The Art of Mentoring: The Rolex Arts Festival

The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative has been the cornerstone of Rolex's commitment to the arts for over two decades.

Over 1,350 young professional artists from 120 countries have been nominated, bringing them into the limelight of experts in their respective fields. This has led to the nomination and selection of protégé finalists by 300 influential figures in the arts and 145 major artists and creative leaders serving as advisors. 

To date, 63 artists have played the role of mentors to the same number of protégés hailing from 41 different countries. This burgeoning global creative community is seen by Rolex as one of the most significant achievements of the programme.

The impact of this initiative has been palpably felt in Athens, Greece. In celebration of 20 years of artistic collaboration, the city recently hosted the Rolex Arts Festival, attracting mentors, fellows, and local artists alike. This festival was a thriving hub for various performances, discussions, readings, screenings, exhibitions, and installations.

One of the highlights is the performance of "Óró", a riveting dance piece by Senegalese hip hop dancer and choreographer Khoudia Touré

"Óró" isn't just an artistic project; it's an ambitious social endeavor bringing together young adults from different walks of life. The performance marks a significant success for Touré in the presence of her mentor, renowned chereographer, Crystal Pite.

"It's inspiring to be here and to see all these artists from all these different disciplines and to reconnect with Khoudia and see her work and see her just ace that whole experience," said Pite

"I was really, really excited that you (Pite) could see it this way...I just wanted her to see the piece. It was very meaningful