High School Fellowship Program

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!

New Haven public school sophomores and juniors with an interest in the arts may apply to become a Festival Fellow and become immersed in our programming during the 6 months leading up to the Festival. Priority is given to New Haven residents.

NOTE: 2021 Fellowship classes will be conducted virtually.

The application deadline is October 30, 2020 at 11:59 PM.

The International Festival of Arts and Ideas High School Fellowship Program offers qualified New Haven public school sophomores and juniors a unique, fully funded opportunity to learn about the arts. The semester-long college-level course is designed to develop students’ skills in communication and critical thinking by immersing them in all aspects of the Festival, including performances, lectures, community engagement, production, and management.

Through weekly seminars, a broad range of arts-related activities, and the attendance of diverse arts events, we equip Fellows with marketable experience, skills, and connections that will prove useful for future internships and employment opportunities.

From January to June, Fellows attend 3-hour weekly seminars at New Haven's Gateway Community College (NOTE: 2021 Fellowship classes will be conducted virtually) and field trips to performances and events. Fellows will also have the opportunity to shadow Festival staff for hands-on experience and volunteer with diverse New Haven communities at the Festival’s three Neighborhood Festivals. In June, the Fellows will be fully immersed in the Festival’s two-week run and attend more than 30 events.

To apply, please complete the following items: application form (see below for link), personal statement, prompted essay, and resume. Submit all materials by October 30, 2020 at 11:59 PM.

Click on the link below to access the digital application form for the 2021 Fellowship Program.

2021 fellowship application

The following 3 documents must be uploaded into the application (you may want to prepare them prior to starting the application)

1. Personal Statement (1 page, double-spaced)
   • Introduce yourself and explain why you want to be a Festival Fellow. Please address the following points:
     • What skills and knowledge you hope to gain throughout the Fellowship
     • Why you feel we should consider you for the program and the skills and qualities you would contribute to it
     • How this interest would contribute to the Festival
     • Your interest in the arts, creative writing, or non-profit management
2. Prompted Essay (1 page, double-spaced)
   • How does your community shape your identity? Consider: Where do you live and who do you spend your time with. Would you be a different person if you grew up someplace else?
3. Resume
   • ​​​​​​​Include information about your education, work/volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, and marketable skills (computer software knowledge, social media, languages, etc.).​​​​​​​

Deadline: October 30, 2020 at 11:59 PM

Questions can be submitted to:

Email: fellowship@artidea.org
Phone: 203-498-3725

October 30, 2020 at 11:59 PM

We will update you on the status of your application within a week of the submission deadline. Applicants under consideration will be invited for an interview on Zoom with Festival staff and instructors. Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to invite all applicants for an interview.

The International Festival of Arts & Ideas takes positive steps to enhance diversity in both its community and its programs. The Festival commits to this policy, not because of legal obligations, but because it fully believes that such practices are basic to human dignity. The International Festival of Arts & Ideas is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability or status as a U.S. veteran.

Gateway Community College does not discriminate against individual on the grounds of race, color, religious creed, sexual identification, age, national origin, ancestry, political beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, handicaps, present or past history of mental disability, learning disability, genetic information, criminal record or physical disability, but not limited to, blindness. Gateway Community College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/ADA educational institution.