糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 School of Art and Design Launches Jewelry and Metalsmithing Internship Program
In the summer of 2023, three 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students participated in the inaugural Jewelry and Metalsmithing Internship Program created by Professor Lydia Martin, a Windgate Artist-in-Residence, in partnership with Career Services and the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education.
Bob Baldridge, Bailey Holley, and Brice Horn are three jewelry and metalsmithing students who partook in the program that culminated in a four-week out-of-state internship. Bob Baldridge interned with the Baltimore Jewelry Center, Bailey Holley interned with Halstead Bead Company in Prescott, Arizona, and Brice Horn interned with Heather Guidero Jewelry in Providence, Rhode Island.
Martin, who started at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in the fall of 2021 as a Windgate Artist-in-Residence, created the program with collaborative mentorship in mind. Students first applied for the program, they were mentored by Martin herself, then the students conducted a research project in a field of their interest.
鈥淓ach internship created was individualized to fit the needs of the partnering organization and the interests of the students,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淲hile my mentorship is closely tied to the studio classroom and how best to prepare students for an upcoming experience such as this, the mentorship received from the partnering organization was specialized, as all three were outside of the realm of my expertise.鈥�
From traveling and teaching to networking and learning about the industry, each student鈥檚 internship experience differed based on their interests.
鈥淢y favorite part of the internship was having the chance to teach two free spoon-forging workshops to people in the local community,鈥� Baldridge, who interned with the Baltimore Jewelry Center, said. 鈥淚t was so much fun and inspiring to have that experience while I鈥檓 still in school and was affirmation that I am on the right path.鈥�
Holley, who interned with Halstead Bead Company, noticed the difference between her experience in school and her experience in the field.
鈥淭his opportunity allowed me to travel and get a professional, real-world artist experience outside of academia,鈥� Holley said. 鈥淭his led me to realize how important it is going to be for my future that I keep traveling, networking, and learning among other creatives.鈥�
With internship funding supplemented by Career Services at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, and through Signature Experience Grants, the three students were paid for their work.
鈥淲e were excited to partner with students in the jewelry and metalsmithing program,鈥� Brittany Straw, director of Career Services, said. 鈥淭his partnership gives students the opportunity to participate in internships that they might not have been able to participate in otherwise.鈥�
鈥淲hat Professor Martin has created represents best practices in ensuring students have access to high-quality experiential learning opportunities that improve their social, human, and creative capital,鈥� said Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education.