The Art Speak internship program, now in its 12th year, offers on-the-job training and monthly stipends to Bay Area public high school students in grades 10 to 12. Interns learn about Asian art and cultural traditions, collaborate with local artists and arts organizations, conduct informational interviews with museum staff to explore careers in the arts, and develop leadership skills by devising art activities that they teach to museum visitors on Family Fun Days.
At 16 years old, guitar-playing Sophia already calls art her “true love.” As an intern with the Asian Art Museum’s Art Speak program, she finds that the museum nourishes her love of art and provides new ways for her to understand her heritage. “It’s a great opportunity for me to explore the Chinese side of my mixed ethnicity, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Sophia explains.
Ava, a San Francisco high school junior who is interested in studying sociology and film in college, feels that Art Speak has prepared her for her future. “I’m considering going into teaching after college, and Art Speak has given me the experience of working with all sorts of people from all age ranges.”
Stories like these demonstrate the tremendous impact you have on the Asian Art Museum and its education initiatives. With your support, Art Speak will continue to inspire future artists, educators, and museum professionals like Sophia and Ava.