Internships

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.

interns at the art effect

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: Mary Ellen Iatropoulos, Director of Programs, at maryellen@thearteffect.org.

Art Institute Intern
The Art Institute Intern should have an art-focused background as well as a strong interest in arts administration and art education. This intern will work on a variety of tasks including 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. Strong communication skills and the ability to work with and engage middle and high school age youth are a must. Availability required is 5-10 hours per week in shifts of two hours or more, including possible nights and weekend in alignment with Art Institute class schedule.

Workforce Program Intern
Workforce Program interns support the development, implementation, and assessment of curricula and programming by helping run workshops and after school classes, assisting in curriculum development, assisting classes with attendance records, student files, and digital media management support, and researching youth film festivals and coordinating submissions of student-produced work. Workforce Program interns work closely with one of the following programs:

  1. Media/Art/Design Lab (MADLab)
    The MADLab intern helps with student application processing, creation of programmatic materials such as rosters and visual arts education tools, on-site production assistance, arts materials maintenance, and digital file management. Prior experience with mural painting, visual arts, and/or working with teenagers preferred but not required. Availability required is 5-10 hours per week during after-school hours during the school year (M-Th, 2:30 – 5:30 pm).
  2. Spark Studios
    Spark Studios is The Art Effect’s after-school youth employment program focusing on media and technology. The Spark Studios intern helps with student application processing, creation of programmatic materials such as rosters and visual 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 5-10 hours per week during after-school hours during the school year (M-Th, 2:30 – 5:30 pm).

Marketing & Communications Intern
Marketing and Communications Intern assists 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 our press releases, creating content for social media, and conducting community outreach. 

Social Media Intern
Social Media Intern assists 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, Google Suite and graphic design experience preferred. 

Film Production Intern
Production intern supports 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. 

Trolley Barn Intern
The Trolley Barn intern’s responsibilities include creating and maintaining virtual exhibition galleries, assisting with registering incoming art loans & paperwork, keying in and creating paper labels from loan paperwork, assisting with labels and signage, and other exhibition-related tasks including openings and events (such as the PKX Festival) as needed. Availability required is at least 12 hours per week during traditional business hours (M-F, 10am-5pm). Click here for full internship description.

Development Intern
The Development intern assists with fundraising, events, and public relations. Responsibilities of this internship include: researching new funding support (grants/sponsors/prospective donors), drafting proposals and grant reports, helping implement fundraising events, and conducting community outreach.

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.