Each semester, Oxy Arts supports and funds Occidental students in internships at local arts organizations across Los Angeles. For Media Arts & Culture major Alexia Lara ’26, fall semester included an immersive experience at Avenue 50 Studio, a community art space near campus.
Q: How did you hear about this internship opportunity and what was the application process like?
A: I heard about this internship opportunity through an Oxy Arts email. In the email, there were many different internship opportunities but the Avenue 50 Studio internship was the one that caught my attention. In the email, all the steps I needed to take to apply were clearly outlined so it made the application process very comprehensible.
During my internship at Avenue 50 Studio, I focused a lot of my time on promoting different events happening in the studio or the northeast L.A. area, through social media, newsletters, and the studio’s website. I also worked on the documentation of events and helped with the installation of artwork.
Q: How did this work coincide with your coursework as a MAC major?
A: In my media practices class, we discussed expressing our stories in non-traditional ways and were encouraged to get experimental in the mediums we used. We talked about storytelling and how it can be captured in vastly different ways. Much of the studio’s work represented what I was learning in my media practices class very well. Many of the works that the studio showcased had very wonderful stories integrated into them, or were pieces to larger, broader stories. I enjoyed being able to learn about the way art can take form through my classes and then having real-life examples to look back on when I went to the studio.
Working at Avenue 50 Studio has been a really enriching experience for me! It’s given me the opportunity to be able to immerse myself in a culture and community that values art and storytelling as much as I do and make meaningful connections with so many passionate and creative individuals. My time at Avenue 50 Studio has taught me so much about the work that goes on behind the scenes of running a non-profit art gallery while also reinforcing the value of uplifting the voices and works of community members from diverse backgrounds.
Q: Any advice for a student who might be interested in an opportunity like this?
A: If anyone is interested in an opportunity such as this one I strongly encourage them to apply. Oxy Arts always has many great internship opportunities to offer and I’m so grateful for being able to work with Avenue 50 Studio through Oxy Arts.