Art New York
Art New York is an spring semester internship program that is exclusive to the University of Rochester—and is the learning experience of a lifetime! It immerses you in the stimulating art environment of New York City, the global hub of the contemporary art scene and a major center for the exhibition, conservation, and trade in artworks.
You will have the opportunity to experience New York’s rich and varied cultural life while pursuing a combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience. Participation in the program will enrich your understanding of the operation of the art world, and offer an insight into further study and career opportunities.
Art New York is integral to the Department of Art and Art History’s belief in the marriage of theory and practice. The program offers an exciting opportunity for career development to prospective artists, art historians, museum and gallery professionals, curators; those who envisage a career in art journalism, arts administration and management, advertising; or those who simply wish to gain an insider’s perspective on contemporary art and culture.
Below is more information about Art New York including:
The New York Art World
Thousands of art professionals live and work in New York City. New York is home to world-renowned museums—the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim Museum—as well as smaller, more specialized museums such as the International Center for Photography, the Jewish Museum, el Museo del Barrio, and the Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Design.
Hundreds of commercial galleries showing contemporary art are spread through three major Manhattan art districts: Soho, Chelsea, and the Mid- and Uptown galleries along 57th Street and Madison Avenue. In addition, there are the more experimental non-profit art institutions, such as the Dia Center for the Arts in Chelsea, the New Museum of Contemporary Art and Artists Space in Soho, and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City, one of the largest contemporary art exhibition spaces in the world. Of course, New York is also where you'll find the best in contemporary culture—performance art, dance, music, theater, architecture, and design.
The Program
Academic excellence is the hallmark of the Art New York Program at the University of Rochester, and we work closely with you to help you reach your academic, personal, and professional goals. The program, which combines an internship with a colloquium and studio course, is administered by our department through our program manager in Rochester.
It is offered to all qualified sophomore, junior and senior students interested in learning about how art gets made, how it reaches the public, and the process of its interpretation and display. Students will receive a total of sixteen credits for their Art New York semester—eight for the internship and four each for the colloquium and studio course. The Art New York semester constitutes a cluster in the humanities.
Art History Majors
Beginning in fall 2024, the Art New York field studio course satisfies the studio requirement, and the Art New York colloquium satisfies one AH 100-level course for art history majors. The eight-credit internship counts as general credit toward graduation unless otherwise determined through departmental advisement. For minors, the colloquium satisfies one AH 100-level course, and the eight-credit internship satisfies one program 200/300-level course, with the remainder of the eight credits counting as general credit toward graduation.
Studio Art Majors and Minors
Beginning in fall 2024, the Art New York field studio course fulfills one of the 100-level course requirements, and the Art New York colloquium satisfies one art history course requirement for studio art majors and minors. The eight-credit internship through Art New York counts as general credit toward graduation unless otherwise determined through departmental advisement.
More information about the program can be found on the Art New York website.
Internship (Eight Credits)
Each student will intern in an institution approved by the program director. The purpose of the internship is to give students an insider’s view of the workings of the art world.
Internships seek to make use of students’ particular abilities, such as a foreign language or computer skills. At the same time, students will learn how individual art institutions go about their day-to-day business, and about the functioning of the art world more generally. Students will document their work as a part of the learning experience, and as a means of evaluation. Students will also gain special skills to acquire the internship: writing CVs and cover letters, going through a job search, interview skills, decision making, etc.
Internships are available at a number of prominent institutions, including the Studio Institute, Mesh Designs, and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center. All interns work approximately 15 hours per week.
Colloquium (Four Credits)
As an integral part of the internship program, all students participating in Art New York will meet weekly at a colloquium directed by a University of Rochester faculty member. The purpose of the colloquium is to provide an intellectual framework for understanding the operations of the New York art world and to allow students to discuss their experiences in an academic context.
The colloquium will provide students with a structured series of discussions led by a faculty member. Students will have the opportunity to discuss their experiences with each other, and to understand how Art New York fits in with their academic and professional goals. They will receive advice on exhibitions to visit, be assigned relevant readings, and be expected to keep a written record of their experiences that will form part of the assessment package.
Field Studio (Four Credits)
The studio course will utilize the resources of New York City as a starting point for creative production. Projects will take students outside into the city to make art with a rotating variety of media, including photography, video, sound, and installation, with an emphasis on collaboration. Students will participate in group critiques and discussions that aid in articulating concepts.
Housing
Accommodations are available at several excellent residences that cater to students living in New York City for a short period of time. They are located throughout Manhattan, as well as in nearby Brooklyn Heights. Students also have the option of arranging accommodations independently, through consultation with the director.
Application
Students considering Art New York must complete the online application form. Applicants will be asked to write an essay outlining their reasons for wishing to participate in the program. Acceptance will be based on the essay, recommendations, and the student's academic record. The program is capped at 16 students for each spring session. NOTE: Art New York will be on a hiatus for the 2020/2021 academic year.
Contact
Megan Metté, Program Manager
Department of Art and Art History
506 Morey Hall, P.O. Box 270456
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY 14627
Email: megan.mette@rochester.edu