INTERNSHIP

Community organizations reflect the dynamics of their community. They retain their existence through an interlocking growth-relationship with their community, preserving their history and reinventing their creative cultures. Community arts organizations, unlike major institutions, take their spark of life from the tumult, confusion and anguish of an unstable existence suppressed by a racial and cultural majority. Such organizations negotiate a relationship between the mainstream and their community's subculture. In seeking to institutionalize, they pass on their special outlook and characteristic procedures to the next generation of culture workers. Community arts organizations are a storehouse of racial and cultural knowledge unique to their context. The cultural work of diverse people provides an entry point, both for understanding this "real politic" dynamic, and for understanding the reality of difference. They are a gateway for artists, staff, members, volunteers, and audience, as well as interns, a window to see and grasp the dynamics of a subculture.

Arts Centre offers internship/volunteer program to give students and art lovers the opportunity to help/learn about all aspects of running a non-profit art organization. We are currently looking for students who are interested in working at a non profit visual art organization throughout the year. Please note this is a non-paid position. Volunteers are also needed in all areas. A special area is Archiving. Cataloging and keeping good records of the collections takes a detail minded spirit. Good Asian language ability is also needed. Apply! Contribute to AAAC!

Visual Arts Program: exhibitions & installations, catalogues, curatorial services, Artists Slide Archive, Permanent Collection

Folk Arts Program: exhibitions, presentations & demonstrations, oral history documentation, Permanent Collection

Research Program: Asian folk artists, Post World War II visual artists, Slide Archive

Education Program: childrens art classes, Tai Chi classes, tour group presentations, panel discussions, Stories of Chinatown

Following is a short description on the Arts Centre and the area that you might be working:

1. Artists Slide Archives. We have an extensive archive of slides and documents of Asian American artists from throughout the United States from about 1945 to the present. Work on the archives involves filing, correspondence and resource management. This includes an extensive contemporary art library and Asian American materials.

2. Collections Management. We have a Permanent Collection of 400 contemporary art works. Much needs to be done to bring this collection up to the standards we want, both in its physical maintenance, condition status and its documentation.

3. Milieu Research This is an AAAC research project on senior Asian American artists during the period of 1945-1965. Students of contemporary art history will find it rewarding and particularly useful.

4. Exhibitions. The AAAC holds 5 art exhibitions annually. Interns will work with the Curator to plan, schedule, manage and install.

5. Administrative. Learn to handle the day to day operations of a Community Arts Organization.

6. Development. Research possible funding sources, managing existing files of funding organizations. Assisting preparation of grant proposal.

7.Website: Arts Centre’s website needs to be maintained and expanded. Interns will assist in research, preparing materials for uploading, and updating.

Please send us by email if possible a brief cover letter as to why you want to be an intern/volunteer at AAAC, the start and end dates of your availability, a resume, a writing sample that shows your writing ability. A few images if you are an artist is ok. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

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