My Internship Experience at Art House Dallas

As my internship with Art House Dallas comes to an end, I wanted to share and reflect my experience there by focusing on the challenges and opportunities I was given.

Art House Dallas focuses on cultivating the creativity for the common good by hosting events, programs, and partnerships in order to empower local artists and creative minds in the Dallas area. I was able to apply and interview for the Events and Marketing position and started my internship in mid-September. I have been a part of the team and helped host numerous events and programs throughout my internship.

One of my roles involved researching and collaborating with suppliers, partners, and sponsors which allowed me to build up my communication skills. Communicating with partners, especially over the phone or in-person, has never been my most confident skill and required me to step out of my comfort zone. Being a Art House Dallas representative required me to communicate with all types of people from different backgrounds. The exposure I've gained has allowed me to become more relaxed and comfortable in meeting up with potential business sponsors and partners. I’ve realized that appearing confident and well-spoken is an important trait, especially when it affects the organization’s brand image and cause.

I believe the most valuable learning experience I’ve gained in my internship was time management. In any other work and school setting, I’ve been able to get my tasks done in an efficient and timely manner. I was always given a deadline with a comfortable time frame in order to get that finished. However, working at a nonprofit has made me realize how much of a luxury it is to be given a prior notice of certain deadlines. Organizations must be able to adapt and efficiently work with their partners’ schedules and prior notice is not always given. I’ve learned to be able to quickly adapt to certain situations and become more accustomed to a high-paced work environment.

My time at Art House Dallas has been an immense learning experience. I can see myself applying the skills I’ve acquired in my internship to my future career prospects. I plan on attending law school after I graduate and want a career focused on protecting intellectual and artistic property. Being able to directly work with artists and people who care about art has made me want to follow my legal passion even further and help local artists in our community.

Jenny Lee

The Jindal School of Management

#UTDBSHRM #JSOMINTERN