The MFA in Arts Administration asks its graduate students to take on several internships during their three years with us. A crucial part of their education, internships provide opportunities for students, many of them leading to jobs in the future. Specifically, they also teach our students several methods to sustain the arts.
 
Last year, even during the pandemic, MFA Arts Administration students Shawn Ward and Rachel Phillips interned virtually with Texans for the Arts (TFA), a 501c(3) organization that advocates for public funding and support for the arts in Texas and  partners with the Texas Commission for the Arts (TCA) at the state level and Americans for the Arts at a federal level. 
 
TFA treated both as if they were staff members, and asked them to work closely with the organization, facilitating change in a time of turmoil, especially for the arts.
 
Phillips helped coordinate the 2021 Texas Arts Advocacy Summit and the Texas delegation to the National Arts Action Summit. Apart from attending both conferences, she also called legislators and contacted attendees. Working with other interns, staff, and a MIS class from UT-Austin, the group updated the TFA website and database to make it more user-friendly and accessible. Specifically, Phillips oversaw the reconfiguring and redesigning of content in the advocacy section of the website. She helped to facilitate and advocate for a successful 10-million-dollar appropriation bid for the Cultural Districts program.
 
Ward worked closely with TFA Associate Director and TTU alum Chris Kiley to start the Regional Conversation Series, splitting Texas into five regions (North, South, East, West, and Central) on plans to discuss and address regional issues at meetings with leaders. COVID-19 made it more necessary than ever to hold a series which allowed regional heads to better advocate for local members and non-members. Ward also wrote a handbook for incoming board members to help familiarize them with TFA.
 
Ann S. Graham, Executive Director at TFA and Chris Kiley were mentors to both Ward and Phillips during their time at TFA. Ward describes them as “fabulous to work with.”
 
Phillips recalls them treating their interns as a part of their organization: “You are part of the team and always included. For the amount they had on their plate, they always made time, answered questions and were flexible with school priorities.”
 
Phillips and Ward both felt their voices were heard and that their input would lead to actual action. Given autonomy, both were trusted with tasks which made them feel valued and confident to bring new ideas to the table. Both students also appreciated the offer of the internship being remote as this allowed them to have a chance to work with interns out of state.
 
Phillips and Ward encourage students to apply to intern with TFA and to be a part of a team that works to sustain the arts. “Advocacy is a great route for someone on the ground to feel like they are really making a difference,” said Ward.
 
Phillips encourages future interns to not be afraid to explore tasks that are outside of your comfort zone. They not only both strongly believe the experience was enriching, helping them develop valuable job skills, but they also thank the School of Theatre & Dance for providing this opportunity to take part in an organization intent on futhering the arts.