Cover Senegalese dance protégé Khoudia Touré presenting her work Óró at the Athens Conservatoire during the festival (Photo: Rolex)
Senegalese dance protégé Khoudia Touré presenting her work Óró at the Athens Conservatoire during the festival (Photo: Rolex)
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On the 20th anniversary of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative this year, the Swiss manufacture reinforces its profound commitment to supporting artistic excellence
In today’s fast‑paced, ever‑changing world, much of the focus tends to be placed on keeping up with the tempo and quickly adapting to the next new thing. Qualities such as agility and resilience are consequently valued and even seen as vital to success. While this undoubtedly helps to drive society forward, the unrelenting fixation on continual progress and growth can result in some of our traditions and roots falling by the wayside.
The arts, in particular, require efforts of preservation to pass on to future generations or risk getting lost in history. This important transmission of knowledge and skill is consistently championed by Rolex in its pursuit of excellence, which stems from its prestigious craft of watchmaking. As a brand highly regarded as the pinnacle of Swiss watchmaking, it is globally recognised for its unparalleled expertise, quality and standards—a reputation possible only with the Swiss manufacture’s dedication to traditional watchmaking crafts and know‑how.
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Above American poet and educator Tracy K Smith, who served as the 22nd poet laureate of the US from 2017 to 2019, was a protégé in the Rolex mentorship programme from 2010 to 2011 (Photo: Rolex)
American poet and educator Tracy K Smith, who served as the 22nd poet laureate of the US from 2017 to 2019, was a protégé in the Rolex mentorship programme from 2010 to 2011 (Photo: Rolex)
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This commitment to excellence and passion for its craft have prompted Rolex to be involved with and support individuals and organisations in the spheres of arts and culture, sport, exploration and sustainability. In fact, for more than half a century, the brand has worked with some of the world’s most talented artists as well as leading cultural institutions to help perpetuate artistic heritage and create the all‑important link between the past, the present and the future. These partnerships, which fall under the Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative, span a broad portfolio of arts—from music to architecture, cinema and more—through which Rolex asserts its long‑term commitment and contribution to global culture.
One of the key projects in this rich portfolio is the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, a mentoring programme that identifies young talents and pairs them with world‑renowned artists in their particular fields for a period of creative collaboration. This year marks the programme’s 20th anniversary—a significant milestone in preserving the arts, as its genesis was facilitating the passing down of artistic knowledge and craft from one generation to the next.
Above The Benaki Museum in Athens was one of the venues for the Rolex Arts Festival (Photo: Rolex)
The Benaki Museum in Athens was one of the venues for the Rolex Arts Festival (Photo: Rolex)
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In line with the Rolex tradition of encouraging individual excellence, these younger artists of exceptional promise, known as the protégés, are given the rare opportunity to spend at least six weeks interacting with the distinguished artists they are paired with, called mentors, on a one‑to‑one basis over the programme period of two years. The mentor‑protégé pairs are free to decide where, how and when they will interact, but most end up spending considerably more than the minimum six weeks together, fostering bonds that extend beyond the mentorship and stipulated period.
The mentoring programme works with up‑and‑coming artists across the disciplines of architecture, dance, film, literature, music, theatre and visual arts. There is also an “open category” mentorship that can take place in other fields or in an interdisciplinary pursuit. These mentorships are grouped in alternating periods according to discipline.
Above South African theatre director and playwright Lara Foot, currently the CEO and artistic director of Baxter Theatre Centre in South Africa, was a protégé in the Rolex mentorship programme from 2004 to 2005 (Photo: Rolex)
South African theatre director and playwright Lara Foot, currently the CEO and artistic director of Baxter Theatre Centre in South Africa, was a protégé in the Rolex mentorship programme from 2004 to 2005 (Photo: Rolex)
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During the mentorship, protégés often undertake projects of their own choosing, with the advice and support of their mentors. These outcomes can vary from a new novel to a stage production to a collaborative artwork created with the mentor. In some cases, mentorships have led to former Rolex protégés being appointed as artistic leaders and having their work presented at leading international exhibitions. For example, theatre protégé Lara Foot became the CEO and artistic director of Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre Centre, while literature protégé Tracy K Smith was named a poet laureate of the US and dance protégé Myles Thatcher is now a choreographer for world‑renowned ballet companies.
Less tangible but equally, or even more, significant achievements that have come out of the Rolex mentorship programme since its launch in 2002 include the personal growth of the protégés. After going through the programme, many have remarked on how the mentorships have not only offered them practical guidance and deep insight, but have also been life changing. Beyond deepening the knowledge of their artistic discipline, these interactions with their mentors have had a more holistic impact, such as liberating their thinking and boosting their confidence, international profile and connections with other people in the arts.
Above Dream Wall by Selina Cartmell provided a blackboard on which visitors to the Rolex Arts Festival could inscribe their dreams (Photo: Rolex)
Dream Wall by Selina Cartmell provided a blackboard on which visitors to the Rolex Arts Festival could inscribe their dreams (Photo: Rolex)
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In addition, past protégés who were inspired and enriched by their mentorships have in turn been motivated to take on the role of mentor themselves and guide younger artists—another example of the transmission of knowledge that is key to the programme.
Evidently, the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative has grown and developed into an extraordinary and inspiring community of artists bridging multiple generations, cultures and disciplines. The programme has seen 63 artists serve as mentors and work with 63 protégés from 41 countries—and counting. At the same time, 1,350 young professional artists from 120 countries have been nominated to participate to date, thereby bringing them to the attention of experts in their fields.
Above The festival line‑up included a Viola Master Class with protégé David Aaron Carpenter at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (Photo: Rolex)
The festival line‑up included a Viola Master Class with protégé David Aaron Carpenter at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (Photo: Rolex)
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Some notable names among the mentors of this programme include Canadian writer Margaret Atwood, American film‑maker Martin Scorsese, British painter David Hockney, British Indian sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor, as well as award‑winning American composer, actor and writer Lin‑Manuel Miranda. While all of these mentors are highly accomplished in their fields, they, too, have gained much through the Rolex mentorship programme.
Through extended interactions with the younger artists, mentors have expressed feeling energised and encouraged. “I wouldn’t have considered taking part in the programme if I didn’t expect to learn,” says Hockney, who was a visual arts mentor in the 2004–2005 cycle of the programme. “Good teachers have always learnt from their students.”
Above An interactive installation at the Rolex Arts Festival titled Repetition Compulsion by American dance protégé Jason Akira Somma that distorts people’s images when they move or dance in the space (Photo: Rolex)
An interactive installation at the Rolex Arts Festival titled Repetition Compulsion by American dance protégé Jason Akira Somma that distorts people’s images when they move or dance in the space (Photo: Rolex)
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Additionally, the community that has been cultivated over the years has led to several multidisciplinary collaborations among the protégés. To encourage these synergies, Rolex has created a special collaboration fund to support cross‑disciplinary projects.
The Next Stage
As the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative marks its 20th anniversary this year, there is certainly much to celebrate. In May, the brand pulled out all the stops with an entire week of events comprising the Rolex Arts Festival and the pre‑festival celebration. About 80 Rolex mentors and protégés enlivened multiple venues across Athens with performances, events and talks that highlighted the impact and significance of artistic legacies and creative relationships.
Above Protégé Colin Barrett speaking at the festival’s A Word In Your Ear literature talk at the Athens Conservatoire (Photo: Rolex)
Protégé Colin Barrett speaking at the festival’s A Word In Your Ear literature talk at the Athens Conservatoire (Photo: Rolex)
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“We could not have anticipated that 20 years later, our mentors and their former protégés, the Rolex arts fellows, would have formed a globe‑spanning community, joined by the hundreds of distinguished advisors and nominators from every part of the world who have contributed their expertise to this programme,” says Rebecca Irvin, head of the mentoring programme at Rolex. “We’ve created this occasion in Athens, one of the greatest of all cradles of the arts and culture, to convene a joyful reunion of the mentoring programme community, reflect on what we’ve done together and share these achievements with the public through the Rolex Arts Festival.”
In marking this new milestone, the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative continues to establish itself as the definitive programme that exemplifies corporate support of the arts at the highest level by playing a tangible role in promoting excellence and the future of the arts.
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Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
