Youth Opportunities
Every summer, thanks to our partners at Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Cultural Alliance hosts the Bloomberg Arts Internship: an eight-week paid internship program that places rising high school seniors in internships at dozens of arts and culture organizations across Greater Philadelphia. Bloomberg interns are paid to build their professional skills, develop a deep understanding of Philadelphia’s rich and diverse cultural sector, and prepare for their academic and professional future through a series of rigorous and engaging professional development workshops.
Not your typical internship
When you think about an internship, you might imagine filing papers, running errands, or--yes--getting coffee for the staff. Not here. As a Bloomberg Intern, your time will be spent building a project from the ground up. Your work will be creatively challenging, collaborative, and will add real value to your worksite. In the past, Bloomberg Interns have designed museum tours, created online courses for distance learners, conducted artist interviews for exhibitions, and much much more. (And yes, you might end up helping with some administrative stuff around the office, but arts and culture is an all-hands-on-deck industry!)
What do interns say about their experience?
In a survey of 2019 interns, 90% reported that they are more likely to study the arts and/or arts administration in college. 82% said that they are more likely to pursue a career in the arts and culture sector as a result of their internship experience. In 2020, 100% of interns surveyed felt that this summer’s workshops prepared them for the college application process.
“[BAI workshops] really gave me a sense of my chances of getting into the college(s) I wanted to pursue.” - 2020 intern
“[Before BAI] I did not know much about college search, fit, etc and it is vital for being a senior. I learned that digging deeper in college research means looking into the campus vibe, the specific mission statement / ways teaching is conducted, the research that professors are doing - that all helps to narrow down your college search.” - 2020 intern
Through its partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Cultural Alliance, along with peers in New York, Baltimore, and Boston, has been delivering the Bloomberg Arts Internship since 2015. Combined, more than a thousand students have participated in this program at hundreds of organizations. Today, our Alumni are attending colleges across the country, not just studying the arts - but also politics, medicine, business, and more. Our team checks in with different alumni every few months to see what they’re working on, and highlight their accomplishments here:
Philadelphia
Karen Li, BAI Philly 2017
Worksite: Asian Arts Initiative
Drexel University, 2022
Karen was a Bloomberg Arts Intern in 2017, and worked at the Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia. While there, she enjoyed the community engagement work she was able to do through the program. She also appreciated the college preparation, writing workshops, and arts immersion that the Bloomberg Arts Internship provided. Now a Pre-Junior student at Drexel University, she is studying History with an Asian Studies minor. Karen is on the board of Drexel’s Queer People of Color Organization and the Community Student Association. She spends her time volunteering at nonprofits around the city, such as the U.S. Dream Academy. She just finished her Co-Op, a work program facilitated by Drexel University, at The Girard College Founder’s Hall Museum. While there, she spent six months researching the history of the college, as well as the education system and student life there. The Bloomberg Arts Internship sparked Karen’s interest in museums and influenced her decision to work at the Founder’s Hall Museum for her Co-Op. Karen says that her experiences in the Bloomberg Arts Internship and Asian Arts Initiative have “prepared her and driven her to work for nonprofits, especially nonprofits that are driven by social advocacy messages and helping the community.”
Madalyn Stokes, BAI Philly 2018
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Moore College of Art and Design, 2023
Madalyn Stokes participated in the Bloomberg Arts Internship in 2018 and worked at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). During her time in the program, she learned how much she enjoyed working in a museum setting and seeing the behind the scenes. After the program ended, she continued to work at PAFA, and helped to curate an exhibition in the museum. At Moore, Madlyn is majoring in animation and exploring and studying various art mediums. The Bloomberg Arts Internship opened Madalyn’s eyes to the many opportunities in the arts and culture sector. While she is currently studying animation, she is also open to exploring other careers in the arts and culture sector.
Zanett Davila, BAI Philly 2019
National Constitution Center
Temple University 2024
Zanett Davilá is a freshman at Temple University. She hopes to become a doctor, and is currently on the pre-med track. She is also taking a trade class for Medical Administrative Assistant (MAA) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) certification. Zanett was a Bloomberg Arts Intern in 2019, and she worked at the National Constitution Center. She continued working at the National Constitution Center for a year after the end of the Bloomberg Arts Internship. Her favorite part about the internship was working with like-minded peers who had an interest in exploring the arts and culture sector in Philadelphia. She has made meaningful, lasting friendships through the program. The internship also helped Zanett in her decision to go to college: “At one point I didn’t really know if I wanted to go to college or not, but talking about college (in the program) got me interested and motivated me to pursue what I knew I wanted to do in life.” Although she is not currently pursuing a career in the arts, Zanett is still involved in the arts and she loves to paint for fun!
Logan Haworth, BAI 2019
National Constitution Center
University of Pennsylvania 2024
Logan Haworth is currently a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania. He hopes to major in International Relations and aspires to become an ambassador. Logan is also learning to speak Mandarin. He participated in the internship in 2019 and worked at the National Constitution Center. Like Zanett, he continued to work at the National Constitution Center after the Bloomberg Arts Internship ended. Logan says that The Bloomberg Arts Internship helped him to develop interpersonal skills and better communicate in social and professional environments. During his time in the program he enjoyed getting to meet other teens from around Philadelphia. Logan considers himself a consumer of arts and media, and he enjoys watching movies and listening to music.
New York
Natalie Martinez, BAI NYC 2019
New York Live Arts
California College of the Arts, 2024
Natalie Martinez.jpg
Natalie Martinez interned at New York Live Arts in 2019. During her time in the program she really enjoyed visiting various arts and culture sites in NYC. She is currently enrolled in college in California and she is pursuing a BFA in Animation. She also works part-time as a lifeguard. She is currently working on her art portfolio, and for fun she reads manga and cosplays. She also works on small arts projects with friends, such as comics and video projects. She says that participating in BAI “has definitely encouraged her to pursue the arts.” Natalie is the first in her family to pursue a career in the arts. She believes that in any type of art career, you must keep pushing your boundaries. She says that working at New York Live Arts provided her with skills that she can incorporate into any large art production. She believes that although she is interested in animation specifically, different arts classes and experiences provide a broader perspective that can help any art major.
Lindsey Ruiz, BAI NYC 2018
3LD Art and Technology Center
Fashion Institute of Technology, 2023
In 2018, Lindsey Ruiz interned at 3LD Art and Technology Center in New York City. During her time in the program, she enjoyed “traveling to different worksites and getting together with other interns to attend field trips.” Lindsey now says that “the BAI internship showed me a wider field of the arts which I am interested in trying out when I find a job. I am a lot more experienced and I have a better understanding of what type of hours I want to work, what I would like my work environment to be like, and what I enjoy most. BAI also helped me learn how to manage time and money better, as well as making time to take care of yourself.” Lindsey is currently a sophomore at Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, majoring in illustration, and aspires to work in the entertainment illustration field. She is also minoring in painting and drawing. Outside of school she is still immersed in the arts. She taught art classes to elementary schoolers last summer and tries to continue being involved in youth art camps. Lindsey also enjoys looking at art in museums and online, and has recently started sculpting.
Check back next spring for more BAI Alumni spotlights!
Philadelphia’s rich arts and culture sector provides many opportunities for young people to engage with the arts, issues, and institutions they care about. Here are just some of the ways you can get involved in Philly’s arts scene!
Creative Resilient Youth (CRY)
A teen-led art and leadership collective responding to gaps in mental health dialogue and resources in schools. They meet weekly from January to June, on Mondays after-school.
Fabric Workshop Teen Apprenticeship
Center City: The Fabric Workshop and Museum
This apprenticeship offers students the opportunity to learn about the many aspects of hand screenprinting on fabric in FWM’s professional studios. The program is designed to provide students from diverse backgrounds with new tools for artistic expression and self-empowerment.
Girls One Diaspora
Center City: Mütter Museum
The Girls One Diaspora Club is an after-school internship program at the Mütter Museum for teen girls in Philadelphia who are from Africa or the African Diaspora, were born outside of the U.S. or are first-generation Americans, and have an interest in healthcare or STEM careers.
Independence Seaport Museum Teen Boat Program
Penn’s Landing: Independence Seaport Museum
The Teen Boat program encourages young people to explore Engineering, Mathematics, and the Sciences in addition to growing skills in team building, problem solving, and leadership. Students create various boat models in order to understand how boats are built, why they float, and how they move. There is a monetary cost to be a part of the program.
PAFA Youth Council
Center City: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The PAFA Youth Council helps create programs and events that appeal to younger audiences. In addition to helping to shape programming, council members get special access to classes and workshops.
Penn Museum Teen Ambassadors
University City: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
The Penn Museum Teen Ambassador Program is for students who are interested in exploring a wide range of subjects through the resources at the Penn Museum. Teen Ambassadors meet weekly to discuss topics they’ve researched, learn more about the museum and meet museum staff, explore questions around archaeology, anthropology, science, and history, plan events for teens in the city, and provide the museum with a youth perspective.
Philadelphia Photo Arts Center - Teen Photo
Fishtown: Philadelphia Photo Arts Center
Teen Photo is a free after-school program for students interested in photography. Every student receives 8 months of free classes and full access to equipment (including their own camera throughout the length of the program), materials, and expert teaching staff. Together, students create and share images and ideas, build self-confidence, new friends, and new technical skills.
Philly Talents for Peace
Center City
Virtual talent showcase on June 5th - spoken word, singing, art, dancing, etc.- to raise awareness about gun violence in the city.
Taller Puertorriqueno Youth Artist Program
West Kensington
YAP is an after-school art program for high school students that equips them with the tools to thrive in today’s creative economy. Through a combination of individual project-based learning and instruction from experienced artist mentors, teen artists develop their talents in a range of digital media and fine-art practices, from animation and illustration to drawing, painting, and printmaking.
Urban Art Gallery Youth Programs
West Philadelphia: Urban Art Gallery
The Urban Art Gallery is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to providing Philadelphia youth with FREE multi-faceted arts and culture programs.
Village Youth at the Village of Arts and Humanities;
The Village of Arts and Humaniteis: North Philadelphia:
Village Youth comprises two main programs: Village Industries and Open Studios. Courses include, but aren’t limited to, topics like: Music Production, Hip Hop Dance, Songwriting + Recording, Fashion Design, Urban Agriculture + Sustainability, Photography + Film, Graphic Design + Event Production.
WHYY Youth Media Labs
Center City
WHYY’s Media Labs program is a media instruction partnership with the School District of Philadelphia. Participating students learn video and audio production, critical thinking, STEM education skills, problem solving, research, develop a strong sense of self-efficacy and are better prepared for a wide variety of workplaces.
YOUTHadelphia
Center City
YOUTHadelphia gives Philadelphia teens the opportunity to build leadership skills through philanthropy and civic engagement.
Teen Hip Hop Dance Class @ Equilibrium Dance Academy
Tuesdays, now through June
6:00PM - 7:00PM
Youth Arts Leadership Initiative
Mondays
5:30-6:30
