Rolex has always had a close relationship with the art world. Since 2002, it has established the “Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative” to support the transmission of valuable knowledge and connect talented emerging artists with masters in various fields, in order to carry on and continue the creation of beauty.
The program covers various fields such as architecture, dance, film, literature, music, drama, and visual arts. It usually operates on a two-year cycle. Through the Creative Recommendation Funding Program, young artists have the opportunity to be mentored by masters in their respective fields and engage in creative collaborations for a certain period of time. Currently, the program has paired 63 international masters with talented young artists from around the world.
In the list of the Global Mentorship Program for 2023-2024, there are 5 internationally renowned artists – El Anatsui (visual arts), Bernardine Evaristo (literature), Anne Lacaton (architecture), Dianne Reeves (music), and also the leading figure of China’s “Sixth Generation” directors – Jia Zhangke. They will serve as mentors for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative for the 2023-2024 term, each guiding a promising artist. Jia Zhangke will be paired with Filipino filmmaker Rafael Manuel as his protégé.
