By SABRINA BERNDT

Washington Daily News

 

Through an interactive internship, Arts of the Pamlico offers students the opportunity to learn the ropes of an arts council.

AOP has had the opportunity to provide three East Carolina University students with access to a behind-the-scenes look at running an arts council through an annual partnership with ECU’s internship program. Carleigh Flynn, the current intern, was paired with AOP based on her interest in illustration.

“It’s a very fast-paced, goal-oriented internship,” said Debra Torrence, the executive director of Arts of the Pamlico. “We hope to give her an understanding of how an arts council works … and how she can be involved in supporting the community through her art.”

From Sanford, Flynn is a rising sophomore at ECU, studying illustration and creative writing. Since starting her internship in May, she has completed numerous projects in an effort to expand AOP’s visual arts programs, including designing art stop maps for Beaufort County and illustrating digital backdrops for Beauty and the Beast Jr.

“We’ve (AOP) already established theater, especially youth theater,” Flynn said. “Actually, they hired on an intern, it was in the same internship I am. She expanded their theater programs. I feel like that’s kind of what they want me for, is to expand on the visual arts part of the Turnage.”

In addition to the in-house tasks she has been working on, Flynn is planning multiple larger projects, such as an art workshop at the Blind Center in July, and weeklong visual art camps for children ages 6-15. Her goal is to expose local children to specific artists and cultures.

“I really want to mix art history and culture, and explain that to the kids,” Flynn said. “I feel like a lot of times, art camps for kids is more so craft stuff. They don’t necessarily learn about artists and important things, and I want to flip that on its head.”

Funded by the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union Foundation, ECU’s internship program matches students with nonprofits that match their interests. The program has inspired AOP to accept more interns outside of ECU, including high school students, and the organization currently has five interns working at the Turnage.

“I just enjoy so much having youth in the building to inspire them and hopefully hook them on the arts and help them think about that as a future career,” Torrence said.

According to Torrence, Flynn will be a part-time employee during the fall and spring semesters, hosting monthly visual arts workshops on Saturdays and during the Hand On Arts Festival in September. All information about future events can be found at www.artsofthepamlico.org.