The Art Effect

To quote founding board member Peter Leonard (former Director of Fieldwork, Vassar College), “In an internship, your classroom becomes the world.” At The Art Effect, we believe that authentic learning happens in the application of knowledge to real-world situations and problems. An internship at The Art Effect is an opportunity to gain professional experience.

The Art Effect offers internships for school credit in three sessions per year:

• Spring (January-May): Availability required is 5-10 hours per week during traditional business hours (M-F, 10am – 5pm) or after-school hours during the school year (M-Th, 2:30 – 5:30 pm).
• Summer (June-August): Availability Required 16 hour per week (2 full days)
• Fall (September-December): Availability required 5-10 hours per week during traditional business hours (M-F, 10am – 5pm) or after-school hours during the school year (M-Th, 2:30 – 5:30 pm).

Applicants are asked to consider the internship descriptions below and send letters of interest in specific positions, along with a current resume or CV, to: Cory Spraker, Operations Manager, at Cory@thearteffect.org.

Artistic Advancement Intern
The Artistic Advancement intern will work on a variety of tasks including working closely with the Artistic Advancement Director on various administrative projects, welcoming students and families, maintaining studio and materials, documenting programs via photography and video, and assisting our Teaching Artists as needed. Ideal candidates will have a strong fundamental understanding of the principals of fine art/design and critique.  Availability required is at least 4 hours per week, including possible nights and weekends in alignment with the Art Institute class schedule and on October 4 for Hudson Valley Portfolio Day 4-8PM.

Development Intern
The Development Intern will gain hands-on experience in non-profit fundraising, donor relations, and event planning. The intern will work closely with our Director of Institutional Giving and Development Associate to assist in various fundraising activities, and research potential funding sources including grant research, writing, reporting, donor communications, event planning, and administrative support.  Availability required is at least 4 hours per week.

Film Production Intern
Production interns support our production house, Forge Media, as well as our media education programs. Interns will gain experience in pre-production, production, post-production at a professional level through camera operation, non-linear editing, graphic design, digital file management, and other media production and post-production-related tasks. Availability required is at least 4 hours per week.

Marketing & Communications Intern
Marketing & Communications Interns assist with all aspects of The Art Effect’s communications channels. Responsibilities include: keeping our website up-to-date, connecting with local and national media outlets, creating and sending out press releases, creating content for social media, and conducting community outreach. Availability required is at least 4 hours per week.

Social Media Intern
Social Media Interns assist with representing The Art Effect’s programs and initiatives in digital spaces. Responsibilities of this internship include: building content for marketing materials (including e-blasts, blog posts, press releases, social media, flyers, etc.), inputting information into community calendars, conducting web analytics, and conducting community outreach. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suite and graphic design experience preferred. Availability required is at least 4 hours per week.

Trolley Barn Intern
The mission of The Art Effect at the Trolley Barn is to train youth as leaders who catalyze the community through the arts and re-energize downtown Poughkeepsie. The iconic Poughkeepsie Trolley Barn is being reactivated with youth in the driver’s seat of this incredible space, where the exhibitions they curate and programs they design engage community members and visitors in transformative arts experiences. Trolley Barn Interns’ responsibilities include exhibition support with hands-on experience in art handling, shipping and receiving; creation and maintenance of exhibition documentation such as virtual galleries and object checklists, correspondence with artists and galleries, visitor engagement and gallery management, support with gallery events and special programs, and support or virtual artist talks. Availability required is at least 4 hours per week.

Workforce Program Intern
Workforce Program interns support the development, implementation, and assessment of curricula and programming by helping run workshops and classes, assisting in curriculum development, assisting classes with attendance records, student files, and digital media management support.. Workforce Program interns work under one of the following programs:

Media/Art/Design Lab (MADLab)
The MADLab intern helps with student application processing, creation of rosters and visual arts education tools, on-site production assistance, arts materials maintenance, and digital file management. Prior experience with visual arts and/or working with teenagers preferred but not required. Availability required is at least 4 hours per week.

Spark Studios
The Spark Studios intern helps with student application processing, creation of rosters and media arts education tools, on-site production assistance, media file management, and file organization/backup. Prior experience with videography, filmmaking, graphic design and/or working with teenagers preferred but not required. Availability required is at least 4 hours per week.

To apply to any of the above positions, please send a résumé and cover letter specifying which internship you are applying for to Operations Manager Cory Spraker at cory@TheArtEffect.org.

Interns have used skills honed during their internships to land jobs in the fields of media, the arts, teaching, production and more, with such employers as Nickelodeon Studios, Poughkeepsie Journal Media Group, Stockade Works, and more.

Volunteer at The Art Effect:

Our community volunteers serve a vital role in keeping our The Art Effect running smoothly. Volunteers are called on an as-needed basis for specific events, programs, and projects. For example, recent volunteers have assisted with spackling and painting the gallery, creating mailing campaigns, and serving as ushers on the night of our film festival, Reel Expressions.

“This summer, thanks to the skills and experience I gained at the Art Effect I was hired to be the intern with Common Sense Media’s new program; Wide Open Schools. I will be getting to work on developing curriculum and writing stories to help educators and parents who have now been moved to work and teach from home.” — Francisco Andrade, Vassar College Class of 2022

“All of the skills that you gain doing the multitude of tasks you may be given at Spark are applicable to your future career. Embrace this unique opportunity to create, serve, and learn. I am confident that you will have a truly invaluable experience like I did.“ – Lindsay Granat, Health and Human Services Major, SUNY New Paltz Class of 2016

“I wanted to make sure I did not miss the opportunity to thank you for all the ways you helped me throughout the semester. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me about senior project advice, and always giving me encouragement. It provided me with lots of perspective that really helped me formulate new connections and insights. I absolutely loved the opportunity to get to know you all and work closely with all of you. It is such a special place and I was happy to be a part of it for a while!” – Ryan Eykholt, Media Studies major, Vassar College Class of 2017