DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF ARTISTS THAT APPLIED, THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL NOVEMBER 29TH FOR COLUMBIA STUDENTS
The word “internship” has an increasingly watered-down meaning. Oftentimes, student interns find themselves doing busy-work for employers as nameless free labor. This occurs both in non-profit and corporate environments. The situation is especially problematic for students interested in pursuing visual art as a career. While gallery and museum internships can offer a view of the administrative side of visual art, a student interested in learning what exactly is involved in being an artist only gets a second-hand glimpse through a gallery internship. The Mentorship Project is conceived with the conviction that the best way for a student to learn how to develop a professional practice is through a direct internship with an individual artist. Through this project, artists and students will be selected and paired to work together one-on-one. The student will assist the artist in his or her studio/place of artistic practice.
Drawing on an apprenticeship model, we believe that both the student intern and the artist can benefit immensely from an internship experience. The artist can receive assistance in all aspects of his or her art-related work, while having the opportunity to mentor a future artist. The student intern will not only have the chance to assist an artist’s professional practice, but gain valuable first-hand professional information from their mentor.
The Mentorship Project is conceived and organized by Barnard College senior Julia Caston, in conjunction with the Barnard College Centennial Scholars Program and artist Heather Hart. Caston has worked with multiple artists and arts organizations, and with the help of her mentor, Hart, has helped other students find internships with individual artists since 2010. This project is the next step in what we hope will be an ongoing effort.
For more information, please email art.mentorship@gmail.com
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Extended to November 29th, 2011.
To access the application and guidelines, please click on one of the links below:
artist application
student application
