The Wallis’ Summer 2019 Los Angeles County Arts Commission (LACAC) interns exchange their thoughts on life, liberty, and the pursuit of internship. Education Intern Colette is studying theater production and political science at Loyola Marymount University; Development Intern Marlena, a new graduate from UCLA, earned a B.A. in theater with a musical theater emphasis; and lastly, Marketing Intern Sam is a Santa Monica College student studying opera, and is hoping to soon transfer to a local four year university.
Sam: Marlena, what made you want to apply to Internships this summer?
Marlena: I applied to internships based on a lot of logistical factors, but I also applied to places heavily based on the theater productions they performed. To be honest, another huge factor was that The Wallis was a paid internship, as part of the LACAC program. I know its taboo to talk about money, but in this industry it’s so easy to be taken advantage of and to be pressured to work for free, especially when you are young. I truly believe you should be paid for your art, it’s your heart, soul, and hard work, so you should be paid for it. Receiving compensation for my work makes me feel as though I’m appreciated for the work I do. It’s also really great that we aren’t just tasked with getting coffee or passing out mail, we are doing actual work in the field of art. And lastly, I just feel supported here, my supervisor outlined the variety of work I would be doing over the summer and made it clear what I would be leaving here with—a portfolio showcasing my assortment of completed projects. I really feel my supervisor is rooting for me and this kind of support I receive makes me feel more appreciated here.
Sam: I agree with you. I think that’s one of the nice things about the internship program at The Wallis. They give you the opportunity to work on meaningful tasks without requiring a lot of prior experience. They believe in your potential and it’s nice to be given appropriate, yet meaningful, responsibilities and be treated like you belong here. During meetings I have the opportunity to see everybody collaborate and overcome day-to-day hurdles. I’ve formed a clearer image of what each person’s responsibilities entail, and it reveals different areas within the arts that I can explore and pursue post-graduation. Having exposure to a working environment has relieved a lot of my anxiety for my life post-graduation.
Sam: How about you both? Has working at The Wallis provided any clarity on what you want to pursue post-graduation?
Colette: I would say, yes. I find working here satisfying because the work is super impactful. This is my first experience with arts education but I love it already. It combines my interests with accessibility and equity of resources within the field of arts. Specifically, it provides opportunities to include more minorities and disadvantaged populations in the arts, and give them a voice. I can say that arts education is now on my radar.
Sam: Did you have any fear when you were applying to internships? Because I thought I would get here on my first day and be expected to do complicated tasks, and that I would not be able to do it, and look really stupid.
Colette: Yes! I thought everyone was going to hate me, and that I wouldn’t be able to do anything, I was so stressed out about it.
Sam: Obviously our fears turned out to be baseless; I’ve never been more comfortable in a work environment.
Marlena: Did anything surprise you about working here?
Sam: I was really surprised at how much diversity there is at The Wallis. I didn’t expect an organization located In Beverly Hills to be diverse, but there are people from a variety of backgrounds working here. I feel that the programming here is representative of the hot pot of racial, socioeconomic, gender, and sexual orientations that make up Los Angeles County. It’s too rare that somebody works for something they believe in, and I feel tremendously lucky to be able to do that at this early stage in my career path.
With special thanks to the dedicated funder of this critical program, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, which helps build future arts leaders.