The School of Art, Design and Art History used funds raised on Giving Tuesday to support students completing internships this summer. One student, Jason Starr, a Political Science & Studio Art major, is completing two internships in New York City. Jason writes about his summer plans below:

"This summer I was fortunate to have accepted two internship opportunities in New York City. First, I will be working as a Summer Intern at Christie’s, the world’s largest and most prominent auction house, in an eight-week program taking place at the Rockefeller Center office. Additionally, I have agreed to work as a studio assistant on the side for Cass Bird Studio where I will assist with projects around the photo studio such as maintenance and archiving Cass Bird’s negatives. At Christie’s, I am excited to build on my experience as an intern at The Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art and as Director of the ArtWorks gallery in a setting outside of the university. In this way, the internship program will provide valuable insight into what working in the art industry is like. 

While my department placement is kept a secret by Christie’s until the first in-person day of the internship on June 14th, I will be working with artistic masterpieces regardless which I anticipate will only grow my appreciation for art and my understanding of the subject in a historical context. Outside of the internships, being in New York City also allows be to expand my portfolio and network as a photographer since I am able to collaborate with the stylists, models, agencies, and other creative individuals and organizations in the city. Going forward, I hope that these opportunities will prove to be instrumental in helping me forge connections and build skills that will be useful once I leave the halls of James Madison University and enter the working world as an artist."