Bloomberg Arts Internship Featured in Forbes
Breaking Barriers: How Bloomberg Arts Internship Is Transforming Young Lives
The arts industry has a problem: it's notoriously difficult to break into, especially for young people from underserved communities who lack connections and can't afford unpaid internships. But the Bloomberg Arts Internship is changing that narrative—one talented teenager at a time.
Read the entire story in Forbes.
Launched in 2012 through Bloomberg Philanthropies, Bloomberg Arts Internship addresses a fundamental equity issue in the arts and cultural sector. While arts and culture represent major economic drivers in cities like New York, career pathways remain frustratingly opaque. As Bloomberg Arts Internship mentor Tyhe Cooper explains, "You're not able to get the experience that everyone is asking for because that experience is only available through unpaid positions."
Impressive Scale and Impact
The program's impact is remarkable. Bloomberg Arts Internship has facilitated over 1,100 internships with 150 organizations across seven cities—Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. (expanding to Los Angeles in 2026).
Real results speak volumes: nearly 60% of BAI interns place out of remedial writing in college, and alumni enroll in higher education at rates 30% above the national average. But the human stories are even more compelling.
Success Stories That Inspire
Take Kamora Monroe, who went from Midwood High School student to published art critic at Brooklyn Rail, reviewing a major Museum of Modern Art exhibition. Or Celeste Lannen, whose 2014 Bloomberg Arts Internship with Dance Theater of Harlem launched her career—she is now Assistant Director of Collective by 92NY/Talks at the 92nd Street Y.
Future-Ready Skills
In an AI-dominated future, the cultural sector offers irreplaceable human skills and quantifiable community value. Bloomberg Arts Internship isn't just creating interns—it's cultivating the next generation of cultural leaders.
Read the full article to discover how these young voices are reshaping the arts industry.