Bloomberg Philanthropies and EdVestors to Double Successful Arts Internship Program for Boston High School Students

BOSTON – EdVestors, a school improvement nonprofit in Boston, and Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced the expansion of the successful Bloomberg Arts Internship program in Boston over the next two years. This program connects high school students in five U.S. cities with paid summer internships at local arts organizations to help them acquire skills necessary to succeed in high school, college, and as future adults and community leaders.

Entering its fourth year in Boston, Bloomberg Philanthropies will expand the Bloomberg Arts Internship (BAI) program over the next two years to include 100 Boston Public Schools (BPS) high school students that will have the opportunity to work at over 20 arts and culture organizations, aligning with citywide priorities around arts education and career pathways & workforce development. After having 25 students participate in both the 2019 and 2020 programs, the BAI program increased to 32 students in 2021 and will expand to 45 students in 2022 and 55 students in 2023.

“The arts sector plays a vital role in our economy, our neighborhoods, and our individual wellness.” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “This opportunity helps create pathways into a more sustainable arts ecosystem for years to come.”

EdVestors serves as the lead partner for the Bloomberg Arts Internship program in Boston, identifying meaningful worksite experiences for BAI Boston interns through its network of community art partners and cultural institutions, in partnership with the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. The Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) serves as a key partner, helping to recruit and prepare interns as well as support worksite supervisors. To provide college and career readiness skills for students, EdVestors partners with 826 Boston, College Advising Corps, and Muadi Dibinga Unlimited.

“We are very excited to mark our fourth year of collaboration with the Bloomberg Philanthropies team by doubling the size of this highly successful arts internship program during this critical time for our students and our arts community,” said Marinell Rousmaniere, CEO of EdVestors. “Despite being one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic, Boston’s arts organizations continued to step up to provide remote and in-person internship opportunities that were meaningful and engaging for Boston youth over the last two years of the program. This year’s BAI program is spotlighting the creativity and perseverance of both the city’s arts sector and its young people, and it will offer students the chance to build vital skills and relationships through work-based learning experiences.”

“The last two years have posed enormous challenges for students preparing for college and careers and for the arts institutions that are so vital to our communities,” said Bloomberg Philanthropies CEO Patricia E. Harris. “Those challenges make this internship program even more important and we’re very excited to expand it this year along with an outstanding group of partners in Boston. The program will give students new skills and experiences and help them stay on track to succeed – and help arts organizations succeed by connecting them with an extraordinary group of talented young people.”

Over the eight-week summer program, BPS students will work as interns at arts and culture worksites three days a week and attend cohort days two days a week dedicated to college and career readiness, cultural experiences, field trips, and college visits. Boston arts organizations providing internship opportunities include: Abilities Dance Boston, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, American Repertory Theater, BalletRox Dance, Beat the Odds, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center/Pao Arts Center, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Boston Lyric Opera, Brighter Boston, Community Music Center of Boston, Company One Theatre, The Huntington Theatre Company, Hyde Square Task Force, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, MASSCreative, North End Music & Performing Arts Center, Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston, Sociedad Latina, SPOKE, StageSource, and Urbanity Dance.

Launched in 2012 in New York City, the Bloomberg Arts Internship program provides intensive college-readiness preparation and professional development training to help set up the next generation for success as they transition from high school to college and the workforce – whether in the arts or other industries. In Washington D.C., the program offers meaningful workforce experience with a $19/hour wage, develops knowledge of the creative sector as a career path, and encourages awareness of culture as a civic resource. The program spans five cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, and now Washington, D.C. 81% of 2017-2020 participants report being currently enrolled in college or technical school, compared to 41% of 18-24-year-olds nationally. Further, 77% of interns since 2018 increased their writing proficiency – as measured by program evaluators via a nationally-used scoring metric – with close to half of interns achieving scores that would exempt them from remedial college coursework.

The BAI program in Boston builds on the success EdVestors has seen through its Boston Public Schools Arts Expansion initiative, which has resulted in nearly 17,000 additional students annually receiving arts instruction during the school day. BPS arts educators working in partnership with community-based teaching artists and organizations have made this work possible. The initiative continues to focus on expanding access to equitable arts education and deepening arts experiences, while building systems to sustain a high level of arts education long into the future.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 941 cities and 173 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2021, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $1.66 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

About EdVestors
EdVestors mission is to advance equitable, meaningful education that prepares every Boston student to activate their power and shape their future. EdVestors uses strategic grantmaking, content expertise, and collaborative implementation to advance change in Boston schools. They drive toward their mission by 1) activating people and resources, 2) learning and iterating in context, and 3) influencing system change. EdVestors believes that continuously attending to all three drivers ensures their programs and initiatives – the School on the Move Prize, Racial Equity Seed Fund, Boston Public Schools Arts Expansion, Bloomberg Arts Internship – Boston, Zeroing in on Math, and Career Pathways – will create impact.

#bpsarts      @edvestors             http://www.edvestors.org

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Media contacts:
EdVestors
Travis Small
617-538-9041
tsmall@sloweymcmanus.com

Bloomberg Philanthropies
Rebecca Carriero
212-205-0182
rebeccac@bloomberg.org