Mentorship & Education at The Guild
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Curatorial Vision & Artistic Integrity
Learn how to design and execute Consistent, meaningful exhibitions that reflect a clear purpose or theme while providing support for emerging and established artists aligned with the gallery’s mission. Hone your Aesthetic and learn how to maintain conceptual integrity in what gets shown and how it’s presented.
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Community Engagement & Visitor Experience
Provide a welcoming, accessible atmosphere for visitors of all backgrounds, while developing educational programming, events, and outreach that invite participation that aligns with the theme of the show. Discover what makes the New Hartford Artisans Guild different through understanding our core values and how we engage with our members and customers.
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Operational & Financial Sustainability
Understand the inner-workings of the Guild, how we manage sales, inventory, and artist relationships. Dive deeper into marketing and promotion (including social media) to drive visibility. Develop standards for advertisement that touch on graphic design. Learn how revenue streams like commissions, grants, classes, rentals, or donations are pivotal for success.
Program Overview
This is a rigorous, immersive internship for motivated individuals interested in learning the inner workings of a dynamic community art space. Interns will gain firsthand experience in gallery operations, exhibition planning, artist management, marketing, and community engagement. Participants are expected to work both on-site and remotely, and will be trusted with real responsibilities while receiving mentorship and guidance throughout.
Interns will shadow working artists and gallery directors, and be given consistent opportunities to ask questions, contribute ideas, and reflect on their learning. This is not an observation-based internship — interns will be active participants in the daily work of the Guild.
Eligibility
Who Should Apply for This Mentorship?
This mentorship is designed for people of all ages who are motivated and creative, who are passionate about the arts and eager to gain real-world experience inside a working gallery and community art space.
The ideal applicant is someone who:
Is passionate about art and community — You don’t need to be a professional artist, but you should care deeply about the creative process, supporting other artists, and helping to make art more accessible.
Is reliable, responsible, and self-directed — You follow through on commitments, manage your time well, and are comfortable balancing independent work with team collaboration.
Is curious and eager to learn — You ask questions, take notes, seek feedback, and want to understand how things work from the ground up. You're here to grow.
Is comfortable working with people — Whether you're helping hang a show or welcoming a gallery visitor, you’re kind, respectful, and open to different perspectives.
Is open to learning new tools — You don’t need to be a tech whiz, but you should be willing to learn tools like Canva, Google Docs, or social media platforms.
Isn’t afraid to get hands-on — You understand that hanging shows, patching walls, organizing supplies, or sweeping the gallery are part of what makes a great space run smoothly.
Wants to be part of something bigger — This is more than a resume builder. You want to contribute to a creative ecosystem and help amplify local voices and talent.
Participation & Selection
If selected to participate, there will be a $150 fee for the duration of the program. Each exhibition is approximately (2.5) months from start to finish. Up to (3) participants may be selected for a session.
To learn more about private mentorship opportunities, please click here.
