Midterm Gathering of the Creative Mentorship Programme for Young Professionals: What Have the First Six Months Brought Us?

From 17 to 19 October, the Midterm Gathering of the Creative Mentorship Programme for Young Professionals took place in Belgrade. After six months of working together in an online setting, this was their first in-person meeting — an opportunity to exchange smiles, hugs, knowledge, and good energy, making this gathering a truly special cornerstone of the entire mentorship programme.

The Creative Mentorship Programme for Young Professionals is supported by the British Council as a part of the project “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans” (CC4WBs). CC4WBs is a project funded by the European Union that aims to foster dialogue in the Western Balkans by enhancing the cultural and creative sectors for increased socio-economic impact.

Informal Gathering and First Impressions

On Friday, 17 October, the Creative Mentorship team organized an informal evening meetup at Nova Iskra for participants arriving from outside Belgrade. We were especially glad that participants based in Belgrade also joined us, eager to meet their peers in person before the official start of the formal programme. This initial gathering reaffirmed what the Creative Mentorship team had already observed over the previous months — an exceptional, diverse group of dedicated and inspiring professionals brought together by the programme, each contributing remarkable energy, proactivity, and a genuine desire to improve the communities they live and work in.

Workshop-Based Segment of the Programme

The formal part of the Midterm Gathering officially began on Saturday, 18 October, with an introductory round of icebreakers through the “one word” game. Each participant introduced themselves with a single word starting with the same letter as their name. Some of the chosen words were: universe, blossom, support, diverse, network, value, ready for revolution, dare, move, awareness, making impossible, inspired, grateful…
The diversity and creativity of the group shone through the words they selected and the stories behind them, infusing the room with energy, humour, and authenticity — and once again showing how different perspectives enrich this community.

The opening session also included remarks from Bojana Čolović from the British Council, who welcomed the participants, shared her excitement about the programme’s progress, and emphasized that the experience gained through mentorship would be invaluable not only for their careers but also for their personal development in the years to come, as well as for the broader growth of the creative sector in the Western Balkans.

Reflection on the Mentoring Relationship: What Have We Done and What Lies Ahead?

One of the key components of the first workshop day was the Reflection on the mentoring process segment, during which mentor–mentee pairs engaged in structured conversations about their collaboration so far. They had the opportunity to:

• review what they have accomplished over the past six months,
  
• identify challenges as well as moments of progress,
  
• define new goals and concrete next steps for the continuation of the process,
  
• confirm what works well in their relationship and what they would like to improve.

This segment provided participants with a clearer understanding of their own development and reminded them how important it is to reflect regularly on the process — not only on what they are doing, but also how they are doing it.

Re-shaping Goals and Development Direction

The workshop session “Re-shaping our goals and direction for development” was designed to help mentees stay focused on their needs, growth, and the direction in which they wish to progress. We emphasized that it is completely natural for goals to shift — partially or even entirely — over the course of the mentoring process. What matters is that there is open communication within the mentoring pair and a willingness to plan even small, achievable steps for the upcoming period. These small steps are precisely what create a sense of progress and clarity, for both mentees and mentors.

Mentees were encouraged to keep their goals visible — whether they developed a SMART goal, identified a new direction, or chose a single word to serve as their “compass.” Keeping the goal somewhere they will see it regularly helps them return to it, especially in moments of uncertainty — which often signal that something new is taking shape. And most importantly: to allow their goals to evolve. Growth is a process, and adjusting goals is a natural part of it.

Mentors were advised to create a safe space for reflection and to encourage mentees to explore, question, and redefine their goals without pressure. They were reminded to guide mentees to look at where they are now and what they want to achieve, to support small, concrete steps, and to be both supportive and gently challenging — as the combination of understanding and light challenges often leads to the most meaningful progress.

We also reminded participants of all the materials prepared specifically for them — the mentorship handbook, a guide designed to help them build an effective mentoring relationship. It contains valuable information that elaborates on the stages of the process, practical advice, tools, and recommendations for mentor–mentee pairs. Additional resources are always available on our website, in the Base of Knowledge section.

The Re-shaping our goals and direction for development workshop was held by Ana Bogićević, an expert in the learning process from Gi Group.

Parallel Sessions: Experiences and Key Takeaways

During the MidTerm workshop, two parallel sessions were held in which mentors and mentees exchanged experiences, challenges, and lessons learned. Here are the key messages:

• The mentoring process is a space for personal and professional development — finding a job may be an outcome, but it is not the primary goal.

• Mentors are not trained to provide psychological support. If a mentee feels overwhelmed or close to burnout, it is important to seek professional help and/or support from the Creative Mentorship team.

• Mentees are responsible for initiating meetings, preparing agendas, and proposing topics aligned with their goals.

• Regular meetings are important — short messages or SMS cannot be considered a mentoring session.

• Mentors should aim to set aside time at least once a month, for about 90 minutes, for a mentoring conversation.

• Building trust requires time and openness — it is important to discuss challenges as they arise and with mutual support.

• Compare your progress only with yourself and your goals, never with other pairs — each mentoring relationship is unique.

• If you have achieved your goal — great! Set a new one.

• Do not assume that things will happen on their own — work on them.

Alumni Session: Sharing Knowledge and Experience

During the session Sharing Knowledge and Experience with alumni of the Creative Leaders Mentorship Programme, we had the pleasure of hearing from five alumni: Marija Rakić Šaranac (librarian at the National Library in Kragujevac),  Marija Krečković (archaeologist and Chair of the Board of the Neozoik Foundation), Dajana Vujaklija (Programme and Marketing Director of the PDP Creative Media Conference), Davor Marko (Programme Manager for Central and Southeast Europe at the Thomson Foundation), and
Andrej Ostroški (graphic designer, cultural producer, and artist). They shared their experiences from the programme, key insights, and results, giving participants a clearer picture of how a mentoring relationship can influence long-term professional development.

Workshop: Using Social Media for Visibility and Networking

During the Mid-term Gathering, we also held a workshop titled Using Social Media for Visibility and Networking, dedicated to understanding how social media can serve as a powerful tool for professional visibility and networking.

We emphasized the importance of recognizing one’s belonging to a wider professional community (in this case, the mentoring programme and the CC4WBs project) and encouraged participants to nurture and communicate that sense of connection publicly.

A special focus was placed on LinkedIn, as a platform that provides space for professional presentation, building credibility, and expanding one’s network of contacts.

Participants were encouraged to connect with one another, as well as with alumni of the Creative Leaders Mentorship Programme, in order to more easily share knowledge, experiences, and opportunities that contribute to their career development and regional cooperation.

Creative Mentorship Network Gathering at Nova Iskra

The large Creative Mentorship Network gathering, held on October 18 at the Nova Iskra space, brought together the current participants of the Creative Mentorship for Young Professionals programme, as well as the broader Creative Mentorship community — alumni, donors, partners, media, and friends of the organisation.

This event added an important and valuable dimension to the Mid-Term Gathering: it provided current participants with the opportunity to connect with other professionals from the fields of culture, the arts, creative industries, media, and other sectors working and creating across the region. For many participants, this chance to expand their network and exchange experiences contributed significantly to their further development and empowerment within the programme.

Impressions from the workshop and networking programme

The programme of the Mid-Term Gathering left a strong impression on the participants, especially in the segments focused on joint work, exchange, and building connections. This is confirmed by their statements:

• “The trainers and coordinators have used the time we had very efficiently. I especially applaud the ability to adapt the programme to the group dynamics and needs of the participants, which is a rarity in workshop/ training environments.”

• “The networking sessions were the most inspiring part for me. They offered a space to exchange experiences, ideas, and challenges, and I found many meaningful connections and potential future collaborations there.”

• “This opportunity made me aware that there are amazing people on this programme and that I will have many opportunities to collaborate with them in the future, which I would like to initiate in some of the next informal gatherings when I meet with them to follow up.”

• “This programme has really become an important part of my life. I applied without expectation, but it has given me a sense of direction and a future of belonging to a network of brilliant peers. Meeting my mentor has truly given me a sense of certainty that my vision can become reality and meeting some of the mentees has opened up many doors of artistic and personal development.”

This set of reflections illustrates how the workshop sessions and networking opportunities contributed to a sense of belonging, empowerment, and professional growth.

Sunday: Experiencing the City from a New Perspective

On Sunday, October 19, following one-on-one mentoring sessions, a Q&A segment, and a collective wrap-up of the entire Mid-Term Gathering, a Street Art Tour was organised, led by Ljiljana Radošević (Street Art Belgrade), a Creative Mentorship alumna. This guided walk offered participants the opportunity to experience Belgrade from a completely new, artistic perspective — as a living organism filled with messages, colours, and the creative energy of street art.

Impressions from the evaluation of the full-day programme

Participants also shared broader reflections on their overall experience of the Mid-Term Gathering — its energy, dynamics, and the outcomes of the two-day programme:

• “It was great enough to meet almost all the members of the project, but what left the biggest impression on me was the level of inspiration and empowerment that I took with me after the meeting. I realized that I am part of a founding group of people in which the main epithet is support.”

• “First of all, thanks for such an excellent event and for giving us the opportunity to meet colleagues in person and exchange experiences and impressions from the mentoring programme in a direct and engaging dialogue. The sessions were well-structured, meaningful, and balanced between formal information and interactivity, which created a positive atmosphere, encouraged open communication, and allowed everyone to share sincerely their experiences with mentees and mentors.”

• “It was extremely valuable (and a lot of fun 🙂 ) to meet all the participants in person. I made some important connections and even one potential collaboration on a creative project.”

• “Two focused, energizing days that actually helped. Strong facilitation, practical tools grounded in our region, and peer exchanges that felt safe and useful. I left with clearer priorities, concrete next steps for my project, and a few new connections that already look like real working partners. In short: not just good vibes—real momentum toward measurable progress.”

These reflections show that the Mid-Term Gathering was far more than a standard programme — it became a space for building trust, motivation, and real professional growth. We leave the Mid-Term Gathering with only the best impressions, new knowledge, and renewed energy for continuing our shared work. The atmosphere, encounters, and experiences we exchanged further strengthened the community we have been building month by month.

We look forward to the next in-person gathering in Belgrade, which will also mark the concluding step of this year’s Creative Mentorship for Young Professionals programme — an opportunity to celebrate achievements, reflect on the journey so far, and honour the success of each mentoring pair.