Rolex is dedicated to encouraging individual excellence and achievement and believes in giving emerging artists time to learn, create and grow.

In 2002, the company established a mentoring programme that was specifically set up to enable an exchange between different generations of artists, to assist in perpetuating the world’s cultural heritage.

The idea was to seek out gifted young talents from all over the world and pair them with world-renowned artists in architecture, dance, film, literature, music, theatre and visual arts for a period of creative collaboration in a one-to-one mentoring relationship.

Among the 63 celebrated artists who have so far given of their time and vast talent are the late Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, Mario Vargas Llosa, Peter Zumthor, Kazuyo Sejima, Sir David Chipperfield, the late Trisha Brown, William Forsythe, Lin Hwai-min, Alfonso Cuarón, Martin Scorsese, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, David Hockney, Joan Jonas, Sir Anish Kapoor, Julie Taymor, Robert Lepage, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zakir Hussain and the late Jessye Norman.

Over the years, mentorships have evolved into enriching dialogues between artists of different generations, cultures and disciplines, where both rising talents and senior artists benefit from the interaction. The full benefits extend far into the future, as many of the emerging artists are already making a substantial impact on global culture.

Mentoring forms part of the company’s commitment to the transmission of knowledge to the next generation. It takes place alongside its support for leading arts institutions and artists around the world.

Rolex is progressing from arts mentorship based on one-to-one relationships to enable the transmission of artistic knowledge on a much larger scale.  It is now reflected through our multifaceted support for talented young artists and through our Testimonees and partners who push the boundaries of art globally.