STUDENT INTERNSHIPS IN THE VISUAL ARTS:
Internships are a valuable tool for students to extend their academic experience through participation within the visual arts community. Internships provide students the opportunity to work with a variety of professionals: individual artists, scholars, institutions, organizations, and/or businesses within their individual interests and future career goals. Through the internship experience students gain insight into and knowledge about professional life in their chosen field.
A 3-credit (135-hour) Internship is a degree requirement for students Majoring in Art History, Art and Entrepreneurial Studies, and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). Students in other majors may also chose to participate in an internship, from one to six credits (each credit-hour equals 45-hours of Internship experience).
Possibilities for internships include, but are not limited to, practicing artists, scholars, galleries, arts-related businesses, museums, non-profit organizations, and cultural institutions.
Read an Art History Major’s Internship Blog written while assisting with exhibition curation at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art: A Short History of Bathing Attire by Lizzie Hand.
CURRENT STUDENTS:
Please Read the Complete Internship Guidelines on the secure MyUSM website before applying (login required).
ART EDUCATION STUDENT TEACHING INTERNSHIPS:
During the final year of Art Education coursework, students complete a two-semester student teaching internship. During this culminating experience, students get hands-on, real world teaching experience in k-12 classrooms. Student teaching combines the theoretical and practical knowledge, gained from coursework, into actual teaching scenarios.
The Art Education program provides a full academic year of student teaching; many other teacher preparation programs provide only 15 weeks. Over the course of two semesters, students gain experience in three different schools and three different grade levels (k-5, 6-8, 9-12). Through student teaching, Art Education majors refine their teaching philosophy and style, and determine which grade level they’d most like to teach.
STUDENT EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES:
Every March, the ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION is held at the USM Art Gallery on the Gotham campus. This exhibition opportunity is open to all USM students to submit work in any media. The exhibition is designed to provide students with an introduction to a professional type of exhibition as emerging artists. As part of the process, they obtain feedback from art professionals in the community, learn to prepare art for a professional setting, and have their work exposed to a wide range of viewers perhaps for the first time. Three jurors from the local Art community select the student work to be exhibited, as well as the winners of cash awards.
BFA/BA EXHIBITION, held every April in the USM Art Gallery on the Gorham campus, is the culmination of Senior Seminar, ART 401. The exhibition features work by the Art Departments’ seniors, and is the capstone for Bachelor of Fine Arts majors. Senior seminar’s purpose is to assist BFA and BA art students in preparation of the Senior Exhibition, while also facilitating the development of the professional practice materials pertinent to the practicing studio artist. Students are asked to create a CV/resume, write a concise Artist Statement, professionally document their work for a professional portfolio, and create a public slide presentation. Under the guidance of Faculty, students self-curate, present, and hang their Senior Exhibition, and defend their work in critiques by outside Visiting Artists. This course helps students develop strategies for continuing their art practice beyond their degree.
STUDENTS ENGAGE WITH VISITING ARTISTS:
Each year the USM Art Department hosts visiting artists and scholars, one of whom is the long-term artist-in-residence. These visiting artists, from international, national, and regional locations, greatly enhance the USM Art program. During their stay, the artists and scholars engage in activities ranging from student art critiques, demonstrations, art exhibitions and lectures. For more information on short-term visiting artis Click Here.
The University has had a successful long-term Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program since 1986. The program was originally designed for artists to create a work of art that would contribute to the campus collection. In 2015, the mission changed to foster temporary projects in the community. Artists also give a public presentation, engage with the USM and larger community, and work with art classes during their 7-week residency. Recent Visiting Artists in Residence include Amy Stacey Curtis, Ólöf Nordal, Daniel Minter, and Muhsana Ali. The spring 2023 Visiting Artist in Residence will be Veronica Perez. Community residency projects since 2015 are featured chronologically on this Webpage.
STUDENT TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES:
Since 2017 the USM Art Department has offered 3-credit Travel Courses, allowing students to explore new horizons while gaining knowledge and skill in the Arts. These unique opportunities can enhance education by broadening learning through experiential travel. USM Art Students have participated in 1-week residencies in La Napoule, France, Schoodic Institute, at Acadia National Park, in Winter Harbor, Maine, Reykjavik, Iceland, Monson Arts in Monson, Maine, and Spannocchia in Tuscany, Italy.
