Oct. 7, 2024 @ 8:00 am – Dec. 13, 2024 @ 5:00 pm
Cohort Description
The Fall 2024 internship cohort at Mexic-Arte Museum comprised dedicated students from Texas State University and the University of Texas at Austin, each contributing to various museum departments. Their collective efforts enriched the museum’s programming and operations, particularly through hands-on contributions to outdoor exhibitions like Las Calaveras at Republic Square: Celebrating Our Shared History and major cultural events such as the Viva la Vida Parade and Festival. From curatorial research and educational content creation to event planning, graphic design and development support, the cohort gained valuable professional experience while advancing the museum’s mission to engage the public with Latino/x/e art and culture. Their behind-the-scenes work helped ensure the success of key fall initiatives and fostered deeper community connections.
INTERNS
Marienne Duran
Curatorial
My name is Marienne Duran Henriquez. I am a graduating senior from Texas State University, my major is art history with a minor in Latino studies. I applied to Mexic-Arte because I wanted to gain more experience in curatorship. My interest within art history is Latine and Afro-Latine art and art history, so I was really interested in interning at Mexic-Arte as it is a place where Latinx art and artists are showcased.
My favorite project so far has been helping write research and narrative for Las Calaveras at Republic Square: Celebrating our Shared History. It was informative to learn about the history these calaveras represented as well, especially learning how to tell part of a history to be accessible to a general audience. I also really enjoyed being part of the Viva la Vida Parade and Festival.
This internship was beneficial for my career as it allowed me to gain more insight onto the curatorship that goes into a museum, specifically the pitching and launching of an exhibit, research, and event coordination. It was also beneficial to work and be supervised by a curator and someone who also has an interest in art history, as they could provide more insight into the career. Thank you for the opportunity and providing a space for learning!
Aldo Frausto
Education
I have learned first hand experience of students on what is needed. I have learned that students are behind on reading and that’s concerning specially if I want to go into education policy.
I learned the behind the scenes of different grants particularly the Austin public health grant for 78744. I have learned about all the documents that are needed for students to be counted as served for that particular grant.
Adelina Hernandez
Education
My internship has been helped me with the logistics behind educational opportunities students are provided and it helps me establish more of a professional standard in my work.
I enjoyed doing the informational sheets about the activities for Viva because it combined art and information and it made me think about how it would be presented to students and the public. So, I had to make sure that those sheets were informational in a concise way but still appealing to people so they could understand the activities and the history behind it. Not only was this the most beneficial but it was really fun to put work into it and seeing how it all came together.
Shivangi Ojha
Development
My name is Shivangi Ojha, and I am a third year International Relations & Global Studies major attending UT Austin! My passion for NGO development led me to apply for the Development Intern position here at Mexic-Arte, and it has been so special! Helping our Development Coordinator, Alyssa, with grant research and writing, donor outreach, and volunteer coordination has taught me a ton about the inner workings of a nonprofit and of an art museum. I will use the skills and experiences I’ve learned here at Mexic-Arte to further my career in NGO development, hopefully moving into national- and international-level NGO work in the future! Thank you Mexic-Arte!!
Sofia Palacios
Graphic Design
My name is Sofia Palacios, I’m currently studying Film & Animation at Austin Community College.
I believed that working at an art museum would be the ideal way to surround myself with art and the community. Before working at Mexic-Arte, I had previously visited the Creating Encuentros: Changarrito exhibit. Soon after I saw the Mexic-Arte Museum participated in the Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project with several unique internship roles that piqued my interest, especially Graphic Design. I felt it was a perfect opportunity to take alongside my studies, as a Texan, Mexican American woman, graphic designer and aspiring filmmaker. It had been one of my dreams to be a part of an art museum, and it felt so natural to me.
My favorite project during this internship was being the illustrator for the ABCDia De Los Muertos Coloring Book for this year’s Viva la Vida Fest. Working together with the team to create this beautiful book took a lot of hard work and dedication.
This internship has exposed me to the tangible creative process in a collaborative environment that leaves a direct impact on the community. The stakes were higher than in any academic setting, so it was incredibly helpful learning to adapt to deadlines and restoring the integrity of the museum through any illustration or designs I made for our events or activities. It was also incredibly helpful to work under someone’s creative direction, by receiving feedback, critique, and encouragement, similar to any future studio where I will work in as a creative team member. Lastly, this internship has brought me closer to my roots. I have learned a lot about my Mexican culture that I wish I would have known otherwise, and it is so fulfilling to be part of the mission to educate. As an artist and aspiring filmmaker, my future career will be a testament to stories often forgotten or underrepresented.
I’m currently planning on transferring to an art school out of state to study character animation. I want to challenge myself, and I’m so excited for what’s to come!
Peyton Rudd
Collections
My name is Peyton Rudd. I am a mathematics and art history double major with a minor in government and certificate in core texts and ideas at UT Austin.
I am interested in museum work and particularly cultural exhibit spaces. I have previous experience handling and cataloging delicate materials, giving me the skills to work in the collections here. Furthermore, I have taken multiple art history classes focused specifically on Latin American art and felt I could expand my knowledge.
I really enjoyed helping deinstall the exhibit at the Mexican Consulate! I liked seeing the process of taking down the artworks and the different considerations that must be accounted for, such as the type of paper used to wrap and the specifics needed on condition reports.
I want to go to graduate school to get my PhD in art history and go into curation, so seeing how the collections and curator interact/plan gives me necessary insight into the flow of exhibit planning. Also, learning how museums catalog and handle the works is very practical and expands on my previous experience in an archival space.
I worked here while also still working at the Benson Latin American Collection and have loved comparing how library spaces are similar/different from the museum. Also, learning more about Latin American works and traditions has helped me connect with my family more as my stepdad and his family are from Juarez!
Rachel Salcido
Digital Media
My name is Rachel Salcido and I’m originally from El Paso, TX. I’m currently pursuing a double major at The University of Texas at Austin with a BFA in Studio Art and a BA in Art History, along with a certificate in Museum Studies. I applied to the Mexic-Arte Museum primarily because I strongly believe in its mission to amplify Mexican and Mexican American voices in Austin, especially in a socioeconomic landscape often dominated by PWIs. I’m grateful that Mexic-Arte provides a safe space where Latinos can thrive in the art world and offers us the opportunity to begin meaningful careers in museum work. Also, as an aspiring art historian, I was particularly drawn to Mexic-Arte’s programming, exhibitions, and the museum’s fascinating Taller de la Gráfica Popular Print Collection. In applying, I hoped to contribute to the museum’s goals, particularly regarding its digital presence and digital accessibility.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working on the website and adding new pages as the museum hosts new events. Although I initially felt a bit nervous about editing such a public-facing platform, my internship supervisor, Julio Martinez, provided very helpful guidance and support that quickly built my confidence. One of the main reasons I was drawn to this internship was the opportunity to support the museum’s accessibility efforts, and it has been especially rewarding to brainstorm formats, build pages, and see them come to life. Knowing that these pages provide helpful, lasting records for those who couldn’t attend or who may want to look back on these events in the future is especially fulfilling.
This internship as the Digital Media intern has been an invaluable experience that has granted me the opportunity to gain knowledge of the digital behind-the-scenes in a museum context. With a focus on museum studies, I’m very interested in eventually working with digital archives and preserving marginalized voices, especially Latino voices. Through my work on the museum’s website and digital content, I have developed practical skills in organizing and presenting information in publicly accessible ways. This experience has also helped me understand the challenges of digital obsolescence and the need to ensure that the histories of underrepresented communities are preserved for future generations. I believe this insight will play a crucial role in my future work in the field of digital archiving and cultural preservation.
Outside of my work at the museum, I co-founded the Texas Creative Union Project (TCUP), a student organization dedicated to helping student artists begin selling their work by hosting several art markets every semester. My members and I are really excited about our upcoming holiday market on December 6th at the FAC Patio at UT Austin. It’s always very rewarding to see everyone’s work come together.
Georgina Vargas
Special Events & Marketing
My name is Georgina Vargas and I graduated from UT Austin in May 2024 with a B.S. in Public Relations and a minor in Media and Entertainment. I applied to the Mexic-Arte Museum Internship because discovering it felt like finding a piece of myself. It’s celebration of Latin culture and identity resonates deeply with who I am as a Mexican American woman. Their dedication to preserving and amplifying Latino voices inspired me to give back to my community, not just as an admirer but as an active contributor. I saw this opportunity as a way to combine my passion for storytelling with my commitment to meaningful representation.
My favorite project thus far was assisting with the event coordination for Viva la Vida Festival and Parade 2024. It was beautiful to see our hard work come alive and see so many people from our community come together to celebrate DÃa de Los Muertos. In addition to event coordination, I had the opportunity to take many photos, which allowed me to capture moments filled with color, tradition, and connection. It was inspiring to feel the pulse of a celebration that has endured over 40 years.
This internship has been super important in shaping my future career path by helping me reflect on my goals and the type of impact I want to make with my degree. This internship provided valuable opportunities to network while deepening my understanding of the nonprofit and museum spaces. I’ve gained transferable skills that can be applied across various roles in future endeavors. I’m looking forward to traveling to Michoacán, Mexico this Christmas break to unwind and spend some quality time with my family.
