A semester-long socially engaged experience in New York City with a focus on community, art and activism
Students will spend a semester in New York gaining firsthand knowledge of the art world and arts in community via two courses and a 360-hour community-based experience. This program is for students that are interested in using the visual arts and the city of New York as a lens for exploring and understanding issues of inequality and the struggle for social justice. All majors welcome.
The program consists of two academic courses: the “Art and Activism” seminar, and a course focused on students’ development as working professionals and community organizers called “Learning by Doing”. Students will also be matched with an arts organization in the city to complete 24 hours per week of community-based work.
Application deadline for Fall 2026: TBD (Spring 2026)
Program Components
Arts in Action is comprised of three components — each equally important — that will make up your typical week in the program:
Art & Activism Seminar
Taught by Mildred Beltré, Associate Professor of Studio Art, Art and Activism will be focused on community, artist interventions, and the history of community activism through art. This course will look at art and activism in New York City in both a historical and contemporary context. It will be focused on community arts methods and the history of community activism through art and will help place the internship in the thematic and political framework of the city.
Starting with a grounding of what context each of us brings to the city, we will consider the historical and current state of the city and how the arts and institutions function within it. The coursework is structured as nodes within intersectional constellations of issues, tactics, and artists. Through readings we learn about international, national, and New York-based movements, artists, and collectives.
Learning by Doing: Community Engagement
Students will work at an community organization for at least 24 hours a week (3-4 days) doing meaningful work in the arts world. Expect to work 360 hours over the course of the semester. Students will be matched with one of several sites that have agreed to host UVM students. There may be several students working with each site, adding to the feeling of community this program thrives upon. While every effort will be made to match you with a site that aligns with your interests, it is essential to understand that any experience in a NYC arts organization will be helpful to you in your future career in the arts.
Past locations have included: the Brooklyn Museum, BRIC, Creative Time, Daniel Arsham Studio, Lower East Side Printshop, Museum of the Moving Image, Queens Museum, Franklin Furnace, Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and the International Studio and Curatorial Program.
Students will gain first-hand exposure to the workings of arts institutions and various aspects of the arts. They will gain knowledge of the diverse communities of New York and how communities access art through these institutions, as well as gaining a sense of how art and artists function in the world. What are the different audiences? How do artists get their work out? What resources are available to artists and arts institutions? What is their role in the city? What happens in an artist’s studio?
City as Classroom: Professional Development
Students will meet every Thursday to begin to develop their professional identity and understand how to navigate the workplace as they get a feel for their career path in the arts. In small groups, students will interact with peers, identify and leverage their strengths, and share about their internship experiences. Throughout the program, students will build a portfolio that showcases what they’ve learned and documents their professional journey.
How does it work?
Arts in Action is a UVM Travel Study program meaning that students will earn UVM credits and will remain enrolled at UVM as full-time students throughout the entire program.
Credit Information
You will receive 15 credits for this semester-long program.
- 3 credits under ARTH 2870: Art & Activism
- 9 credits under CAS 2991 for “Learning by Doing: Community Engagement.” These credits will be elective unless approved to count toward your major/minor by your department chairperson. These credits count toward graduation. Keep in mind, however, that you can only count a maximum of 12 internship credits toward graduation as per CAS internship policy. Check with your advisor if you have questions.
- 3 credits under CAS 1990 for “City as Classroom: Professional Development.” These credits will be elective unless approved to count toward your major/minor by your department chairperson.
Financial Information
Tuition: During the Arts in Action term, students are billed full-time tuition and fees based on their residency (in-state or out-of-state), just like a regular term at UVM. Billing happens through the UVM account on the same schedule as normal. The Program Fee is billed on the UVM account along with the tuition & fees (see Program Fee section below).
Deposit: Students accepting their place in the program will be required to pay a $300 deposit. This deposit is non-refundable unless UVM cancels the program. This deposit will count toward the total Program Fee listed below.
Program Fee: Students will be billed a program fee of approx. $9,896 on their UVM student account. This fee covers housing for the term plus one meal per week during class time. The $300 deposit (see above) is applied toward this program fee. There is scholarship funding available for students who have demonstrated a high level of financial need on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). No separate application is utilized. All students applying for the program will be considered based on their FAFSA.
Financial aid: Federal, State and University financial aid, including need-based and merit aid, will apply for your Arts in Action term just as it would for a regular full-time term enrolled in on-campus courses. Any aid for which you are eligible will be applied against your term charges, including the Arts in Action program fee. If you are awarded any additional scholarship funding for this program, it will be incorporated into your overall aid offer for the term and applied to your charges. Since the program fee may be higher than your typical housing costs would be, you may be able to borrow additional loans to assist with the increase, if eligible. To go over your specific aid offer and the changes you may see while doing a term of Arts in Action, please contact Student Financial Services.
Living Information
Housing will be located in St. George Towers in Brooklyn Heights. Find more information and accessibility information on the Educational Housing Services (EHS) website. Each student in the program is guaranteed a bed in a double room. Roommates will be randomly assigned with change of roommate requests being routed through the EHS team after program enrollment. Any concerns about the housing should be sent to Sophia Trigg, CAS Internship Program Director, who can get in touch with the EHS team prior to enrollment.
There is no meal plan associated with this program, so students will have to coordinate with their roommates to grocery shop and cook. Professor Beltre will also be able to recommend budget-friendly spots around the area.
The New York City subway and transit systems now accept ApplePay, GooglePay, and SamsungPay, as well as contactless credit and debit cards. You can also purchase a pre-paid card to use. More information can be found on the MTA website.
About the Application
The application form is designed to help you think about your reasons for applying to this program. It will ask you about yourself, your experiences, and your goals.
Resume: Your resume should list your education, previous employment, skills, volunteer experience, and any educational or leadership experience you believe has prepared you to be an intern. Try to keep it to 1-page. (Example resume)
Recommendation: You will need to contact a professor or other professional reference and ask if they would be willing to provide you with a recommendation. You’ll be asked to submit their name on the application form. They will be sent an auto-email asking for them to fill out a survey about your strengths as a candidate.
Eligibility Requirements
UVM students must meet the following requirements in order to participate in Arts in Action:
- At least junior standing during the semester you intend to participate. (In some rare cases we will consider a student with sophomore standing who has previous internship / professional experience or who is in their 3rd year at UVM).
- GPA above 2.5
International students who hold F-1 or J-1 visa status must seek permission from the Office of International Education in order to participate.
Admitted Student Pre-Departure Checklist
Before you depart on your journey to New York City, make sure to complete the following steps. We want you to be prepared as possible for your exciting semester!
Step 1: Academics
- Enroll in…
- CAS 2991 TR1 (9 credits – Spring 2025)*
- CAS 1990 TR1 (3 credits – Spring 2025)*
- ARTH 2870 TR1 (3 credits – Spring 2025)*
- Get in contact with SAS (Student Accessibility Services) to make sure any accommodation documentation is forwarded to Mildred Beltre and Educational Housing Services as soon as possible.
- If you are an international student, please get in touch with OIE (Office of International Education) to obtain the proper visa permissions.
* Kelly Smith will send you an override the week before registration for these courses.
Step 2: Health & Safety Requirements:
- Read the program Policies, Safety and Housing Information and send any questions to Sophia Trigg.
Step 3: Housing
You will be living with EHS (Educational Housing Services) in New York. Please keep an eye out for all email communication with them. They will be handling paperwork with you directly.
- If you are signed up for a UVM dorm room during the semester you will be away, contact reslife@uvm.edu stating your intention to withdraw from student housing due to participation in a CAS-sponsored program. Please remember to CC Kelly Smith (ksmith52@uvm.edu) so that she can provide official documentation to ResLife!
- Download the EHS App to your phone.
- Keep an eye out for housing and moving information in your email.
Step 4: Health
- Make any arrangements for counseling services and/or prescription medications while in New York. If you currently work with UVM CAPS, you will need to locate a counselor in New York to work with while you are there. UVM’s CAPS staff are only licensed to practice in the state of Vermont and can’t work virtually with clients located in other states. Please get in touch with your CAPS team to see if they have any recommendations in the New York City area.
- Make sure that your UVM health forms and immunizations are up-to-date and your emergency contacts are correct in MyUVM.
- If you are enrolling in UVM SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan), you MUST contact the student health insurance office to coordinate a PCP while in NYC.
Additional Information
Health
MAKE A PLAN WITH YOUR DOCTOR:
Keep in mind that moving to a new city and experiencing a transition to a new environment, new culture, new food, etc. can exacerbate or uncover physical and mental illness. It is important to work with your health professionals to make a plan for dealing with your health.
Before you depart, make sure you visit your doctors, dentists, and any other health care practitioners that you regularly see. During these visits, you should discuss any medical issues you have that may affect your experiences abroad.
Make sure your health records are up to date and that you have copies of them that you can access if needed. This is particularly important if you have a medical condition or if you expect to need medical care.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS:
If you are taking any prescription drugs with you, please visit your health care provider prior to departing to discuss transporting your medications.
- Ask your health care provider and insurance company for guidance on how to secure a sufficient supply of medication to last through your stay. Or, find out if you can transfer your prescription refills to a location in NYC for pickup.
- For safety reasons, it is best to carry your medication in their original, clearly labeled containers along with a copy of the original prescription while travelling.
- Always keep your medications in your carry-on bag.
- If you have a medical condition, consider wearing a medical alert bracelet or other notification.
- Bring photocopies of your prescriptions- even a glasses/contact lens prescription.
IF YOU HAVE UVM STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE (UVM SHIP)
If you are planning on enrolling in UVM SHIP (student health insurance) during the semester you are away, you MUST contact the student health insurance office to coordinate a new PCP (Primary Care Provider). Visit the UVM SHIP website for more information. Contact studentInsurance@uvm.edu with any questions.
Money
It is crucial to notify all of your banks and credit card companies prior to traveling for an extended period to avoid your card being frozen or disabled due to suspected fraud. It is also advised that you ask for the best practice if your card is lost/stolen, and their policy for getting a new card sent to you at a temporary address.
Voting
If you are a US citizen, voting in US elections is your right and civic duty. You can still vote in all local, state, and national elections using an absentee ballot while in NYC. Make sure to follow the process for getting an absentee ballot mailed to you, and pay attention to the date you are required to return it via mail.
The voter registration and absentee ballot request processes are different depending on your state of residency. Typically UVM students who are US Citizens are allowed to register to vote in either Vermont or their home state. Please see here for additional information and resources for voting via absentee ballot.
Perfect for any major!
“As a linguistics and Spanish double major, I was a little concerned that I would feel out of place not only in this art oriented program, but also working in an arts institution. I quickly learned that this was far from the case, and I am so so grateful for this insightful experience, and the new perspectives and tools I have acquired. I cannot stress enough how beneficial this program is to everyone – especially those whose areas of expertise lay outside the realm of the arts. Through having students from a myriad of backgrounds, our class was truly able to grapple with complex and multifaceted issues from a multitude of lenses. I feel like a much more well-rounded, educated individual, with new passions and interests to explore further.” — Ilana Goldstein (Linguistics, Spanish, ’21)
Mildred Beltre
Arts in Action Faculty Director
Professor of Art & instructor of the Arts in Action program. Mildred will be on sabbatical until July 2024, so all questions regarding the content of the program internship matching, or about whether the program is a good fit for you should be directed to Kelley Di Dio (below). Mildred will be running the program in New York while you’re there.
Kelly Di Dio
School of the Arts Director
Contact Kelley for questions regarding the program content, organization, internships, course, or other general questions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I get a part-time job while doing this program?
Many students ask if they can get a job on top of their internship–which may be unpaid. The short answer is yes, although juggling a 3-4 day internship, two courses, and a part-time job can be difficult. If you have a work-study award, you might want to look for a remote position based at UVM that you can do while you are in New York.
What if I have already done an internship for credit?
If you are in CAS and have already taken 4 or more credits of internship credit, then some of the internship credits for this program will not count for you. CAS has a maximum of 12 internship credits. If you have questions about this, please get in touch with Kelly Smith.
What does “normal tuition” mean?
“Normal tuition” means the normal amount you pay for a UVM semester. This will of course be slightly different for each student which is why we do not name a sticker price here. All of your grants, scholarships and loans will apply as normal because these are normal UVM credits. Please get in touch with SFS if you are unsure what your normal financial aid package includes.
A UVM College of Arts & Sciences collaboration with:
Still have questions?
Email cas.internships@uvm.edu — our team would be happy to assist.
