Free mentorship scheme announced to support British East and South East Asian artists

A new pilot scheme aimed at mentoring British East and South East Asian (BESEA) artists in performing arts has been launched. 

The Tidal Rising Mentoring Scheme, established by BESEA artists and creative practitioners working in performing arts, aims to provide support for those of BESEA heritage who face barriers and obstacles in the performing arts industry. They are passionate about securing a supportive community and a better future for the next generation. 

They are hoping that with the scheme, BESEA artists and creative practitioners will face less of the historic and systemic prejudices that have been faced previously, in not only performing arts but in the wider UK Society. Unfortunately, there has been a 300% increase in hate crimes towards people of East Asian and Southeast heritage in the UK since the pandemic began.

The scheme supported by Arts Council England, New Earth Theatre, the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, East 15 Acting School, the London School of Musical Theatre, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, The Musical Theatre Academy, the Oxford School of Drama, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, will see fifteen mentoring partnerships set up. 

Artistic Director of New Earth Theatre, Kumiko Mendl, said: “I’m delighted that New Earth has been able to support the setting up of this vital and timely mentorship programme. Whilst performance-related activity remains severely restricted under lockdown, we have to ensure our community not only survives the current crisis but thrives on the other side of it.”

The fifteen partnerships will run over the course of six months. The scheme will be free of charge and both mentor and participant will be of BESEA heritage. The scheme is open to artists, creative and technical roles and will also provide training to ensure they can make the most of their partnership with their mentor. 

Benedict Wong, actor and patron of Tidal Rising, said: “Throughout my early career, opportunities for guidance were limited. It’s an honour to be a patron of the Tidal Rising Mentoring Scheme where ESEA artists can share their collective experience, and together as a community we can grow, nurture and elevate.” 

Applications are now open and will close at 23:59 on 15 February 2021. To apply, please click here.