Milwaukee City Wire

Milwaukee Recreation's award-winning Arts Internship Program is a paid summer internship that provides high school students with practical job experience in arts-related positions. Interns explore the arts in an in-depth and applicable way while gaining 21st-century job skills. For many, these internships serve as their first paid job experience. Internships range from 40 to 400 hours between May and August, starting at a minimum of $12.50 per hour.

Organizations are responsible for interviewing and hiring interns, setting intern schedules, and providing oversight and management of selected interns. In turn, Milwaukee Recreation provides funding for intern wages and benefits, transportation (in the form of unlimited M-Cards for the duration of the internship), as well as job-related training and career exploration.

This year, 14 organizations hosted a total of 56 arts interns representing 29 high schools and 21 zip codes. Participating organizations included Art Start, Arts @ Large, Artists Working in Education, Bembé Drum & Dance, Casa Romero Renewal Center, Lead2Change, Lynden Sculpture Garden, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, TBEY Arts Center, True Skool, UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts, Walnut Way, Woodland Pattern Book Center, and Walker's Point Center for the Arts.

On Thursday, Aug. 15th Milwaukee Recreation hosted its annual Arts Internship Celebration at the Milwaukee Art Museum to close out the program. Throughout the evening interns from all 14 participating organizations presented videos highlighting their summer experience and participated in Q&A sessions detailing what they learned how they grew and what they would say to next year's group of interns.

Milwaukee Recreation also recognized three standout interns with awards nominated by their host organizations:

**Organization: Walker's Point Center for the Arts**

**Award Description:** Demonstrated a creative approach to solving problems and a growth mindset by overcoming challenges.

**Nomination Submission:** "Ignacio has been part of art programming since he was a young person himself. Seeing him grow up he was mainly on the shy side but as this internship went on he rose to the occasion and grew out of his comfort zone."

"Working with WPCA is his first official job and he was faced with many challenges from youth not wanting to participate or talk to anyone. Ignacio would always find creative ways to engage youth and have them excited to come back to class. We are glad to see Ignacio grow and become a better creative individual inside and outside the art classroom."

**Organization: Art Start**

**Award Description:** Eagerly took on a leadership role gaining confidence as a result.

**Nomination Submission:** "We were lucky enough to have Quincy in our residency this past year then again during this Summer Emerging Artist Internship. He's quiet observant polite but don't let that fool you because that speaks volumes about his leadership style."

"He truly listens thinks before he speaks giving thoughtful meaningful responses. Importantly he's humble leading with a gentle heart."

"His easy-going nature effortlessly makes others feel welcomed supported having already been with us this past year one of two entering this summer in leadership roles encouraging fellow interns showing them ropes leading by example authenticity consistency reliability dependability work strongly favor."

"We appreciate Quincy quick support thoughtful feedback help needed no questions asked."

**Organization: Milwaukee Repertory Theater**

**Award Description:** Showed dedication by being on time present working well with others.

**Nomination Submission:** "When summer began ensemble ambitious goals none possible without Paxton staying late ensuring things put away working outside regular meeting creating props editing videos creating sound cues sourcing tech elements used show many anytime another idea added Paxton first offer lend hand created organization systems keeping production track organizing collaborative documents easier time finding needed running backstage area ensuring smooth show contributing making ensemble safe space everyone ensuring needs met voices heard coordinating potluck candy salad final performance celebrating accomplishments dedicated best production involved Summer Youth Ensemble."

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