Deadline Approaching For Paid Summer Metro Arts Apprenticeship Program

Metro Art students working on a mural design concept at Moline's Bass Street Landing

Since the summer of 2000, Metro Arts has provided area youth 15-21 years old with paid summer apprenticeships in various arts disciplines. The program provides opportunities for youth and enhances the community through the arts. For five weeks, area youth work together in groups to complete art projects under the supervision and mentorship of professional artists. Participants learn the artistic techniques and applications of their genre while developing personally and professionally.

As part of Quad City Arts’ continued focus on equity and accessibility the Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program expanded program offerings in 2021. In 2021, the program introduced projects in graphic design, poetry, and film. These projects were designed to be accessible to students with interest in multiple creative areas. The graphic design program was developed in partnership with Black Hawk College, so students did not need to provide their own computer, design software licenses, or any other equipment. Film and poetry were also designed in a similar manner. “We are excited to continue to offer more accessible options for our paid arts apprenticeship program,” says Executive Director, Kevin Maynard.

This year’s Metro Arts program will start on Monday, June 6 and end on Thursday, July 7. Apprentices will meet for up to four hours Monday through Thursday. Apprentices receive a stipend of $500, and Senior Apprentices (project leaders) receive a stipend of $750.

The program is highly rewarding for apprentices as expressed by a 2020 Metro Arts Apprentice, Maggie Pope: 
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"Last year was my first year doing the Summer Mural Painting, and I can confidently say I developed so many skills just within the month and a half of working for Metro Arts. In that short amount of time, I found myself wishing to go to work everyday— which is almost an impossible task when you’re required to work in the one-hundred degree heat with a mask on. Being with the artists around me helped me learn so many new strategies and techniques with painting. They also gave me a whole new perspective on how the process of large projects are made. Most of all, though, the artists around me turned me into a better person. I literally felt myself being more happy and successful in my work, which is a dream everyone wants."

Poetry:
This project will be led by Lead Artist, Aubrey Barnes. Apprentices will learn the elements of creating poetry including rhyming schemes, it’s cross-section with music, and more. Apprentices will have opportunities to workshop and present the pieces they create, and at the end will see their work published in a chapbook.
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Aubrey Barnes, Poetry Lead Artist
Aubrey Barnes is an emcee, poet, educator, and author of "Unfin-" and "I'm Not Anti-Love, I Swear." With six years and hundreds of poems and songs under his belt, Aubrey's work encapsulates his unique experience as a black male living in a small region in the Midwest called the Quad Cities; from being a product of rap, to social divides that played a part in shaping his worldview. Aubrey has performed and taught workshops all over; from Chicago, Atlanta, to regions outside the country such as Haiti. He was also ranked number three best slam poet in the state of Iowa in June of 2019 by the Iowa Writers Organization. His poetry workshops consist of teaching the art from the context of rap and battle rap, exposing students to the lyrical and social richness that is within these arts. Being an individual who wears many creative hats, Aubrey aims to provoke ears with his lyrical, battle rap influenced penmanship, as well as provoke thought, with content that reflects all that he has journeyed through, or is journeying through.

Film:
Apprentices will work closely with independent filmmaker and educator Jonathan Burnett and learn the art of filmmaking through the entire process. Apprentices will create a short film including writing the script, filming, editing, sound design, and more. Apprentices will learn the elements of film design using professional equipment, but walk away with an understanding that can be translated to creating short films on something as small as a cell phone. ​

Jonathan Burnett, Film Lead Artist
Independent filmmaker and Educator Jonathan Burnett is a native of Rock Island, Illinois. Jonathan studied and received his training in film production and visual media, obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA, and a Master of Fine Arts from Loyola Marymount University. He has written, directed, produced, and filmed several projects during his tenure. Jonathan worked on professional films in France, Algeria, and Atlanta, Georgia. He is also the Creator, Director, and Lead Instructor of the Urban Exposure Independent Film Program, a ten week intensive program that teaches the basics of filmmaking to youth in the Midwest. Jonathan’s thesis film “Smoke & Mirrors” completed its festival tour. It has been shown in nine different festivals across the United States and has won 2 awards for Best Short Film and Best Student Film at the Alternating Currents Film Festival in Davenport, Iowa. Jonathan is now an adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount University and is also working with his father, Honorary Oscar Recipient, Charles Burnett to produce feature films and television content.

​Mural Painting:
Led by Lead Artist, Sarah Robb, apprentices will work with a client to determine their wants in a mural, then work as a team to create two or more concepts to be presented. Once the client offers feedback the apprentices will get to work on making their concept take shape into a beautiful mural.

Sarah Robb, Mural Design Lead Artist
Sarah Jean Robb was raised in Davenport, Iowa. She received her BFA in Illustration with a minor in Graphic Design from Laguna College of Art & Design in Laguna Beach, CA. Sarah devoted nine years to her art career in California entering a variety of exhibits, creating murals and commissioned jobs. Still, the desire to rediscover her roots resulted in moving back to Davenport, IA sixteen years ago where she continues to pursue her passion and career as an artist. Since returning in 2006, she has been the Lead Artist for Mural Design with the QC Arts Metro Arts Summer Youth Program, a position she has been proud to occupy since 2007. Her love for large scale public art murals and working with the community has led to commissioned projects with The City of Moline, Rock Island, and Davenport, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Child Abuse Council, Augustana College, Dress for Success, Boys & Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley, Schuetzen Park with German Heritage, and many more.

Graphic Design:
Under the direction of Annie Oldenburg, apprentices will learn the basics of graphic design using the Adobe suite. In 2021, apprentices created vinyl wraps for windows in Downtown Rock Island to showcase what sort of businesses they wanted to see more of in Downtown Rock Island. The 2022, design project will be similar, but is still being developed.

Annie Oldenburg, Graphic Design Lead Artist
Annie Oldenburg is a conceptual artist working with digital media to explore landscape and disruption. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts from the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay and her Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies from the Hallie Ford School of Graduate Studies at Willamette University's Pacific Northwest College of Art. Since earning her degrees, Oldenburg has pursued her passion for pedagogy. She currently teaches studio art and digital media at Black Hawk College.

Oldenburg has exhibited her work in galleries nationwide, including Blue Sky in Oregon, 407 Gallery in Wisconsin, and Resonator in Oklahoma. When she isn't teaching or busy with art, you can find her traveling the country, playing disc golf, and hanging with her pups, Clover and Korra. For more information, or to view some of her recent projects, visit her website: https://www.anniethingart.com/

Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship projects begin on June 7 and will conclude on July 9.
​Apprentices will meet Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

*Friday, July 8 is the only Friday apprentices may be needed to make final touches on projects.* 

APPLY TODAY!