Arrowmont Internships
The Internship Program at Arrowmont is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning about nonprofit administration or seeking practical experience in an arts organization. Interns live and work on campus for 2-3 months, becoming a pivotal part of the Arrowmont Community during our busy workshop sessions. Learn more about internships.
2024 Summer Events Intern: Emmie Strang
We are always happy to welcome a new Events Intern to Arrowmont! This internship entails working closely with our Director of National Programs to create after-hours events and experiences for our workshop students. A warm and welcoming personality and ability to work with autonomy are of utmost importance. The 2024 Summer Events Intern, Emmie Strang, joined us from Providence, Rhode Island. To continue learning more about Emmie and what brought them to the arts and Arrowmont this summer, continue reading below!
Q&A
Tell me a little bit more about yourself! Where are you from, and how did you get into the arts?
I currently live in Providence, RI but I grew up in Florida and Colorado. I was always a creative child, and my parents fostered a love for the performing arts and design in me, so I’m grateful for their early influence. My first art loves were acting and illustration, and I find that these influences always seep into my work, no matter what medium I use! I just love storytelling!
Tell us more about your artwork and studio practice. What are the mediums you primarily work in, and themes that your work explores?
For the past two years my main mediums have been wood, steel, and watercolor as I pursue a degree in Furniture Design at RISD. I love working with wood because it is such a warm material, and I feel connected to the environment when I work with it. My work primarily
explores how humans use nature in storytelling, the intersection of craft and design, as well as themes of melancholy, whimsy, playfulness, and comfort.
What interested you the most in the Arrowmont Events Internship?
What first made me curious, was the opportunity to spend an entire summer at a craft school working behind the scenes. I was interested in being able to focus on connecting with other artists by creating a sense of community for them and having fun together.
What have your responsibilities been as the Summer Events intern?
It often varied from day to day, but I was always in charge of running our Slide Nights of Instructor presentations, then usually a fun event afterwards, and finally locking up studios at the end of the night. On Mondays I hosted movie nights, on Tuesdays I helped with the Artists in
Residence Open Studios, Wednesdays were campfire night, and the grand finale of the week was Thursday Karaoke night in the library!
Tell us one magical story from your time here at Arrowmont.
One week when I was walking to the studio, it was raining heavily outside but I could hear faint music by the library. When I walked by, the instructor Zeke Leonards was hosting a jam session with other students. Instead of going to the studio, I decided to stay and sing. With my friends from Arrowmont, Rose and Jillian, we sang Wayside/Back in Time by Gillian Welch, while the library was filled with beautiful notes of a violin and guitars. It was a perfect rainy summer day in the Smoky Mountains, and a memory I hold close to my heart.
You were able to take a national workshop as part of your internship. How did that experience impact you?
I was able to take two national workshops as part of my internship, Greenwood working for Humans and Trees by Sarah Smith and Gina Siepel, as well as an Introduction to Metal Casting Class with Jim Bové. Sara and Gina’s class taught me green woodworking skills I’ve
always wanted to learn and reminded me of the importance of care in our lives and practices; care for the bodies of ourselves, other people, and the forest. Jim Bové taught me the process of lost wax metal casting, cuttlefish bone casting, and sand casting. They were both amazing!
What have been the most valuable learning opportunities you’ve had during your internship?
Through hosting Slide Nights I was able to become comfortable speaking in front of crowds and meet all of the instructors and assistants that passed through Arrowmont this summer. I feel like I was able to learn valuable professional advice and new techniques from their presentations.
How has your experience at Arrowmont as the 2024 Summer Events intern impacted you?
I got to make important connections with professional artists who came to Arrowmont to teach or participate in workshops. We shared meals together at the dining hall, sang together in the library, and discussed our practices with each other. When I get back into the studio, I’m so excited to incorporate beading, lost wax casting, and techniques of green woodworking in my practice! Arrowmont has confirmed my desire to teach design and craft at some point in my life. I think it is our responsibility as artists to share the wealth of knowledge and give openly to our communities. I would love to check out other craft schools and can’t wait to come back to Arrowmont again!
Are you interested in becoming an Events intern? Are you wanting to expand your knowledge in nonprofit administration and the arts?
Contact Kelly Hider at [email protected] or call 865-436-5860 extension 31 for more details on next year’s internships!
