The Arts @ Large Career Development Program offers paid internships to Milwaukee Public Schools high school students annually. Each year we hire a cohort of Milwaukee Public Schools high school students to complete a 7-month project that culminates with an exhibit of work in our gallery. Interns split into two small groups that build their project alongside an Artist Mentor. Our 2026 cohort welcomed students from six MPS high schools across the city.
Arts @ Large Career Development Filmmakers created a short film reflecting perspectives on youth in Milwaukee. Guided by the mentorship of Eric Kleppe-Montenegro (Palante Visuals) and Adam Carr, interns created odes to their city in order to develop “Dear Milwaukee”, which tells a story using a mix of performance and visual art mediums that spans multiple age groups leading up to adulthood.
Credits:
Director & Editor: Joshua Borg
Writers: Jakayla Collins & Naiyah Winston
Illustration & Asset Production: Nazarel Wilson & David Torres
Produced by Arts @ Large & Youth Forward MKE; Max Reyes, Lola Johnson, Eva Reynoso, and Sam Kacala
Executive Producers: Eric Kleppe-Montenegro & Adam Carr
2025 Summer Camp
We invite young artists entering 3rd to 8th grade on a five-week summer art adventure, where they will get the chance to ignite their creativity and discover new passions by exploring a wide range of art mediums- all for FREE!
Summer Camp runs for five weeks, beginning June 23rd and ending on July 24th. Activities are held 8:00 am – 1:00 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (No Camp on Fridays) and includes breakfast and lunch.
See what your young artist has created at the Closing Celebration on July 24th where students will display their masterpieces for parents, family, and friends.
Parent Orientation will be held on Saturday, June 21st from 10:30-11:30 am. Parent Orientation is mandatory for new participants.
Past Art Mediums: Painting, Drumming, Sculpture, Song Writing, Theater, and Visual Art.
Location: All activities are held at the Arts @ Large Community Center, 1100 S. 5th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Sacred Garden is a youth-focused open mic, created by and for Milwaukee’s young people. This unique format amplifies the voices of youth artists who use the Arts @ Large Gallery stage to share stories, music and more. While adults are welcome to enter the space, youth are at the center and always heard first. The creators and coordinators of Sacred Garden work to create a space where youth can be authentically themselves, and they do not condone racism, homophobia, transphobia, or any other hate speech on the stage.
A.I.R. Academy is a FREE, six-session Saturday program where 3rd–8th grade artists build skills, explore new ideas, and create alongside peers in a supportive studio environment. This spring, students will experiment across three distinct art mediums related to Arts @ Large’s Spring Artist in Residence, Hattie Grimm. Specific mediums will be announced soon.
Program Schedule
Saturdays from 9:15 am–1:00 pm
4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, and 5/16
Families are required to commit to at least 5 of the 6 sessions.
Parent Orientation: 4/4 (10:30 – 11:30 am)
A.I.R. Academy is held at the Arts @ Large Community Center – 1100 S 5th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204.
Note: Capacity is limited so we encourage you to register if your young artist would like to join us.
Art vs. Food
Celebrate 25 years of creativity, connection, and community with us at a night you won’t forget. Think stunning art, delicious bites by Chef Gregory León and Pastry Chef Nick Hoover, and a vibrant atmosphere unique to Arts @ Large.
Grab your tickets now – AVF26.givesmart.com – you won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind event.
