Bloomberg Arts Mentors (Summer 2025) Undergrad Mentor Application

College students and recent college graduates serve as Bloomberg Arts Mentors for teens participating in the Bloomberg Arts Internship (BAI) program. Since 2012, with funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, BAI teen and college programs in New York City have been administered by Studio Institute.

Mentors support and provide oversight to rising senior high school students participating in the Bloomberg Arts Internship program. Throughout the summer, students will be interning at arts and cultural organizations within New York City, participating in college support and professional development workshops, and attending arts and cultural field trips across the boroughs. Mentor roles include conducting check-ins at interns’ worksites, chaperoning arts engagement visits, contributing to workshops, reviewing interns’ assignments, and documenting program activities. This is an excellent opportunity for students who would like to gain experience in arts and educational program management and guidance for teens as they prepare to transition to college.

Mandatory Dates: The Bloomberg Arts Mentors positions run for approximately ten weeks from June 16 to August 22. Mentors work part time (average of 26 hours/ week) and must be available to work in-person on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and remotely Tuesdays or Thursdays. These days may be subject to change according to the needs of the program. 

Qualifications: Candidates should have a deep interest in the arts, exceptional organizational skills and a desire to mentor teens. Candidates must also have strong writing and editing skills and experience working on virtual platforms, such as Zoom and Google Meets. Applicants should indicate in their cover letter or resume any design, photography, or film experience as well as any experience working with teens. They must be legally allowed to work in the US. In accordance with applicable law, all employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Program Details: There will be four to six undergrad mentor positions available for the summer 2025 program. Throughout the week-long intern orientation and the eight-week program, mentors will be a role model for high school interns by modeling interpersonal communication skills and setting workplace expectations. They will also assist with administrative responsibilities, including, but not limited to, the following:  

· Mentor high school interns working at cultural institutions throughout New York City in the Bloomberg Arts Internship Program, being active listeners to each intern’s respective journey  

· Support high school interns through the college application process, offering guidance on college selection, navigating the Common App, and financing a college education; share your own college journey, and help students understand the life choices that they are making  

· Cultivate arts appreciation through chaperoning students during in-person field trips to museums, outdoor installations, and parks; encourage students to create genuine connections to art and culture through conversations and assigned intern projects  

· Provide reminders and timely feedback to interns regarding work assignments, schedules, and responsibilities  

· Support the postgrad mentor with review of weekly timesheets for high school interns and track interns’ assignments  

· Visit interns’ work sites to document interns’ internship work experiences  

· Support documentation of the Bloomberg Arts Internship Program, taking photos of weekly Studio enrichment sessions, capturing quotes and filing materials in Google Drive 

· Assist with interns’ PowerPoint presentations for a culminating event  

· Assist writing instructors by proofreading interns’ essays 

· Meet with interns one-on-one to check progress and well-being; discuss highlights and concerns with postgrad mentor 

Program Eligibility: Undergrad candidates must be current sophomores or juniors/rising seniors in a college or university within the five boroughs of New York City, or must be permanent residents of the City. Undergrad applicants must be enrolled full time during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years. 

Financial Aid Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate financial need by submitting a copy of their FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) and provide the EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) or SAI (Student Aid Index) document.

Compensation: Undergraduates are paid $24/hour for their work, including training.

For more information, email bai@studioinst.org.