Four students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were selected as recipients of the 2025 Arts Internship Fellowship to pursue summer internships built around arts organizations and the business of the arts. Students can immerse themselves in one of the many arts organizations domestically or abroad.
The Arts Internship Honors Fellowship was established in 2023 with a gift from Ginna Richards to fund individuals who seek to gain experience in the business of the arts. Internship sites offer real world experience and professional connections at a critical time in early careers. Students will hone their craft, learn valuable context, develop their business and arts management skills, and learn critical funding streams to support creative endeavors while being mentored in the field by distinguished practicing artists and arts administrators.
Since its initiation in 2023, the Arts Internship Honors Fellowship funded eight undergraduates in 2024 to participate in meaningful arts internships with filmmakers, publishers, local theatres, and production studios. The Fellowship now adds four dynamic students to make the number jump to 12 total fellows. A host organization from the first cohort shared about their experience.
“We believe that in order to change the perception at large of the value of our work, we need to make sure that our employees and interns are fairly compensated. The Arts Internship Honors Fellowship at UNC allowed us to do that last summer. We ended up paired with a talented and ambitious intern who was supported by the fellowship, giving us the ability to ask her to work alongside us on various projects without worrying about exploitation or setting a bad example for future workplace expectations and compensation.
Not only did our intern exceed our expectations, she was eager to learn, had an excellent attitude and became a trusted ally. Her contributions helped us move several ideas forward, and her perspective was key as we evaluated and evolved the distribution model for our work. We are so grateful for this opportunity (for us, and for our intern). The idea of paid internships in the arts is a huge step towards a more truly inclusive field, and we hope to continue partnering with you as the program grows.”
To be selected as an Arts Internship Honors Fellow, an applicant must provide convincing evidence of their interest in the arts and arts administration through an application, recommendation letters, and an interview. The proposed fellowship experience should enable students to embark on an immersive internship focused on learning and working in the business of arts.
We are proud to introduce the 2025 Fellows:
Ashley Beaman (’27) is from Wilson, North Carolina, is double majoring in studio art and dramatic art with a minor in musical theatre performance. She is interested in being an artist and actress for her career, but also has a passion for making the arts accessible to rural communities, like her hometown. This summer, she will be interning with Wilson Arts, where she will work under the Theater Arts Coordinator to immerse herself in arts administration for the city.
Emma Mack (’26) is majoring in journalism with a minor in musical theater. From Moore County, North Carolina, Emma’s passion for theater began in sixth grade when she portrayed The Wolf in Into the Woods. She’s actively involved in the theater community at UNC as a board member of Pauper Players, where she developed an interest in arts administration. This summer, she’ll intern at Burning Coal Theatre in Raleigh, focusing on arts management. Emma aims to combine her passions for performance and management, hoping one day to open her own theater company.
Liz Newsom (’26) is from Toledo, Ohio and majoring in English and comparative literature and political science. With the support of the Arts Internship Honors Fellowship, Liz Newsom will take on an editorial position at Resident Advisor, a London-based electronic music platform and magazine. Liz’s passions for music, writing, and design align with Resident Advisor’s work, and she strongly believes in the platform’s core values, particularly advocating for a more inclusive and equitable electronic music community. After graduating from UNC, Liz plans to complete an MFA in creative writing and pursue a career in the music industry.
Olivia Rombak (’28) is from Kenosha, Wisconsin, and intends to major in business administration and studio art. This summer, she will intern with the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network, working as a gallery curator and studio assistant, and completing a series of paintings centering around the theme of coastal erosion. Olivia will collaborate with Milwaukee artists and environmental advocates to create a compelling visual art exhibition. She plans to conduct research through interviews with environmental experts and Milwaukee locals to inform her artwork. The internship will culminate in a presentation of her series to raise awareness of Lake Michigan’s ecological concerns.
Read more about the Arts Internship Honors Fellowship here.
Arts Internship Honors Fellowship contact: Gina Difino, (919) 962-9680, Gina_Difino@unc.edu
