When it debuted 20 years ago, the Rolex Mentor and ProteÌgeÌ Arts Initiative was billed as the company’s intention to fill a void in arts philanthropy — to ensure that the world’s artistic heritage is passed on personally, in the irreplaceable, time-honored tradition of master and protégé.
The debut of the first class of mentors — which included novelist and Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison as well as director and playwright Robert Wilson — made it clear that this was not a superficial pursuit.
In the two decades since, the initiative has developed into a prestigious program where 63 gifted proteÌgeÌs from all over the world have been paired with world-renowned artists in their discipline.
Read all about them here.