David Chipperfield appointed as 2016-2017 Rolex Arts Initiative architecture mentor

The new mentors for the 2016-2017 Rolex Arts Initiative were revealed during a recent ceremony in Mexico City that celebrated the conclusion of the 2014-2015 cycle. And among those mentors is David Chipperfield, who was appointed for Architecture.

Now in its eighth edition, the prestigious biennial program invites seven globally esteemed artistic figures to collaborate one-on-one with seven (very lucky) emerging young talents in their respective disciplines for a year. Previous architecture appointees include Kazuyo Sejima and Peter Zumthor.

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"Driven by an architectural approach that values 'substance, permanence and meaning' above spectacle, British architect David Chipperfield has gained global renown for a diverse portfolio. Among his notable buildings are the reconstructed Neues Museum in Berlin, the Museo Júmex in Mexico City and the UK’s Turner Contemporary gallery, recently chosen as a 21st-century British landmark."

Along with Chipperfield, the other six mentors are Mia Couto (literature), Alfonso Cuarón (film), Philip Glass (music), Joan Jonas (visual arts), Robert Lepage (theatre) and Ohad Naharin (dance).

Currently, nominating panels of influential artists and arts professionals from around the globe are meeting with potential candidates to apply for the program. Next spring, the mentors will personally pick a protégé from a pool of three or four finalists. Protégés will be announced in June 2016, and the program is set to start shortly after.

Each protégé receives 25,000 Swiss francs to support his or her participation in the mentorship, and an additional 25,000 Swiss francs will be granted for the realization of a new work by the end of the 2016-2017 cycle. Protégés and mentors will freely collaborate on their projects for up to six weeks.