Emerging young artists had the unique opportunity to collaborate with world-renowned mentors in their disciplines during the 2020–2022 cycle of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.

The experience changed their lives and challenged some of their preconceptions about their future directions. For the mentors, it was an opportunity to pass on their wisdom to a younger generation, to inspire their protégés and to be inspired in return.

Acclaimed artists Spike Lee, Phyllida Lloyd, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Carrie Mae Weems worked closely with, respectively, filmmaker Kyle Bell, theatre-maker Whitney White, filmmaker Agustina San Martín and visual artist Camila Rodríguez Triana.

Established in 2002, the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative exemplifies the company’s pursuit of excellence, symbolized by the word “Perpetual”. The programme was established to aid in the transmission of artistic knowledge and craft from one generation to the next.