Description
Milwaukee Recreation’s award-winning Arts Internship Program is a paid summer opportunity that provides high school students with hands-on experience in arts-related positions. Interns engage deeply in the arts while building valuable 21st-century job skills. For many participants, this program serves as their first paid work experience.
Internships range from 40 to 400 hours between May and August and start at a minimum of $12.50 per hour.
Host organizations are responsible for interviewing and hiring interns, setting schedules, and providing day-to-day supervision and mentorship. Milwaukee Recreation supports the program by funding intern wages and benefits, providing transportation (unlimited M-Cards for the duration of the internship), and offering job readiness training and career exploration opportunities.
All position descriptions, program guidelines, and a sample application can be found here.
Please note: applications are not submitted through this page.
The application opens on April 13 at 8:00 AM here.
Requirements
GUIDELINES
Arts Internships span a total of 40-400 hours during the summer, with most organizations
offering somewhere between 125-300 hours per internship. Interns are paid a minimum of
$12.50 per hour and receive an unlimited WisGo Card for transportation (from their first day of
work until the end of summer). Interns are required to attend job training sessions, complete
reflection assignments, and work closely with a supervisor to achieve the following:
Become more prepared for future work experience
Gain confidence in applying for future jobs
Learn new skills and abilities in their area of focus
Gain a deeper understanding of the production, hard work, a dedication that goes into completing a
work of art or project
Build a professional network of mentors
Mandatory trainings and events:
Orientation: Thursday, June 18 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Check-In Training: Thursday, July 16 | 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Final celebration: Thursday, August 13 | 3:00 – 7:00 PM
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for the program, you must:
Be at least 16 years of age at the start of work unless the hiring organization
indicates that the position or positions are open to students who are 15 years of
age or older
Be a high school equivalent student (or an out-going senior)
Be a resident of the city of Milwaukee OR currently enrolled in a MPS high school
Be available to work the internship schedule as determined by the organization and
able to attend the mandatory trainings/events listed above.
HOW TO APPLY
Read the internship position descriptions and identify which opportunity interests you. Next,
complete and submit the materials listed below via an online application which opens on April
13th at 8:00 AM. The position descriptions, a link to the application, templates, and other helpful
materials will be available here (https://tinyurl.com/5yrrrbk5.) If you prefer to submit a paper
application packet please contact Erin Fonseca (contact info below) for instructions.
Required application materials:
Arts Internship Student Application (to request a paper application, contact Erin Fonseca)
A letter of interest (using our template) stating why you are interested in the internship
and what you have to offer the organization (If you are applying for a second year,
please specify what skills or projects you would like to expand upon.
A list of 1-3 professional references, including name, relation to you, phone number,
and email address (references can include teachers, mentors, coaches, etc.; not
family members or friends)
Any other information requested by the organization
