FOCUS IN

A group of interns pose for a photograph at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Recreation.

April Heding

A remark we hear often from artists and creatives about Milwaukee Recreation’s Arts Internship program is, “I wish there had been a program like that when I was in high school.” Each summer, this program provides Milwaukee-area high-school students with valuable hands-on experience in the creative fields. The program builds on studentsʼ artistic interests by providing them with paid opportunities to explore the professional world of art education, studio art, theater, public art, dance, culinary art, and more.

About the Foundation
Milwaukee Recreation, a department of Milwaukee Public Schools, was established in 1911 by legislation that tasked the school system with managing community recreation programs. Milwaukee Recreation continues this tradition by enriching the lives of Milwaukee’s youth, adults, and families through innovative and accessible programs, including those designed to boost student academic achievement during out-of-school time.

Collaborating for Student Growth
Milwaukee Recreation partners with more than a dozen local arts and humanities organizations to facilitate the Arts Internship Program. Through this collaboration, Milwaukee Recreation provides funding, while host organizations provide intern supervision and meaningful work experiences.

The program serves as a catalyst, equipping young artists with the tools and experiences necessary to thrive in their chosen fields.

Each summer, approximately fifty interns contribute over 5,000 hours of work to their host organizations. Interns also participate in a series of networking and professional development gatherings. In summer 2024, interns participated in workshops about crafting their creative identity, using theater skills to network with confidence, unlocking their financial success, and building a foundation for growth. They also attended a panel discussion featuring local arts professionals and participated in a networking event with other interns.

The program culminates in a celebratory exhibition showcasing participantsʼ achievements at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Program Impact
Since 2010, the Arts Internship Program has provided over 700 high-school students with valuable work experience in the arts, leading to $652,000 in earned wages for these budding artists. The program has a wide geographic reach, serving students from twenty-eight high schools and twenty-one Milwaukee-area zip codes.

The program serves as a catalyst, equipping young artists with the tools and experiences necessary to thrive in their chosen fields. Adrean Maxwell, a Milwaukee High School of the Arts alum, utilized his two internship experiences to co-found the Milwaukee African Drum and Dance company. While Adreanʼs formal dance training provided him with a strong technical foundation, the Arts Internship Program allowed him to apply his skills in real-world situations.

“I can’t stress enough how important [the Arts Internship Program] was for providing hands-on experience and practical skills that directly translated into my career,” Maxwell said. “Programs like this are essential for students to explore career options and develop skills that regular school programs might not fully cover. Of course, traditional schooling is vital too, but these internships offer something uniquely valuable. Especially programs that give hope to the youth, so that they know that they can do anything.”

Inspiring Future Artists
It is through initiatives like the Arts Internship Program that we can cultivate the next generation of artists and arts administrators. In Milwaukee, the arts internships establish professional practices for students experiencing the workforce for the first time and build on classroom learning by offering opportunities for young people to work alongside current leaders, mentors, and changemakers.

“When looking at careers and career paths...a lot of internships are saying, ʻlet me show you this career path, let me get you interested in it,’” Padric Holman, an intern with Artists Working in Education, said. “I’ve always been attracted to those because I’m not just getting the skills from working at a job and getting paid, but I’m also able to talk to the people who are really working in those fields and getting a feel for the career.”

April Heding is the manager of the Afterschool Arts & Humanities program at Milwaukee Recreation. april@mkerec.net