Drawing upon 15 years of experience and success mentoring artists at Newlyn School of Art, we are now in the second year of the re-imagined format of what mentoring can be for artists today, including sessions being held in other parts of the country to learn how different artistic communities build collaborative platforms for making and exhibiting.

Co-Led by artist Jesse Leroy Smith and curator Kate Jones, accompanied by an array of respected artists and art professionals, the AGORA Programme is held over four dynamic weekend sessions in Cornwall, Brighton and Bristol - culminating with a major group exhibition.

In addition to receiving dedicated artist mentoring, each participating artist completes the programme having gained focus, built confidence and made lasting networks to sustain their practice. An innovative 'Think Tank' element of the Programme gives participants the solid foundations for launching their own new project independently. At each session, we will have 5 - 6 Mentors to deliver tutorials, group seminars, lectures and group crits.

The peer group of a maximum of 30 participating artists will benefit from the following initiatives:

Gatherings
Four dynamic sessions each held over 3 days.
Vibrant public events hosted by the AGORA team and participating artists, featuring guest artists and renowned guest speakers.
Each venue will draw upon the thriving art communities in Newlyn, Brighton, Bristol and assist participating artists in building artist networks across the UK. The sessions will encourage peer engagement with your work and include gallery and studio visits and intimate talks for the group from artists and art specialists from around the UK.

Filmed Interviews
In addition to the programme you will have access to a sizable collection of filmed interviews newlyn School of Art has made over the past two years with proactive artists, curators, galleries and writers with exclusive features on exhibitions, curated projects and Q&A’s.
Interviewees include artists and professionals such as Jennifer Higgie, Sacha Craddock, David Shrigley, Marcus Coates, Keiken, David Noonan, DACS, ACME Studios, and galleries such as the Towner, Fabrica, Anima Mundi, James Freeman, and Soup.

Think Tank
An independent project for each participant, with a specific venue, audience, and budget in mind. We will put the groundwork in place, so that it is on the horizon after completing AGORA.

Tutorials
Participating artists will benefit from one-to-one tutorials with a new Artist Mentor each session. This is an opportunity to scrutinise your practice, ask questions and hear fresh insights from established artists. These tutorials are a rare and invaluable way to gain honest and informed feedback and to dedicate time to reflect on your practice.

Group Crits
Participating artists will gather radical perceptions on their work, revealing how external audiences may interpret it. Peer relationships are a lasting legacy of attending the Programme and are cultured through group activities and evening meals.

Exhibition Planning
Participating artists will create an exhibition proposal for their end of year show. Lead Tutors will assist in developing the proposal and discuss how their work can best be realised in the final exhibition. This will be supported with an additional online 1:1 tutorial between sessions 3 and 4.

The Exhibition
The Mentoring year culminates with a group show in an impressive public gallery (co-curated by the Lead Tutors). Participating artists will engage in all aspects of publicity, artist writing, funding, revenue and audience development.

Alumni
Newlyn School of Art Alumni have gone on to win respected national art prizes, undertaken prestigious residencies, joined galleries around the country, and collaborated for exhibitions and public projects. There will be opportunities to meet our Mentoring Alumni.

Our Mentors
Our mentors exhibit nationally, internationally and undertake residencies, they're also often responsible for initiating projects that explore new forms of curating, collaboration, education and professional support. They are proactive in stimulating a wider approach to the Arts and are ideally placed to share their knowledge and help emerging artists foster their own paths. We draw on a diverse range of established artist Mentors we have worked with including among others: Dr Ginny Button, Mercedes Smith, Andrew Litten, Sam Bassett, Jessica Cooper, Jacques Nimki, Liam Jolly, Dan Pyne, Marie Claire Hamon, Nina Royle, Matthew Benington, Lucianna Whittle, Emily Stevens, Seamus Moran, Mona Osman, Donna Mclean, Carlos Zapata, Sarah Poland, Laura Porter, Kate Reeves Edwards and visiting artists with international reputations.

Programme fee: £3,450
Successful applicants are required to pay a deposit to secure their place.
This fee can be paid in 3 equal instalments. The fee must be paid in full at least one month before the programme begins. Click here to read more information on payments.

Early Bird Offer
Save £150 when you apply before 31st March 2026 with code NSA150.
First instalment must be paid before 30th April 2026 for Early Bird rate to apply.
This offer is not applicable to the Year-Long Online Landscape Course.

Bursaries
Newlyn School of Art and the Toby O'Brien Foundation provide bursaries that enable both young artists and artists of low household income to attend our Mentoring Programme. Apply using the form below or click here to learn more.

Dates for AGORA 2026/27
Session 1 - Fri 27-Sun 29 November 2026
Session 2 - Fri 26-Sun 28 February 2027
Session 3 - Fri 25- Sun 27 June 2027
Online 1:1 tutorial in the Summer
Session 4 - Fri 15-Sun 17 October 2027

Simply fill in our Application Form below (takes around 20-30 mins), and we'll be in touch to arrange a free informal one-one Zoom call with a lead tutor giving you an inspiring discussion on your work and an opportunity to ask any questions about the Programme.

If you have any questions, please get in touch via our contact form.

To see previous Mentoring end-of-year show catalogues and other materials, please see the below links:

Mentoring Instagram page

EPOCH 2023/2024

PULSE 2022/2023

RHIZOME 2021/2022

PANDEMONIUM 2020/2021

XVI 2019

AQUARIUM 2018

RAW RICH 2017

CANOPY 2016

COLLIDER 2015