Eliesse's Story: Event Management (Gala) Internship in Chicago
Meet Eliesse!
Eliesse is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where she studied Photography. In Fall 2025, she joined ArtBound Initiative and landed an Event Management internship with Hyde Park Art Center, a Chicago-based contemporary arts organization supporting artists through exhibitions, programs, education, and community engagement.
Read more about Eliesse’s experience below!
How would you describe your day-to-day at Hyde Park Art Center?
Mon-Tues I would arrive at the office by 10am and would start my day by checking emails on the work laptop they had provided for me. Sometimes there were meetings that I would sit in on, and other times I would get straight to work on whatever task I may have been given (updating spreadsheets, updating website artist profiles, printing, solicitation outreach for fundraiser Gala) and every day I would do a quick 5 minute check in with my boss. Once a week I would have a longer check in with my boss around 10-15 minutes. I would then head home between 4-4:30pm. Wed-Thurs I would arrive by 9:30 to help open the Art Center and sit at the front desk and help visiting guests by answering any questions they may have, answering phone calls, and working on my other tasks through my laptop. By 1pm I would head back to the office to continue my day as usual.
It's a very warm, productive and friendly environment. The office is space feels more like a community, the walls are decorated with art works and posters. There's a healthy balance of casual conversations and focused work. People in the office are able to come and go as they please to grab a snack, get a drink from the cafe downstairs or take a break.
It was such a warm and friendly environment. The office felt like a creative community, with a great balance between focused work and casual moments.
Image via Hyde Park Art Center.
Has your internship met your expectations?
Yes it did meet my expectations. I think originally I was expecting something with more creative tasks as an artist, but as the internship continued I came to find purpose in the things that I was working on even if they did not consist of creative tasks. I was also introduced to several different artists and have created professional connections that will last after this internship ends.
The most rewarding was getting able to help out with the Gala fundraiser and see all of the hard work come to fruition on the night of. I've also learned quite a bit about funding for non-profits.
In what way did ArtBound Initiative helped you the most?
I'm so grateful to ArtBound for connecting me with Hyde Park Art Center, before this program I didn't even know this center existed, and the programs and professional help they offer is invaluable.
I'm so grateful to ArtBound for connecting me with Hyde Park Art Center and introducing me to opportunities and professional support I wouldn't have discovered otherwise.
Eliesse
Event Management Internship | Hyde Part Art Center
Interested in the program but don't know where to start? Check your eligibility here!
ArtBound Initiative is a fee-based global internship program for creatives. We prepare students for their careers through an online coaching curriculum and by helping them secure an internship in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Austin, London, Berlin, Melbourne, Sydney, and Virtually. With an expansive network of leading creative companies, our program provides access to creative industries that are notoriously insular.
Read more about ArtBound Initiative Chicago Internship here.
Questions? Contact us at info@artboundinitiative.com
Comments