More than 100 undergraduate students at The Ohio State University have participated as externs with area arts organizations since 2023, following a $2 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to support student experiential learning and community engagement through the arts, according to a May 5 statement.
The initiative is designed to help art students gain real-world skills and prepare for careers in the arts. The Community Engagement Internship is one of three projects funded by the grant, alongside a graduate student opportunity and a Spark Grant competition.
The internship consists of two parts: an initial semester-long placement at Urban Arts Space focused on foundational training and professional development, followed by an externship with local arts or cultural organizations. Partners include institutions such as the Columbus Museum of Art, Priscilla Tyson Cultural Arts Center, Roy G. Biv Gallery, and Fort Hayes High School.
Terron Banner, director of Urban Arts Space, said that participants benefit from exposure to the professional art world. “I want all the interns to be competitive, to be well-versed, to be experienced and knowledgeable in all the fields,” Banner said. “You never know what you may experience in the job market, at your organization, as an entrepreneur, whatever you do.”
Lisa Florman, vice provost for the arts and history of art professor at Ohio State University said that connecting classroom learning with practical experiences addresses a long-standing need within their programs. “Part of the impetus behind the grant was our sense that we do a very good job educating arts students in the arts but we’ve done less well on helping them navigate the art scene post-graduation,” Florman said. “They will need…to work with community arts organizations to support their practices.”
Imara January completed her internship at Urban Arts Space before joining Maroon Arts Group (MAG), where she curated exhibitions and helped organize events such as MAG’s Juneteenth celebration. January credited her participation for helping her secure employment after graduation: “I had an impressive resume walking into my interviews. I had done data collection, program management, community engagement—all that jazz.”
Banner highlighted multiple outcomes from this approach: some graduates stay locally contributing to creative economies; others pursue graduate studies or find opportunities elsewhere including national museums. He said: “One is students staying here after they graduate…Another is some going into graduate school because they see another path forward…And some now work at places like Museum of Modern Art in New York.”
Florman added that this focus aligns closely with broader university priorities around internships and workforce development: “It dovetails very well with the emphasis that President Bellamkonda has placed on internships…What does that look like in the arts? We think it looks a lot like this.”
The Ohio State University pursues its land-grant mission through affordable education initiatives across six campuses statewide while supporting academics and recreation through facilities such as Wexner Center for the Arts according to its official website.
