Reconsidering Creative Work to Earn More Cultural Value & Relevance - Part 1: Internships
As a blanket statement, creative work amongst all disciplines still struggles to maintain presence and relevance in the world today. There is an abstract appreciation for craft and innovative thought but throughout human history, we have only been able to substantiate those values with abstract notions.
How can we change this? These articles and investigations will look into different parts of the educational, professional, and public process of training aspiring creatives in the world, in an effort to establish new dialogue and new perspective. Let's begin!
Internships & the Alternatives
That's right, we're going all the way back to a time we professionals don't think of much anymore – the internships we did in our late teens and 20s.
I used to dream about working in Mecanoo’s Dutch Office...
Internships have become a de facto stepping stone within our millennial generation – short to long periods of low or no-pay jobs that are meant to introduce young professionals and students to an industry. They usually last between a few weeks to a few months as to accommodate a student's available time during winter and summer months or a semester off. If you're a student in any field, chances are you're encouraged to intern during school breaks as a way to get hand's on and establish a professional network.
College Students from Pomona in full Practice…
Even in the creative and cultural sectors which are supposedly the most disruptive industries, companies and industry leaders adopt this ladder structure where the bottom rung is an intern: cheap, energetic, and disposable. Interns specific to the creative industry earn anywhere from $8-14 on average, but it isn't uncommon for internships to pay next to nothing when a stipend is divided into the overtime commitment. Many have fought for higher guaranteed pay but with the overabundance of eager students, few formal agreements have protected the livelihoods of younger workers.
Free Time is Great Opportunity
The matter that we could discuss further is alternatives to this professional model. The potential merits of an internship are clear though heavily dependent on employer. Yet it seems odd that most aspiring professionals in a highly diverse industry will take this routine step rather than staking out creative territory of their own. There are many alternatives, all with possibly more robust and resounding benefits, to this way of thinking and working. Here are a few -
Volunteer with organizations with a mission. For example, Habitat for Humanity provides architectural experience that is actionable and actively trying to achieve a social purpose. It brings along know-how in how to deal with real economy and real community.
Volunteers Building Real Buildings w/ Habitat for Humanity
Work on or start a small community project. Chances are, your local school, community center, or other social institution could use an extra pair of hands and fresh ideas. Community gardens, murals, interior renovations, signage, etc. are perfect projects for that short timeline and may even pocket you some decent commission money.
Teach! Give lessons at a local library or community center. The skills you acquired through even 1 year of formal higher education is most likely an abundant toolkit that could be passed on to others who aren't as fortunate to have access to all those incredible courses and professors.
Artists Teaching at the Teaching Museum
Each of these ideas are meant to achieve two things at once – garner real life experience and lay the foundation of a personal career. Overall, there are many options with which creatives can apply their time, skill, and thought.
Creating Public Value
Complacency and apathy are the greatest killers of creativity. The arts and other creative disciplines actually have two jobs on their hands – to create meaningful work and to create the meaning itself. Creativity is still largely treated as an abstract value rather than a poignant skill. If our professions are to hold true meaning in the real world, we must all pull our weight to establish some general public value. This series is meant to rethink the root problems that impede effective creativity rather than just the typical speed bumps of money. Let me know your thoughts below!
Steem on with @hitheryon !
Must be tough trying to secure spaces to start showcasing one's work. Not sure about other places, but it's safe to say it's underappreciated where I come from. Would be awesome if there are public spaces which invite creative work. Much like graffiti spaces, but more than that :). I'm quite optimistic that such a thing will be common practice in the near future, if not already..
You'd think something like that could be a fixture of city-planning or even zoning. People need breathable spaces to flex their creative muscles. It's only healthy. Maybe one day soon!
There's a local guy named Ryan Saunders here in Greensboro who has been doing a #noblankwalls project, getting building owners to let him and his artists paint murals. He funds all this by working for a real estate developer.
https://www.facebook.com/noblankwallsgso/
Amazing. The real estate world could really be more intertwined with the arts... they both have a lot to learn from one another! Thanks for sharing this (followed you also!)
The story was good.
Well thanks bontonstory! Glad you enjoyed it.
agreed... creative work in a different culture and time was the shaman, and later it became the news teller before the camera... as an artist, I have had to figure out different ways to do these same olds in this culture - I do psychic readings with my drawings and currently am being a journalist, telling stories that the mainstream news does not want to hear/tell with a show in mind for the future - but I didn't quit my day job.
There's a range of creative work both out in front and veiled behind a camera (or filter, in that sense.) Not quite sure about the shaman connection, but thanks for your comment!
I was pointing out the purpose of the artist in another culture- as shaman -