Partners
Created in 1994, Partners is a professional development program that matches an emerging artist with a disability with an established artist for 25 hours of one-on-one co-mentorship in the artists’ creative medium. Both artists are paid for their time spent working on the project and given a stipend for materials. Art Access staff also coordinates additional career development opportunities throughout the program. Each Partners cohort ends in a group exhibit that is free to the public.
“Art Access has been a major part of my journey as an artist with disabilities. They have helped our beautifully different community to feel comfortable and confident in being a professional in the art world.” - Tyler Pierce, Partners 2022 and Artist Working Group 2024 emerging artist
"Emerging Artist": an artist who is early in their career and actively working to develop their skills, share their work, and connect with others. Emerging artists are in the process of building recognition in their community through consistent practice and engagement.
MEET THE PARTNERS 2026 EMERGING ARTISTS:
A mixed media artist working mainly using gouache or acrylic paint, Juliana is seeking an established mentor to help her develop painting with more depth and shadow, refresh her familiarity with color theory, and explore impressionism, surrealism, and portraiture.
"I want to meaningfully use art to help support mutual aid in my neighborhood and wider community, to support indigenous peoples, immigrants, and people with TBI and disabilities." - Juliana DeMay
Returning to the Partners program in 2026, Alex works mainly in Adobe Illustrator creating both shape-based artwork and pixel sprites. Alex is looking for an established co-mentor to help him improve upon skills including shading and color theory using digital software.
"I've been creating art in some capacity for most of my life, whether with a pencil and paper, a digital design program, LEGO bricks, or whatever else, and to this day, I don't feel fulfilled without creating something of my own." - Alex Means
A mixed media and ceramics artist, Tori's primary goal is to find an established mentor to support her hand-building technique on a ceramics wheel. She is also interested in creating small-batch greeting cards using mixed media/paper-craft as a medium.
"I've always loved making art. It helps me make sense of the world in ways that words don't always allow for." - Tori Simpson
Become an Established-Artist Mentor
Partners relies on mentors working in different mediums to support our program. If you are interested in participating in our 2026 Partners program (May - August 2026) as an established-artist mentor, ahead of the September Partners exhibit, please click the button below and fill out our interest form. Please contact partners@artaccessutah.org with any questions.