Diego Rivera E3 West and E3 North Broad Photo by Steve Weinik
The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program is the largest public art program in the United States. The Mural Arts Program unites artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural-making, to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives.
Mural Arts’ award-winning art education programs annually serve 1,500 youth at neighborhood sites throughout the city. Mural Arts’ programs are offered free and are targeted to at-risk youth. Educational programs use an intensive curriculum that involves mural-making as a dynamic means to engage youth and to teach transferable life and job skills such as taking personal responsibility, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. The Mural Arts Program has also become a national leader in arts in criminal and restorative justice, currently offering educational programs in local prisons and rehabilitation centers using the restorative power of art to break the cycle of crime and violence in communities.
All the Way Live from the 215 2nd and Norris Streets Photo by Steve Weinik
The Write Club students reading National Geographic Kids’ Weird But True book together.
PhillySpells runs the Spells Writing Lab, a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization that develops the creative and expository writing abilities of school-age children through free, fun, and imaginative writing programs and teacher development opportunities. From the PhillySpells website:
“At Spells, we believe that literacy is a cornerstone for future success, and that personalized attention and unconventional learning opportunities can inspire students to greater triumphs, both in the classroom and in life. To further these ends, we offer the following programs:
after-school drop-in tutoring
weekend writing workshops
in-school assistance with student publications
partnerships with non-profits
professional development opportunities for teachers
All of our programs are free, and many incorporate other artistic disciplines such as music, film, or the visual arts to inspire young writers.”
The cast and crew of Monster Madness, one of three silent films made during the summer writing camp.
—-Volunteer Opportunities—-
Whether you’re interested in becoming a tutor, a workshop leader, a lab assistant, or another kind of helper, the process begins when you submit our online volunteer application. On the form, be sure to indicate which volunteer orientation you’d like to attend. Your application will be reviewed and you will be contacted to confirm your orientation session.
Once you’re a trained Spells volunteer, you’ll recieve occasional emails letting you know what’s been going on at the lab, giving you additional training support, and listing upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Are you a graphic designer, artist, copyeditor, or publishing professional? Volunteer to help out with PhillySpells publications!
Spells Writing Lab offers in-school assistance for newspapers and literary magazines, which includes copyediting and layout. They also produce end-of-semester writing collections with tutoring students and occasionally need illustration or design expertise for writing workshops. (There are also opportunities for designers who would like to create promotional materials such as bookmarks, posters, and brochures.)
Whether you’ve been in the business for years, or are still in art school, you can use your art to make a difference. Sign up to be a Spells volunteer today!
EVENT PLANNERS & GRANT WRITERS
Do you absolutely love event planning? Are you interested in helping out during a fundraiser? Want to earn money for PhillySpells programs with your grant writing prowess? Spells could definitely use your help! Simply indicate your interest on our volunteer application or email fundraising@phillyspells.org.
Visiting the Insectarium for monster writing inspiration
For college students who would like to turn their volunteering into an educational experience and can commit at least 5–10 hours per week to our organization, we offer the Spells Writing Lab Internship.
As a Spells Writing Lab Program Intern, you will work one-on-one with young authors, guiding them through the writing process and helping them realize their full creative potential. Additional responsibilities include providing homework support to students in our after-school program, developing and presenting writing workshops or other educational programming, and assisting with volunteer management, community outreach, fundraising, or other areas of running a non-profit.
Design Interns will work closely with our programming director to help students with digital media projects such as animations, short films, and visual novels; manage the creation of chapbooks and other final projects during our writing workshops; capture and edit photos and video from our programs; and work with our staff to produce flyers, newsletters, event materials, and promotional materials as needed.
Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $80 million.
Christie’s has 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai and Hong Kong. Christie’s also offers its clients worldwide access to its sales through Christie’s LIVE™, its unique, real-time online bidding service.
Christie’s Americas Internship Programme: Christie’s offers unpaid Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall internships in specialist and business support departments that provide a hands-on introduction to the inner workings of an auction house and to the New York art world. An internship at Christie’s involves a combination of general day to day tasks associated with the auction process, opportunities for researching artists and objects, and occasions to attend organized intern events.
First Person Arts transforms the drama of real life into memoir and documentary art to foster appreciation for our unique and shared experiences. We believe that everyone has a story to tell, and that sharing our stories connects us with each other and the world.
The Annual First Person Arts Festival is the only festival of its kind in the world, dedicated to memoir and documentary writing. Occurring in November, it features powerful personal stories from leading national artists and everyday people, as well as food programs, workshops, tours and panels. Volunteers help before the festival to get the word out, and during the festival with ushering, ticket sales and production.
Volunteers and interns are essential members of the First Person Arts community. Throughout the year, they help with marketing, development, programming, and other First Person Arts needs.
Slought (‘Sl-aw-t’) is a non-profit organization that engages the public in dialogue about cultural and socio-political change in Philadelphia, the world, and the cloud. We are a new form of institution that builds relationships and social trust through collaboration and the exchange of ideas. For over a decade, we have worked with artists, communities, and institutions worldwide to develop projects that encourage inclusiveness, advocacy, and the sharing of knowledge.
Slought has partnered with Bryn Mawr in the past. Slought offers unpaid internships for undergraduate students interested in supplementing their academic work with an intensive and collaborative experience. Visit http://slought.org/info/employment.php to learn more about current internship and volunteer opportunities.
Alain Badiou, Simon Critchley Democracy and Disappointment: On the Politics of Resistance
The Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania believes in the power of art and artists to inform and inspire. The ICA is free for all to engage and connect with the art of our time.
Former BMC students have interned at ICA, which offers internships in several departments including Curatorial, Business Office, Development, Marketing and Communications, Programming and Technical.
The Curatorial department at ICA researches and organizes upcoming exhibitions; produces exhibition catalogues; manages the travel of exhibitions; and collaborates with other departments on developing public programming and press materials. Curatorial interns will gain valuable experience with the workings of a contemporary art institution by assisting the department with a variety of tasks that include: research exhibition themes and artist’s bibliographies; maintain curatorial databases and archives; sending out exhibition publications; assisting with artist submissions; managing ICA’s library; and responding to inquiries about past exhibitions. Experience with Photoshop is a plus.
History of the Academy: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia was founded in 1812 “for the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences, and the advancement of useful learning.” The unique aspect of this statement of purpose lies in the word “useful,” a mandate the Academy has continuously redefined through research and education that reflects the needs of the times.
The Academy of Natural Sciences offers Volunteer Internships in various areas of museum operations and education, including:
Bryn Mawr College students have been placed here in previous years.
For most internships a commitment of 16 to 20 hours per week is expected. Generally time would be scheduled on weekdays between the hours of 9 and 5, but some weekend scheduling is also possible.
Walk inside the Giant Heart Exhibit: Fun Fact: The Giant Heart is the right size for a 220-foot tall person—someone as tall as the Statue of Liberty!
The Franklin Institute’s Mission: In the spirit of inquiry and discovery embodied by Benjamin Franklin, the mission of The Franklin Institute is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology.
The Franklin Institute Internship Program allows students to fulfill school-sponsored internships through volunteering. Internships can be for credit as a Praxis III placement or non-credit as determined by your preference. Goals of the internships are matched to the needs of the Institute.
Meet Ben Franklin: Visit the 20-foot high marble statue of the legend.
Interns work in almost every area of the Institute, working alongside staff and completing projects independently. Some of the departments accepting interns include:
Musicopia is a nonprofit organization that works with approximately 100 of the Philadelphia region’s professional musicians to present a wealth of music education programs. Musicopia is also the leading advocate for restoring and improving in-school music instruction throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.
Musicopia has a variety of volunteer opportunities, including:
Empowering and Healing the Mind, Body and Spirit Through Art.
Art Sphere Inc brings the joy and power of artistic expression to under-served youth and communities throughout the Delaware Valley.
A charitable non-profit founded in 1998 by artist and Philadelphia-area native, Kristin Groenveld, Art Sphere works with communities to promote individual and civic empowerment through art education.
