Resident Artist Intern Fellowship Program

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NE SCULPTURE houses a vibrant internship/residency program for emerging artists. 

Applications for the 2020 Artist Intern Fellowships are currently closed. Please check back again and follow us on social media for updates on the 2021 application cycle. 

There are up to 3 artist interns accepted for each term: Spring (May–June); Summer (July–August); and Fall (September–November). See application instructions here.

Position Description

Artist interns live and work (as a volunteer) in Northeast Minneapolis for a period of 2-3 months. Workload is approximately 25 hours per week for the nonprofit organization. Use of shop/studio/Gallery facility is encouraged as is exhibition of a work in Northeast Minneapolis. Most artist interns undertake making one large sculpture or several smaller sculptures/works during their time in residence. Past interns have had the sculptures created during their residency sited at locations such as Silverwood Sculpture Park, the NE SCULPTURE Quad, and various other sites around Northeast Minneapolis. Other times, interns have had their residency culminate with a pop-up gallery show in the NE SCULPTURE | Gallery Factory. 

Primary job responsibilities include assisting artists in installing artwork, gallery and sculpture quad maintenance, sitting weekly for gallery hours, and various arts administration tasks. Arts administration work supports day-to-day functions of a  nonprofit arts organization and includes social media management, fundraising operations, and website administration.

Room & board is provided as compensation. Travel and art materials is the responsibility of the intern artist, although we offer intern artists support in acquiring art materials cheaply on site. All interns are volunteers for the organization, which has 501-c3 sponsorship through the Northeast Community Development Corporation.

Summary of Essential Job Functions 

• As a volunteer, work with artists preparing for exhibition and site preparation for new installations of all kinds of 2D, 3D & Performance/Multi-Media Art in the Gallery and at sculpture sites around Northeast Minneapolis
• Assist Director and artists in residence with installation of Gallery Factory shows and construction and installation of new sculptures
• Assist Director and artists/educators in facilitating community arts & education classes and workshops as a volunteer. Events include regular monthly gallery openings as well as yearly events such as Art-a-Whirl and Open Casket
• Assist Director in arts administration tasks as needed to support the daily functions of a small non-profit arts organization
• Represent NE SCULPTURE at partner events throughout the community

Minimum Requirements 

Passion for the mission of NE SCULPTURE, creative, good communicator. Flexible in spirit and work. Self-motivated and enjoy working alone at times. Background in studio arts and you are a career-bound artist. 

Compensation and Benefits

Room and board:

Artist interns live in a fully furnished apartment on the second floor of a house in Northeast Minneapolis, located two blocks from the Mississippi River and Boom Island Park, and just across the river from downtown Minneapolis. Location offers proximity to work at NE SCULPTURE as well as being close to grocery stores, libraries, coffee shops, etc. Artist interns are provided with bicycles to transport them to and from work – NE SCULPTURE is about a 5 minute car ride, 8 minute bike ride, or 25 minute walk from the provided apartment. Board is provided via an ample weekly grocery stipend and a well-appointed kitchen in the apartment. 

Benefits also include being enmeshed in the vibrant Northeast Minneapolis Arts District and daily meetings with many professional working artists. Past interns have formed meaningful connections with artists and other art professionals in Northeast Minneapolis, resulting in mentorship, learning new studio disciplines, and broadening their artistic community. 

This is a non-paying position. We can work with you and your institution to offer internship/course credit. We can assist and encourage you to apply for internship funding for your travel or artistic materials through your home institution. You are encouraged to make use of the studio facilities to create new work to be installed and exhibited in Northeast Minneapolis. Assistance will be provided for installation and creation of new work as well as material acquisition and in kind support of materials when possible. Training on equipment will also be provided where appropriate.