Street Wise Arts Intern (CU PIIE)

Job description

This internship is part of the CU Public Interest Internship Experience (PIIE). Please visit our website for qualifications, descriptions, and information on how to apply to this and other internships. If you have questions about this internship, please email cupiie@colorado.edu.

Position Title: Street Wise Arts Intern 

Host Organization:  Street Wise Arts

About the Opportunity Street Wise Arts is seeking creative, motivated college students who are passionate about public art, storytelling, and community impact. Interns support real projects within our Events, Mural Programs & Education, and Marketing & Communications departments. Each internship is customized with the student to support professional growth, portfolio building, and hands-on arts nonprofit experience. Street Wise interns operate through a mix of independent work and weekly virtual or in-person meetings with staff. Each intern co-creates their experience with Street Wise to prioritize building skills that matter to them—whether that’s expanding your portfolio, gaining nonprofit experience, or exploring future career pathways in the arts. We are especially looking for interns who can help expand our digital presence, enhance our community visibility, and support artist-centered storytelling. 

What You’ll Gain 

● Real-world experience in a mission-driven arts nonprofit 

● A customized internship plan based on your goals 

● Portfolio-ready creative work 

● Mentorship from a supportive women-led team 

● Opportunities to work directly with artists, educators, and community partners

● A behind-the-scenes look at how public art projects, events, and community programs come to life 

General Responsibilities 

● Participate in weekly meetings (virtual) 

● Support planning for the Festival (Sept/Oct) 

● Assist with artist programs, education initiatives, and community events 

● Conduct research on artists, public art, and community partners 

● Contribute to internal organization tasks, documentation, and impact tracking 

Design & Marketing 

● Support the visual identity and public presence of Street Wise Arts. 

● Design graphics for social media, newsletters, and events 

● Assist with content strategy and scheduling 

● Help track analytics to evaluate digital campaigns 

● Support print design (posters, flyers, signage) 

● Assist with website content updates 

Digital & Documentary Media 

● Help tell the story of Street Wise Arts through video, photography, and digital content. 

● Edit and organize media archives for YouTube, website, and social channels 

● Assist with photography at events and mural sites 

● Create animations or media assets for augmented reality experiences 

● Film and edit artist interviews, mural progress, and event footage 

● Create short-form videos for social media platforms 

Desired Skills 

You don’t need to meet everything on this list—we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply. 

● Basic proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Premiere, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) or equivalent tools (Canva, CapCut, etc.) 

● Comfortable with social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) 

● Strong communication and storytelling abilities 

● Interest in design, media, art, community engagement, or nonprofit work 

● Curiosity, collaboration, and willingness to learn 

● Ability to work independently and meet weekly deadlines

Ideal candidate will have value alignment with Street Wise Art's mission: Our mission is to uplift artists and to build vibrant, resilient communities through public art projects, creative events, and hands-on education programs that beautify spaces and amplify cultural diversity and social justice. Our core values include ensuring equitable access to the arts, supporting diverse artists of all ages and skill levels, and providing opportunities for the community to participate in public art programs. Other qualities we look for include: -Open and communicative -Willingness to learn and ask questions -Responsiveness and accountability

Our Programs Mural Festivals: Our flagship Street Wise Mural Festival explores the intersection of art and activism through the installation of murals and public art, encouraging conversations around social justice and community resilience. We uplift womxn, BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and emerging artists based in Colorado and beyond. Partner Programs: Street Wise connects artists with communities, organizations and businesses to create mural projects and other art opportunities that deepen mission, impact and culture. Our programs are customized with each partner. Education Programs: Street Wise Education Programs aim to foster the next generation of artists, activists, and community leaders. Using a framework of artist mentorship to facilitate student work in public spaces, students explore awareness of social issues and how to use street art as a platform while building community, collaboration, and mutual respect. Mural Tours: Guided walking, biking, and private tours led by a Street Wise docent. These tours tell the stories behind the artists and murals and highlight our community and other organizations and artists through collaborative performances and activations.

10-30 hours a week