Spring 2025 Internship Program

My name is Kaline Itzel Martinez. I am currently a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Marketing with a minor in Professional Sales and Business Development! Throughout my college experience, I have always been heavily involved in my Hispanic culture through organizations like HBSA (Hispanic Business Student Association) and my sorority, Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. I applied to the Mexic-Arte Museum Internship because I wanted to continue celebrating and uplifting my culture in a more creative and professional way. This opportunity allows me to connect deeper with my roots while gaining valuable experience in a such a cultural institution like Mexic-Arte Museum, making a real impact in the Hispanic/Latino community. My favorite project so far has been doing the Instagram takeover for the exhibition and helping assist my mentor, Gabi, with all the behind-the-scenes work. Even if it’s small tasks, I’ve really enjoyed being part of the process and seeing how much effort goes into making everything run smoothly. It’s been fun, creative and a great way to learn more about the museum’s event planning, marketing and outreach operations. This internship is giving me valuable hands-on experience, especially in marketing and event planning—areas I’ve worked in on a smaller scale before. Being part of a professional setting like this is helping me build my skills and giving me insight into what I might want to pursue in the future, especially within the fine arts and entertainment industry. Outside of my internship, I tend to stay pretty busy! I have a part-time job, I help people do their taxes, I love traveling and I also run the social media platforms for my sorority. On top of that, I’m in the early stages of starting a professional services business focused on resume writing, LinkedIn workshops and job search strategies—if you need help, hit me up!

Overall, I just want to say thank you to the Mexic-Arte Museum and the entire staff, especially my mentor, Gabi—who have been absolutely amazing. Gabi’s support has created such a welcoming space for me to grow both professionally and personally. I’ve learned so much during this experience, and I’m truly grateful to have been part of it.

Hello, my name is Ixel Aguilar. I am currently a third year at St. Edward’s University, majoring in Political Science with a Pre-Law concentration in American History. I applied to this internship because I wanted to expand my skill set. I wanted to try and step out of something that was related to my major, in order to broaden my horizons. I have also always loved the Mexic-Arte Museum, so it’s crazy that I now am working in such a culturally rich place. I applied also because I wanted to be in a space where I knew my culture would be displayed. One of my most memorable experiences thus far has been the opportunity to explore SXSW with my internship coordinator. Being in the heart of Austin, especially during such a vibrant event, was truly special. One of the highlights was visiting a screen printing exhibition, where I had the pleasure of meeting an artist with whom I felt a strong connection. What made the experience even more meaningful was that the artist had ties to the Mexic-Arte Museum, which made our conversation all the more personal and enriching. This internship is benefiting my career by having me work with a diverse group of people, exploring projects that are more data based, as well as reaching out to businesses, which will help me better my networking skills. I think that working at the museum is also helping me by simply having such a wonderful and supportive staff throughout each step of the way.

My name is Yves Alvarez-Santoy, I attend UT Austin majoring in Anthropology with a focus in Mesoamerican Archaeology and I am pursuing a minor in Art History with interest in art of the ancient America, as well as a certificate in Museum Studies. I wanted to apply for several reasons. One of them being that I am very familiar with the museum itself and have been to some events in the past. I believe this is an important place for people in my community as a Mexican American in Austin. I have also had a close friend intern here and this inspired me to also try out and apply for the collections position as I have had experience in collections before but with ancient objects. I have also wanted to gain more experience in museums as most of my research has been anthropological. My favorite activity so far has been learning the nitty gritty details behind accessioning various permanent pieces in the Mexic-Arte collection with the help of the registrar, Amy Anderson. I have really got to use PastPerfect most days during my internship activities which I had brief training in. This expanded my knowledge in a contemporary art work aspect. This internship benefits my career in many ways; as I mentioned, I have had brief experience in museum collections world with PastPerfect, the museum database software for archiving art pieces, but I had never used it for accessioning contemporary art pieces. This program allowed me to experience both methods and getting a behind-the-scenes peek into the processes in museums with contemporary art works and exhibitions. I have also learned more of what goes on behind exhibition planning by working briefly and speaking with Luisa Fernanda Perez, the curator here at Mexic-Arte. I have also spoken with many others like Fabiana Munoz, a part of the education coordinator team, and the preparator, Oscar Guerra-Briseno, which gives me a well rounded insight into other aspects of the museum that may interest me as well. I am excited for my archaeological field research this summer in Guatemala’s South Coast at the Maya site Río Seco, investigating the interaction between Teotihuacan in central Mexico and Guatemala’s Pacific Coast alongside Dr. Mallory Matsumoto, an assistant professor at UT Austin.

My name is Elena Alvarez, and I attend The University of Texas at Austin. I’m a second-year student studying Bilingual Education and History, and I expect to graduate early in May 2026. I applied to the Mexic-Arte Museum Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project because I’m passionate about the intersectionality between history and education, specifically in the Latinx community. This internship is an incredible opportunity to engage with projects that promote representation and cultural awareness by amplifying Latino voices. My favorite project has been helping curate the recent Chente exhibit. It has been exciting to see how art, history and education come together to share new knowledge with the community. This internship is strengthening my knowledge and ability to share cultural stories in accessible ways, which will be valuable as a future bilingual educator. It has also helped me refine skills in research, which impacts my work in advocacy.

My name is Antonio Arizmendi, and I am a second-year Art History major at The University of Texas at Austin. I applied to be an intern at Mexic-Arte Museum in order to gain more experience in the museum world, grow my understanding of nonprofit foundations and learn from Mexic-Arte’s brilliant educational programs. Also, the museum’s dedication to preserving Mexican American art and culture deeply resonated with me, and I wanted to contribute to my community in a meaningful Way. My favorite project so far has been creating the gallery guide for the Beyond the Shape exhibition with the curatorial and education departments. It was great to design spreads with Chente’s vibrant colors in mind, and I loved coming up with fun activities for younger audiences. As someone looking towards a career in museum education, my time with the Mexic-Arte education department has allowed me to visualize working in the field. From grants to lesson plans to teaching artist trainings, I have been exposed to many facets of a career in museum education. Also, my work on the gallery guide, researching and compiling content, has allowed me to explore more research or curatorial-oriented fields as well, especially for Chicano art. I’m looking forward to creating even more educational resources and helping with incoming tours for Chente’s exhibition. Also, I’m super excited for our upcoming la Fête de Cinco de Mayo celebration and designing activities for that!

My name is Olivia Madison Ceaser and I am attending The University of Texas for a BA in Studio Art and a Minor in Digital Arts and Media. I applied to participate in a hands-on experience within nonprofit organizations and gallery spaces that uplift cultural legacy. I hoped to meet new people who work in my field to gain a better understanding of what roles best suit me. Not only did I find a welcoming community working at the Mexic-Arte Museum, but a better understanding of all the roles, logistics and preparations that go into producing exhibitions and running a nonprofit. My favorite activity so far has been browsing the Museum’s ceramics collection. This internship has benefited my career as an independent artist who is currently self-producing a solo exhibition as a thesis project. This internship has shown me the many ways of approaching an art exhibition and the attention to detail that brings everything together. Liminal Threads art exhibition on April 25th and 26th at the Electric Church, 7 – 11 pm, 417 Robert T Martinez.

My name is Gabriele Groberio, and I am a Senior at the College of Fine Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. I am majoring in Arts and Entertainment Technologies, where I focus on the intersection of art, design, and technology to create immersive and engaging experiences. As a Brazilian-born artist and designer, I have always been passionate about creative expression and cultural representation. When I applied for the Graphic Design Internship at Mexic-Arte Museum, I saw it as an opportunity to gain hands-on industry experience while contributing to an institution that uplifts and celebrates Latinx culture in Austin. I wanted to be part of a team that not only values design and creativity but also fosters meaningful community engagement. The museum’s dedication to preserving and sharing Latinx art resonated with me, and I was eager to contribute my skills to that mission. One of the projects I have been most excited about is designing a deck of Lotería cards for La Fête de Mayo, an event that blends French and Mexican cultural imagery. This project has allowed me to explore the visual storytelling of two rich cultural heritages while incorporating my own creative style. I love the challenge of reinterpreting traditional iconography in a fresh and meaningful way. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in Art and Creative Direction, and this internship has been an invaluable step toward that goal. Working at Mexic-Arte has given me deeper insight into the administrative, event planning, and curatorial aspects of museum operations—an experience I’ve only had previously from the perspective of a Gallery Assistant. Additionally, having the opportunity to manage my own creative projects within a professional setting has helped me develop both my technical and leadership skills. Collaborating with a team that shares my passion for art and culture has been incredibly rewarding and has reinforced my desire to work in spaces that celebrate and promote diverse artistic voices. Outside of my work at Mexic-Arte, I am continuously involved in various creative projects that explore the intersection of art, design, and storytelling. I am always looking forward to new opportunities to expand my creative practice and collaborate with like-minded artists and designers! My mentor at Mexic-Arte Museum is Sara Palma, Visual Communicator.

My name is Mia Johnson, and I am a senior at UT Austin. I study Art History and Plan II Honors with a minor in English. I am currently finishing up my Honors Thesis, which is about the ephemerality and memory of Baroque catafalques through a 21st-century viewpoint of prints and etchings. I applied to the Mexic-Arte Museum Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project to be a part of and learn from a museum that is culturally immersive. With many things changing, I am seeing more and more the importance of preserving histories and telling them well, so I felt that it was very necessary for me to do what I can to take part in this. Also, being from El Paso has encouraged me to reconnect with that part of my own culture and learn more about the Chicano/an art history of Austin! My favorite project so far has been jumping straight into helping out with the Beyond the Shape: El Arte de Chente Rodriguez exhibition. It has been a lot of fun to learn how this exhibition has been shaping up before I got here and now be able to contribute to some of the final details before it opens! I am excited to keep working on it and see how it turns out in April. This internship is benefiting my career by giving me one more chance to experience the behind the scenes work of a museum while still being a student. Having the opportunity to do these simultaneously has helped me to shape my career goals and even my personal interests. As I prepare to enter graduate school for museum studies, it is so valuable to be gaining more museum experience and building great connections with Mexic-Arte. My mentor at Mexic-Arte Museum is Luisa Fernanda Perez, Curator of Exhibitions & Director of Programs.

Hello! My name is Saira and I’m a fourth year Studio Art Major with a minor in Design Strategies at the University of Texas at Austin. I’ve been familiar with the Museum for about a year now and have been interested in their mission since founder Sylvia Orozco gave a presentation at UT. Hearing her story and the impact of her and her classmates’ activism during her time at UT was really inspiring as a hispanic artist in Austin. Being a part of this community and the Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project was an exciting way for me to feel like I was also having an impact in the museum space. My favorite project so far has been working on the website’s internship page and being able to showcase past interns and cohorts’ efforts here at the museum. As I continue to look at their past work, I look forward to documenting that of my current cohort and sharing their projects! I am very interested in the overlap between art spaces and the design industry, so being able to utilize my technical skills within this institution has made me feel confident in developing transferable skills that can follow in my professional career. I’m looking forward to our upcoming exhibit Beyond the Shape: El Arte de Chente Rodriguez and hope to see y’all there! My mentor at Mexic-Arte Museum is Julio Martinez, Digital Media & Assistant Registrar.

My name is Sophia Greenberg, and I’m studying Art History at the University of Texas at Austin. I’m minoring in Arts Management and Administration, as well as Women’s and Gender Studies. I wanted to learn more about how museums function behind the scenes. As a student researcher, I’m interested in the study of minority artists and artworks that haven’t been previously accepted in the art historical canon. Working at the Mexic-Arte has provided me with the opportunity to engage with both interests! I’ve been accessioning new works into the museum database–through this I’ve learned about condition reports, assigning object IDs, and how to organize object data.  This internship is providing me an opportunity to learn more about the day-to-day tasks of museums, and I’ve been able to gain knowledge about how to appropriately handle objects and record their information. My mentor at Mexic-Arte Museum is Amy Anderson, Collections and Registrar Associate.