSeed staff. Orientation and Training: Mentors are provided with basic program guidelines and orientations. A support person (ArtSeed advisor or volunteer caseworker) will monitor mentorships and respond to questions that may arise throughout the partnership. Artists will be required to provide ArtSeed with current TB tests. ArtSeed will assist in this process and the fingerprinting, live scan background check. Time Commitments and Attendance: Partnerships last one year and participants meet at least once every two-weeks for two hours minimum. Weekly phone calls to confirm appointments and to check-in are recommended. Field trips and other intermittent outings (for instance, to shop for supplies or install a show) are an optional but encouraged part of the experience. Students can request transportation assistance from mentors or other ArtSeed volunteers if needed. Evaluation: Both the mentor and the apprentice provide a monthly report about their projects and describe key activities, such as field trips. Assessment can be audio-visual, written and/or debriefings between the participants and ArtSeed staff. ArtSeed has timesheets and evaluation forms available. We encourage artists and students to document each session with photos and written descriptions. Program Funding: Honoraria will be provided participants as funding develops. Meanwhile, trial mentorships occur on a volunteer basis with the possibility of earning honoraria in the middle and/or end of the year's commitment. Honoraria and special awards will be based on documentation of work and written analysis of the apprenticeship. ArtSeed is actively pursuing funding and can provide interested mentors and students with opportunities to research and learn to write grants to fund this program and their own art projects. Follow-up: At completion of the mentorship term, student participants and mentoring artists will be part of ArtSeed's program via: "Grapevines" and "Shebangs." Through "Grapevines," young artists receive information about scholarship and employment opportunities, competitions and other forms of community involvement. Students and mentors continue to receive invitations to participate in and plan ArtSeed's festive "Shebangs," which are public art exhibitions, performances, workshops, and celebratory events. We hope that both artists and mentors will continue to play an integral role in ArtSeed's activities.