5 Reasons to Apply to be an ArtLab Intern!
Read a short interview with Monse, a current ArtLab Intern at PlatteForum and share this with a young friend in your life today!
Monse posing for a Polaroid in front of Denver Collage’s Month of Photography pieces on the outside of The Temple, where PlatteForum is located. Sept, 2020.
Monse is a high school senior who joined PlatteForum’s Artlab program at last fall. She talked with ArtLab Facilitator, Kendall Kultgen, about her experience so far and why ArtLab has been so impactful for her as an artist.
1) Art Opportunities
Kendall: What drew you to apply to ArtLab?
Monse: I saw it as an opportunity to explore myself as an artist and to have my ideas get out there. It excited me that this was an opportunity for artists my age. I think that’s really fun. I also got the sense that it would be a good community, which it is.
2) Sense of Community
K: What is your favorite thing about your intern peers?
M: There is a really strong sense of unity. It is a really safe space and it involves a lot of connection and love. I feel like everyone is very unique as well. We all have great ideas. I just feel very good when I’m around everyone. This is what I expected for the community, and everyone is just really respectful and creative.
3) Diverse and inspiring peers
K: Is ArtLab what you expected?
M: Definitely. It was cool the opportunities I have had and the chance to work with people who are so different from me.
4) Exploring new art forms
K: Has ArtLab helped you discover new things about yourself?
M: As an artist, yes. I was able to think more about my ideas, and explore and try new things. With the community, I was able to get myself out there and meet new people. I wanted to try to be more outgoing and to meet others who have the same interests. The people here right now are helping me feel comfortable and supported.
5) Fun!
K: Anything else to add about ArtLab?
M: ArtLab has been such a fun space ever since I began. The energy people bring to support each other and get along is amazing. I just enjoy the overall atmosphere. ArtLab is such an awesome community.
More about ArtLab:
PlatteForum’s ArtLab is our flagship arts education internship program for high school age teens from historically marginalized communities, living in the Denver metro area.
Our in-depth, curriculum-based arts education program meets Colorado state educational standards, by pairing professional artists with youth in a series of creative and social justice workshops. Interns and artists work together to create bodies of work that speak to the social justice issues that matter most in their lives.
ArtLab programs are provided over an extended period of time to allow for the building of long term relationships between youth, staff, and professional artists.
During their internship, ArtLab students receive tutoring and therapy support, weekly grocery deliveries, and monthly RTD passes for the bus and light rail.
Students in grades 9-11 are eligible to apply to ArtLab.
The ArtLab Application for 2021 is open January 15 - February 15th.
ArtLab Interns pose for the camera in front of a local mural, with former ArtLab Facilitator Amanda Flores, circa 2018.