anam creative: (in)dustry mentors
(in)dustry: paid mentor call out
anam creative are seeking expressions of interest from creatives, freelancers and music industry workers interested in mentoring as part of (in)dustry, a new remote development project supporting young people from underrepresented backgrounds to build sustainable freelance and business practices within the music industries in Scotland.
What is this call out for?
We are building a pool of potential mentors whose experience, approaches and values align with the aims of the project (find out more about the project below under What is (in)dustry).
Participants will help shape their own mentoring relationships during the programme. This means they may choose mentors identified through this open call, alongside practitioners they independently wish to connect with.
Because mentoring relationships are highly personal, we feel it is important that participants have agency in choosing who supports them, rather than assigning mentors in advance.
This also means that expressing interest through this call out does not guarantee a mentoring role. We want to engage a broad range of practitioners in order to create the most relevant and supportive experience possible for participants.
What kind of mentors are we looking for?
We are interested in hearing from people working across music, arts and creative industries, particularly those engaged in:
grassroots and DIY culture
independent creative practice
community-led work
non-hierarchical and collaborative approaches
sustainable freelance working
ethical and future-facing music industry models
We are particularly interested in mentors who care about:
reducing gatekeeping within the creative industries
supporting young people from underrepresented backgrounds
peer learning and skill-sharing
building healthier and more accessible creative ecosystems
You do not need formal mentoring experience to express interest.
Alongside established professionals, we are also interested in hearing from practitioners who may be earlier in their careers but have recent and relevant lived experience they feel could support participants. This may include people who have recently started projects, labels, events, collectives or freelance practices and are interested in sharing practical knowledge with others.
We believe mentoring can also be a form of community building, professional development and mutual learning.
What would mentoring involve?
Mentoring relationships will be shaped collaboratively between mentors and participants depending on individual goals and needs.
Some mentoring relationships may involve longer-term support across several sessions, while others may involve shorter-term or specialist guidance.
Support may include:
developing sustainable freelance practices
building confidence and professional networks
navigating the music industries
project planning and delivery
fundraising and income generation
creative development
collaboration and collective working
overcoming barriers and gatekeeping within the sector
Mentorship activity will take place remotely between September and December 2026.
There may also be short introductory or “chemistry” conversations before mentoring relationships are confirmed.
Fees and access
Mentors selected by participants will be paid for their time.
Mentoring fees may vary depending on the type and duration of support offered, with up to £1,440 available per mentoring relationship.
The project is remote and mentors can be based anywhere. However, as participants are based in Scotland, some lived experiences and contextual knowledge may be particularly relevant.
We aim to support access needs wherever possible and encourage mentors to share any relevant access requirements or communication preferences with us.
What is (in)dustry?
(in)dustry is a nine-month remote project supporting five young creatives aged 18-25 (or up to 30 if d/Deaf, Disabled and/or neurodivergent) who are based in Scotland outside of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The project supports participants interested in behind-the-scenes roles within music and culture. This may include, but is not limited to:
design
videography and photography
music management
promotion and events
booking
running a record label
live sound
community and third sector work
grassroots organising
other independent creative practices
Participants will receive:
a £2,000 bursary
mentorship from industry professionals and practitioners
support from the anam creative team
regular group reflection sessions focused on collaboration, skill-sharing and community building
The programme is rooted in accessibility, collaboration and reducing barriers into the creative industries. Through mentorship, peer support and real-world development, participants will be supported to test ideas, build networks and develop sustainable approaches to creative work.
The project is funded through Youth Music’s Industry Connect Fund and participants will also engage with the wider Industry Connect Coalition throughout the programme.
You can find the full project details here.
How to express interest
Please email the following to michiel@anamcreative.com:
A short bio/introduction to you and your creative practice or experience
A short description of any mentoring, facilitation or relevant support experience
If you do not have mentoring experience, please tell us why you are interested in mentoring and any relevant experience you feel connects to this
A link to your work or practice (website, portfolio, social media, artist page etc.)
Anything you feel may help us make thoughtful mentor matches, including communication styles, boundaries, areas of interest or access needs
Please use the subject line: (in)dustry mentor expression of interest
Deadline: 22/06/26 (subject to change depending on application numbers)
If you have any questions about the process or access needs, please do not hesitate to get in touch via michiel@anamcreative.com
We look forward to hearing from you!