From Intern to Manager

When I arrived in Grand Rapids in 2017, I barely had the lay of the land before I witnessed a transformation. Here I was, just trying to figure everything out in my new city: my hostess job at Grand Rapids Brewing Company, my class schedule for my junior year at Kendall College of Art and Design, and how to navigate the bus system. Then, as if overnight, I arrived in a downtown that was teeming with people, art, and spectacle. I felt like an explorer, unknowingly entering a new territory with my backpack heavy with art history books. I had stumbled upon something monumental. It was the 2017 ArtPrize event… and I had no clue that it was my first glance—a sneak peek—into my future. 

Fast forward ten months. I was sitting in an Uber and my driver, a lovely older woman, turned to me and asked where I was off to. “I’m heading to an internship interview,” I said. To my surprise, she asked right then and there if she could pray for me. And at a stoplight, she did just that, praying for me and my success in the interview. It was simple and sweet and a true testament to the Grand Rapids community. And while I don’t identify with any certain religion, she leaned into her faith for me, a complete stranger. It was a beautiful moment of human connection and hope for the future, and I’ll always be thankful for it. 

After my ride, I soon found myself sitting across the table from Katie Moore, the then ArtPrize Exhibitions Manager as she interviewed me for the exhibitions internship position. (Katie is now the Activation Manager for Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. and is integral to bringing the amazing installations for both the World of Winter Festival and the Return to The River Festival). My hands were sweating and I was trying my best to take breaths in between answering questions about why I wanted to be an intern. I was impressed by Katie and the ArtPrize office. Though I can’t remember what I wore or what I said, I do remember feeling energized and excited to be surrounded by people just as passionate and in love with art as I was. 

That summer I became an intern for ArtPrize 2018 and a frequent visitor to Ah-Nab-Awen Park, where I helped an artist construct their entry, “Harvest Dome,” to be installed in the Grand River. I became intimately aware of how spooky and yet sublime “La Grande Vitesse” looks at dawn amid the fog. As one of the boots on the ground for artist installations and activations, I learned the value of spreadsheets. Many, many spreadsheets. 

But I was ecstatic because I was a part of the colossus effort to transform the city I had just recently learned to call home. As the event started and I saw how people interacted with and appreciated all the hard work artists put into their entries, I was extremely grateful and proud to be a part of making it all happen. Being an ArtPrize intern helped me to visualize both my future and feel more at home in my present. 

July to October flew by, and I had clearly caught the bug. The public art and exhibition bug, that is. I was hooked, but I had an art history degree to wrap up and a master's degree to start. So I packed up my fond memories, put them into the back of my metaphorical closet, and focused on absorbing all I could in my classes so that I could better understand my place in the art world. 

In January 2022, I received an Instagram message from JoLee Kirkikis, whom I’d worked with as an intern. She asked if I’d be interested in joining the ArtPrize Exhibitions team. One thing led to another and all of a sudden I was the ArtPrize Exhibitions Coordinator and I was managing installation sites, assisting with curating, and helping make the magic happen again.  ArtPrize 2022 held its own unique set of challenges, but I felt like I was making a difference, and as we moved into 2023, the change in leadership and direction for the organization felt like a breath of fresh air. 

When I returned for the 2023 season, I had a seat at the table and a new role.  My own perspective helped shape the direction of ArtPrize 2.0. One of the first initiatives that I tackled was reviving the ArtPrize internship program. We partnered with my now alma mater, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, and after collecting applications, interviewing student candidates, and deliberating with department heads, we selected five interns for the 2023 ArtPrize season. When I arrived in Grand Rapids I was on the hunt for opportunities to help support my career, and as 2023 started I was adamant about helping provide those opportunities for students.

In five short years, I went from Exhibitions Intern to the Exhibitions Manager and Internship Manager. That evolution involved many different challenges, but also priceless perspective and opportunity. I’m elated to now share the ArtPrize experience with new interns and help them step into this first part of their professional careers. Not only does ArtPrize offer opportunities for participating artists and venues, but also for those who get to help make the magic happen. Similar to my progression through the organization, my intern from last year, Sage Johnston, is now the Exhibitions Coordinator and has been integral to this year’s grant process and distribution. I’m proud of Sage and how he simultaneously finished his Bachelor of Fine Art at KCAD this spring and has been a key part of the success of the ArtPrize Exhibitions Department.  

And now we’ve welcomed five more highly talented and qualified interns for the 2024 season. Mali Borisch, a recent graduate of KCAD’s fashion program and current master of architecture student, joins us as the Exhibitions Intern. Maylyn Southavilai, our Events Intern, is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in photography, with a minor in art history from KCAD. Luke Maksymetz, who recently won Gold in the 2024 Student #OBIE Awards, and is currently enrolled in KCAD’s graphic design program, joins us at the Design Intern. Isaias Rivera, a recent graduate of Ferris State University’s sports communications program, is our Communications Intern. And Kris Snyder, a current student in KCAD’s interior design program, serves as our Administrative Intern. 

As we begin installations in a few short weeks, I wonder who will be arriving for their first semester and be greeted by the 2024 ArtPrize event. Will they wander the streets with the same amount of fascination as I had? Will they imagine what it would be like to be a participating artist, designer, or ArtPrize team member? One thing I know for sure is that come next spring, I will be waiting on the other side of the table, ready to ask, “Why do you want to be an intern?”