In 2020, HNA launched an annual Mentorship Program designed to foster connections among historians of Netherlandish art at different phases of their careers, and to provide a means of support and contact across HNA’s diverse international community. Each year, following a call for applications for mentees and mentors, the subcommittee works to match established scholars, curators, conservators, and other professionals in the field with those at an earlier or developing stage of their careers.
The HNA Mentorship Program aims to:
- Create an opportunity for the sharing of knowledge and expertise within our community, and to foster future generations of historians of Netherlandish Art.
- Bridge geographical and disciplinary divides within the field by connecting members across the realms of museums, universities, and trade, and among members in Europe, North America, and more broadly across the globe.
- Encourage collaboration and conversation among our members beyond the traditional platform of the in-person conference.
The mentorship program runs during the academic year, beginning in September and officially concluding in July. A new call for applications follows shortly thereafter.
Participant Testimonials:
The HNA mentorship program enriched the last year of my PhD program in crucial ways. As I was working on the last portions of my dissertation, I was also on the lookout for curatorial positions I could apply to. My mentor, Jacquelyn Coutré, offered invaluable advice: we discussed whether I should apply to a particular job, we talked about curatorial work more generally, and we reviewed my CV and cover letter. My conversations about the job market with Jacquelyn were incredibly encouraging, prompting me to approach my applications with greater confidence. Practical guidance aside, I loved getting to know Jacquelyn, an experienced curator whom I had not yet had a chance to meet. Hearing about her work made me all the more excited to pursue curatorial opportunities. I believe that the combination of that enthusiasm—and the focused work I did, with Jacquelyn’s feedback, to strengthen my application materials—helped me land my current job at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
– Isabella Lores-Chavez, Associate Curator, European Paintings, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young \ Legion of Honor