Mentoring Artists for Women's Art (MAWA) is a Canadian feminist visual arts nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Registered under Business Number 133387076RR0001, MAWA focuses on empowering women, non-binary, trans, and Two-Spirit woman-identifying individuals in the visual arts through mentorship, education, and community-building initiatives[3][4][5].

History and Mission

Established to address systemic gender inequalities in the arts, MAWA centers mentorship as its core strategy. The organization connects senior artists with emerging practitioners to share skills, networks, and resources, aiming to reduce barriers for underrepresented groups[5]. Programming emphasizes intergenerational knowledge exchange and grassroots support[3][5].

Programs and Activities

MAWA offers structured mentorship frameworks:

• Focussed Mentorships: Three-month programs pairing participants with senior artists to develop skills and artistic philosophies[2].
• Rural Outreach: Tailored mentorship initiatives for artists in rural Manitoba communities[2].
• Hourly Consultations: $50/hour sessions for grant applications, project feedback, and career guidance[2].

Additional programming includes workshops, lectures, critical reading groups, an artist-mothers support network, and international collaborations with figures such as curator Lucy Lippard and artist Rosalie Favell[3][5].

Publications and Exhibitions

MAWA supports critical discourse through publications like Desire Change: Contemporary Feminist Art in Canada (2017) and Technologies of Intuition (2006)[3]. Notable exhibitions include Grrls, Chicks, Sisters & Squaws: Les citoyennes du cyberspace (2006) and Resilience (2018), the latter curated by Lee-Ann Martin[3].

Membership and Reach

With over 300 members, approximately 80% reside in Winnipeg, 10% elsewhere in Manitoba, and 10% across Canada. The organization relies on 350+ annual volunteers and operates on a low-cost/no-cost model for most programs[3][5]. While mentorship prioritizes women and gender minorities, many events welcome all genders[3][4].