Apprenticeships
The heart and soul of the Foundation is its unique Apprenticeship Program. The exploratory process, the dialogue, and the energized relationships that characterize the program stimulate a one of a kind dynamism and create an environment in which to excel. Throughout the Foundation's history of granting apprenticeships, the vast majority of applicants came to this program simply through personal recommendations. Today, because the number of applicants far exceeds the places available, a jury of distinguished architects and artists review the applicants' portfolios.
To be awarded an apprenticeship candidates must have practiced their art professionally. Apprenticeships are awarded to those professionals of outstanding merit who have made significant contributions through their art, and who, while in residence, will be willing to participate in projects that bridge the relationship between Art and Architecture, as well as to assist in generating activities that weave art into the public domain, thereby facilitating cultural exchange and fostering a sense of global citizenship.
An Apprentice Fellowship is usually awarded one at a time and held by an international artist or architect whose body of work can be presented in a special exhibition while in Chicago. Apprentices are expected to give lectures on their work, to participate in special conferences and panel discussions, and to mentor interns. Particular efforts are also made to represent the cultural wealth of the apprentice's nation, and minority artists may be eligible for special awards.
Candidates are normally artists established in their professions or architects who have been engaged in practice and wish to take leave from their normal endeavors to become involved in a hands-on process of exploring new realms of environmental art, architecture, and planning. Professors often use their sabbatical time to accept an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships range in time from six months to two years.
Arts Management and Administration
Recently, the Foundation has awarded Apprenticeships in Arts Management to established arts administrators from prestigious art organizations around the country. The Foundation's lectures and exhibitions, the International Currents Programs, as well as the Great River Project, a flotilla of 15 barges for the performing arts, have provided an exceptional opportunity for innovative programming and creative management. Specialists from a diversity of fields including law and communications, finance and design, marketing and computers, community outreach, grant writing, archival control, and historical research, are all engaged in ongoing implementation of the Foundation's programs.
Interns in Arts Management and Administration come from a diversity of disciplines: Business, Art History and Criticism, Journalism and Communications, Computer Sciences, and the Liberal Arts and Sciences. The field of Arts Management offers many employment opportunities through the rapidly growing number of not-for-profit arts organizations. The Foundation's training procedures of active involvement in day-to-day operations, as well as the creation of long term goals and implementation plans, prepares the intern with management level experience upon entry into the field. Interns in Arts Management represent a wealth of geographic and cultural diversity, hailing from many countries and from many regions within the United States. The Foundation takes special pride in the diversity of its participants and actively pursues an expansion of opportunity for minorities both inside and outside of the Internship Program.
Applicants to the Arts Management and Administration Program should note in their cover letter that they are applying specifically for an Arts Management placement.
The John David Mooney Foundation is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization. Internship and Apprenticeship positions offered through the Foundation are unpaid.
If you are interested in learning more about available Residencies, Internships or Apprenticeships, contact our team at jdmstudio@mooneyfoundation.org