Programme Details For Applicants


Each selected photographer will receive an award of £1,200 upon successful completion of the programme.

The award covers:
  • participation in the full 6-month mentoring programme (6 x 1hr sessions) and attendance at an online introductory meeting. 
  • development and delivery of a new body of work including a meeting with a recognised curator (up to 20 images - this is flexible and not prescriptive; Youth X acknowledges that projects created as part of the initiative will be reflective of applicants’ individual practice in terms of the form and the format). 
  • participation in the month-long group exhibition at Four Corners Gallery (21 October - 14 November 2026).
  • attend and participate in two public events, including a curatorial ‘walking-talk’ (21 October 2026) and a round table discussion (22 October 2026), during the exhibition. 
  • inclusion in the exhibition booklet.

Payment terms: The £1,200 award will be paid following the completion of the two public events. Payment will be processed upon receipt of an invoice submitted between 23 October and 7 November 2026, unless otherwise agreed. 

Group exhibition terms and conditions: Youth X Mentoring will be responsible for printing, framing and installation of work. All selected applicants will retain full copyright of their work. By submitting your application to this call, you grant Youth X Mentoring permission to reproduce and share images for promotional and non-commercial marketing purposes with full acknowledgement in the context of this initiative only. All applicants have the option to collect prints and/or their work in frames between 16 November and 30 November 2026; work cannot be stored at Four Corners Gallery beyond 30 November 2026 and will therefore have to be recycled; if this occurs, we will send suitable evidence.   

Key Dates

  • Application Opens: 12 January 2026
  • Application Closes:  23 March 2026 at midnight 
  • Applicants Notified: by or before 10 April 2026
  • Introductory Meeting with Mentor and Mentee: 13 April-14 April 2026
  • Mentoring period:  15 April to 20 Sept 2026
  • Exhibition Dates (Four Corners Gallery): 21 October to 14 Nov 2026 
  • Public Opening Events (Four Corners Gallery):  21 October 2026, curatorial gallery ‘walking-talk’ and 22 October 2026 round table panel discussion with artists and mentors

    • Youth X Mentoring Project Team
    The project is led by Jacqueline Ennis-Cole, founder of Youth X Mentoring. To read each profile of the mentoring and project team, please navigate to the website menu.