Arts Internship Coordinator

Art Works for Milwaukee’s mission is strengthening Milwaukee’s workforce through arts internships that help teens develop career skills.

Art Works has a three-tiered structure, beginning with an introductory unpaid internship, followed by an intermediate paid internship, and ending with a Tier 3, paid entrepreneurship internship. Every Art Works internship is designed to help teens develop the 21st‑century skills that are critical to today’s working world. Each internship also includes reflection, self‑evaluation, and formal feedback to measure the interns’ understanding, demonstration, and application of 21st‑century skills.

Program Summary

Working in a small team of 3–7 teens, interns work for a full year, 7–10 hours a week. Under the internship coordinator’s guidance, the teens develop entrepreneurial skills through instruction, informal presentations by volunteer experts, and hands‑on work. Interns focus on qualities such as perseverance, self‑confidence, initiative, tolerance for ambiguity, goal setting, and communication.

Position Summary

Art Works for Milwaukee is seeking an arts internship coordinator to lead the organization’s Tier 3 interns in entrepreneurial learning experiences, commission projects, and mentoring opportunities. The ideal candidate should be skilled in visual arts, workshop facilitation, customer service, and business. The candidate does not need in‑depth entrepreneurial knowledge but must be able to utilize Art Works’ network of volunteers as subject‑matter experts to educate students.

For three to five hours per week, the internship coordinator will support the program manager with programmatic logistics and administration.

Duties & Responsibilities

Lesson Planning (30% of time)

• Create weekly lesson plans using pre‑designed Art Works curriculum.
• Apply and grow knowledge of entrepreneurship, business, and nonprofit management.
• Maintain a consistent focus on 21st‑century skills in lesson design.

Teaching & Facilitation (40% of time)

• Implement Art Works’ curriculum and make modifications where necessary during programming.
• Support social‑emotional learning (SEL) through arts and workforce readiness instruction.
• Supervise participants, managing behaviors with empathy and support.
• Monitor intern attendance and punctuality at all sessions.
• Act as a positive role model and mentor to all participants.
• Provide group and one‑on‑one instruction.
• Establish a safe learning and social environment for all students and site staff.
• Create weekly social media and marketing content with interns.
• Guide students through projects while also allowing independent decision‑making.

Program Quality – Administration & Coordination (30% of time)

• Model the 21st‑century skills fundamental to Art Works’ skill‑building model.
• Ensure interns record their hours with timekeeping software.
• Represent Art Works at community events.
• Document successes and challenges after each session for program staff’s review.
• Provide feedback and evaluations to interns to maximize individual success.
• Participate in weekly staff and program meetings.
• Other tasks and projects as assigned by the program manager and/or executive director.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Highly skilled in visual arts media.
• At least one year of teaching, facilitating, or mentoring experience in a similar role.
• At least one year of work with youth, particularly youth of color.
• Cultural competency to work well with all communities and individuals.
• Effective communication with program and site staff.
• Ability to work independently and under minimal supervision.
• Flexibility and multitasking skills.
• Detail‑oriented with excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills while working on a team.
• Effective time management.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Knowledge of social‑emotional learning (SEL).
• Experience working with youth who have experienced trauma.
• Experience working with youth with physical, mental, or neurological disabilities.
• Experience creating lesson plans or curricula.
• Business‑minded, knowledge of and/or experience with entrepreneurship and business administration.
• Interest in social justice and social change initiatives.

Compensation & Schedule

• Programming runs after school (between 3 pm and 7 pm) during the school year (September – May). Programming runs during the day (between 10 am and 3 pm) in the summer months (June – August).
• Access to reliable transportation is preferred. This position involves occasional errands, off‑site program visits, community events, etc.
• $15.50 per hour.
• Intended start date:
  May 13 , 2019.