Work of Art - Application

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Welcome to your first step towards a career as a professional creative artist!

Work of Art is a college and career exploration program whose main purpose is to provide creative youth with the skills, training, and real-world experience necessary for life beyond high school. The program provides opportunities for career exploration, college readiness, and personal development. Each June we welcome a class of rising high school juniors and seniors.

Youth are interns of Inner-City Arts and participate in mandatory year-round activities that develop them as future professional visual, media, and/or performing artists. Work of Art youth serve on one of three teams: Visual Arts Team, Media Arts Team, or Performing Arts team. They participate in various programming events as representatives of the organization and also create content for Inner-City Arts in their respective disciplines. That content becomes part of the Inner-City Arts Permanent Collection.


In addition to the work created for the Permanent Collection, interns are required to attend other training sessions and activities focused upon college readiness, career exploration, and personal development.


Participation as a Work of Art intern requires a minimum of six hours/week commitment and lasts from one to two years.


The deadline for submitting your application is 5 p.m., Thursday, April 30.

The final deadline for your recommendation form is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5. (Remind your adults!)

Once ALL of your materials are submitted, you will be invited to schedule your interview.

Incomplete applications cannot be considered. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS


The Work of Art program is supported in part by the City of Los Angeles’ youth workforce initiative, Hire LA/Youth@Work. Some eligible youth may receive payment for a portion of their internship hours. Eligibility is determined by the City's program. Interns who meet the City’s Hire LA/Youth@Work eligibility requirements may receive payment for up to 120 hours of their internship.

If you believe you qualify and/or are interested in receiving compensation, upon completion of the Inner-City Arts application, you will be directed to complete the Hire LA/Youth@Work application.

Basic Application Information
Please answer these questions FIRST - this will ensure our Inner-City Arts staff have enough information to reach out to you with support if you get stuck in the application process (see instructions on how to save and return to your application on the next page).

Be sure to use YOUR OWN EMAIL - do not share with another person.







Application requirements

To complete this application, you must have the following ready to submit:
  1. The name, phone number, and email address of a teacher or other adult who can submit a recommendation for you.
  2. At least one and up to three samples of art as files ready to upload.
  3. A video introduction to yourself.

Need help with your application? Get in contact with us!

If you find yourself stuck in completing a part of your application, feel free to get in contact with our Inner-City Arts team through the following email:
  • workofart@inner-cityarts.org

Save and return

If you get stuck or you need more time, don't worry! You can save your progress and return to this form at a later date.
  1. Click on the "Save my progress and return later" checkbox at the top of the form
  2. Enter your email address and a password (use something easy to remember)
  3. You'll automatically be emailed a link; you can follow it to enter your password and pick up where you left off when you're ready.
Save and return screenshot with highlighted checkbox

Your Information (cont'd)

Home address




Social media (optional)
OPTIONAL: If you have an Instagram account that prominently displays some of your art, please share it with us. This response is completely optional.

Current school information and work eligibility
All schools in LA County are included; try searching in multiple ways. If you cannot find your school's name, please write the option "NOT LISTED"




The Work of Art application is only open to current sophomores and juniors.

Parent/guardian and emergency contact information

Work of Art requires two adult contacts; the first listed should be your primary parent/guardian (choose one if you live with more than one parent/guardian), and the second should be a backup emergency contact, in case the primary is unavailable. This can be your other parent/guardian, another family member, or any other adult in your life.
Primary Parent/Guardian






Second Emergency Contact




Application (cont'd)


Hire LA/Youth Funding Program

The next questions related to pre-eligibility for the Hire LA Youth Funding program. They will NOT impact your application for the Work of Art Program.





VISUAL ARTS - Content uploads and instructions

Art requirements for visual artists
Each applicant must submit at least ONE and up to THREE samples of work. FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS.
  • If you only submit ONE piece, it must be a DRAWING that demonstrates your ability to use SHADING. 
  • If you submit TWO pieces, the second piece must be a PAINTING.
  • If you submit a THIRD piece, it can be ANYTHING you like.
Each applicant must also submit an "intro video" of themselves talking to the camera and addressing the following questions: 
  • Your name
  • Your preferred visual arts discipline(s)
  • Provide a brief description of the pieces you are submitting. What if anything would you like us to know about the pieces?
The "intro video" should be no more than one minute long.

TIP: IF YOU'RE NOT READY, YOU CAN SAVE AND RETURN TO THIS FORM AT ANY TIME.
Upload instructions
You'll be asked to upload your files to Dropbox, then confirm the upload has been completed in the next step.
  1. When your materials are ready, click on this link to open the page in a new tab.
  2. Drag and drop your files or use the uploader to select them from your computer or phone. You can add all the files at the same time.
  3. Enter your first and last name where it says "Name."
  4. Enter your email address.
  5. Click the "Upload" button at the bottom right to complete the process.
After you upload your files, you'll get an email confirmation the files were successfully uploaded.

Once the file have been upload, continue to the next page.

MEDIA ARTS - Content uploads and instructions

Art requirements for media artists

Each applicant must submit at least ONE and up to THREE samples of work. FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS.
  • If you only submit ONE piece, it must be a digital or handmade piece that COMMUNICATES AN IDEA.
  • If you submit TWO pieces, the second piece must be an abstract digital or handmade piece that TELLS A STORY THROUGH COLOR.
  • If you submit a THIRD piece, it should be a digital or handmade piece that INCLUDES TYPOGRAPHY.
Each applicant must also submit an "intro video" of themselves talking to the camera and addressing the following questions: 
  • Your name
  • Your preferred media arts discipline(s)
  • Provide a brief description of the pieces you are submitting. What if anything would you like us to know about the pieces?
The "intro video" should be no more than one minute long.
TIP: IF YOU'RE NOT READY, YOU CAN SAVE AND RETURN TO THIS FORM AT ANY TIME.
Upload instructions
You'll be asked to upload your files to Dropbox, then confirm it's been completed in the next step.
  1. When your materials are ready, click on this link to open the page in a new tab.
  2. Drag and drop your files or use the uploader to select them from your computer or phone. You can add all the files at the same time.
  3. Enter your first and last name where it says "Name."
  4. Enter your email address.
  5. Click the "Upload" button at the bottom right to complete the process.
After you upload your files, you'll get an email confirmation the files were successfully uploaded.

Once the file have been upload, continue to the next page.

PERFORMING ARTS - Content uploads and instructions

Art requirements for performing artists

Each applicant must submit at least ONE and up to THREE samples of work. FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS.
  • If you only submit ONE piece, it should be a VIDEO OF YOU PERFORMING in your preferred medium (acting monologue, poetry, dance, singing, or playing an instrument).
  • If you submit TWO pieces, the second piece should be a video of you performing in A CONTRASTING PIECE of your choice.
  • If you submit a THIRD piece, it can be of you performing ANOTHER CONTRASTING PIECE.
Each applicant must also submit an "intro video" of themselves talking to the camera and addressing the following questions: 
  • Your name
  • Your preferred performing arts discipline(s)
  • Provide a brief description of the pieces you are submitting. Did you write/compose/choreograph the piece? Is this from a performance in your past?  What if anything would you like us to know about the pieces you are performing in the video(s)?
The "intro video" should be no more than one minute long.
TIP: IF YOU'RE NOT READY, YOU CAN SAVE AND RETURN TO THIS FORM AT ANY TIME.
Upload instructions
You'll be asked to upload your files to Dropbox, then confirm it's been completed in the next step.
  1. When your materials are ready, click on this link to open the page in a new tab.
  2. Drag and drop your files or use the uploader to select them from your computer or phone. You can add all the files at the same time.
  3. Enter your first and last name where it says "Name."
  4. Enter your email address.
  5. Click the "Upload" button at the bottom right to complete the process.
After you upload your files, you'll get an email confirmation the files were successfully uploaded.

Once the file have been upload, continue to the next page.

Work sample confirmation and recommender

Work sample confirmation


WARNING: Your application WILL NOT be complete and you will NOT be considered for this program without art sample uploads and your intro video. Click "Previous Page" to go back and upload your work samples. If you're having trouble with the instructions, save your application progress above, then email workofart@inner-cityarts.org for support.
Adult recommendation
Finally, your application requires one recommendation from a teacher or other adult in your life, not including your parents/guardians or family.
After asking your teacher or another adult in your life if they will be willing to help in this way, enter their information here.
  • Salutation (Mr., Ms., Ms.) and last name are required fields.
  • Email is a required field; an email will automatically be sent to the recommender with a link to complete the recommendation form. Be sure to enter their email address correctly!
  • Phone number is optional/recommended; if you know it, please include a phone number so we can follow up directly if the recommendation is not completed.
  • A reminder - it is YOUR responsibility to make sure the recommendation is submitted for you BEFORE 5pm on April 30. Be sure to follow up with the adult one week before the deadline.





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