Open Call for Mentors – Cohort 3 (2025/2026)

Open Call for Mentors – Cohort 3 (2025/2026)

BASITA Fellowship is a 9-month programme designed to equip 25 performing arts groups and artists from across the MENA region—including disciplines such as music, theatre, dance, and all forms of spoken word—with the technical, managerial, marketing, and digital skills needed to advance their careers, achieve financial sustainability, and thrive in the digital era.

The programme culminates in the BAB ElBAHR Hybrid Festival, where 25 performances will be produced and presented both live in theatres and virtually on Basita.live, reaching diverse audiences across the region and beyond.

Fellowship Structure

9 months of mentorship with leading artists and cultural practitioners from the region:

• Kick-off Seminar (Virtual): Focused on strategic planning, digital transformation, online marketing, institutional resilience, and fundraising.
  
  
• One-to-One Mentorship: 6 hours per month (virtual or face-to-face) with Basita founders and selected mentors, plus 10 hours/month of individual work and assignments by fellows.
  
  
• Monthly Case Clinics: Two monthly group sessions focused on solving key challenges faced by the fellows.
  
  
• Monthly Virtual Check-ins: All 25 groups meet to share updates, reflect on progress, and discuss learnings from the Case Clinics.
  
  
• Closing Seminar (Face-to-Face in Egypt): A final gathering for evaluation, feedback, and presentation of fellows’ strategic plans during the Bab ElBahr Festival.
  
  

Producing the Performances

Each artist/group will produce one performance, potentially in collaboration with a local host institution. All performances will be presented as part of the Bab ElBahr Hybrid Festival, both live and streamed on Basita.live.

Mentorship Topics

• Strategic Planning
  
  
• Institutional Resilience
  
  
• Fundraising
  
  
• Institutional, Programmatic & Digital Marketing
  
  
• Digital Platforms & Technology
  
  
• Artistic Production
  
  
• Performance & Stage Management
  
  
• The Artist as Art Manager
  
  
• The Artist as Social Entrepreneur
  
  
• Lessons from Regional Art Leaders
  
  

Role of the Mentors

• Participate in the selection of the fellows
  
  
• Commit to 12 hours per month for virtual or in-person mentoring
  
  
• Attend at least one group session per month
  
  
• Duration and focus of mentorship will be matched to mentors' expertise and fellows’ needs
  
  
• Mentor fees will be based on the total number of mentorship hours
  
  
• Who Can Apply
• Experts and professionals in the above-listed fields, based in or originating from the Middle East
  
  

How to Apply

• Fill in the application form:  https://forms.gle/mFQ9DCo5XAMRbZZg6
  
  
• Deadline to apply: 1 September 2025