Host a Cleveland State University
Creative Arts fellow — Fall 2025

 Diversify Your Team and Bring New Voices to the Arts and Cultural Field

Background | Details | Apply

Background

Your organization plays a pivotal role in developing Cleveland's next generation of arts professionals by hosting a Cleveland State University (CSU) Creative Arts Fellow. This unique program—a fully funded opportunity—connects your institution with skilled undergraduate talent in Cuyahoga County.

The strategic partnership between CSU and Studio Institute addresses a significant opportunity in Cuyahoga County’s local arts sector to build a more vibrant and inclusive creative community. The CSU Creative Arts Fellowship lifts traditional barriers faced by students who are often not represented in the arts. Hosting a CSU Fellow strengthens your organization's role in ensuring Cleveland's creative economy truly reflects Cuyahoga County's abundant talent.

When you host a CSU Creative Arts Fellow, you position yourself at the intersection of education and professional practice, creating lasting impact. The program delivers multiple benefits for host organizations: full funding for the internship, access to motivated emerging talent, fresh perspectives, and added capacity to tackle key initiatives. The funding provides support to nonprofit organizations — large or small — eliminating the financial barriers they often incur by covering compensation for Fellows.

The structured, 15-week internship has Fellows working directly alongside your team, developing professional skills while contributing to meaningful projects that drive the success of your arts and cultural organization. Experienced arts professionals within the organization provide mentoring to advance the Fellows' careers while helping them to develop valuable relationships that extend well beyond the duration of the program.

By opening your doors to this program, you become a catalyst in Cleveland's creative ecosystem, and your investment in emerging talent today cultivates an equitable, creative landscape for all.

Cleveland's Assembly for the Arts hired Jurnee Weeams as their Social Media Associate following her exemplary internship performance.

Valerie Schumacher, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Assembly for the Arts, explains how Jurnee helped support artists, engage young audiences, and strengthen their organization's staff capacity.

 

Apply

Host a CSU Creative Arts Intern Fellow | Fall 2025

Applications to host CSU Fellows for Fall 2025 are now closed. Please check back in February 2026 to learn more about hosting a CSU Fellow in Fall 2026.

Required Application Materials (complete details are on the application):

  • Short job description

  • High-resolution logo

  • Proposed project description (250-350 words)

  • Proposed work plan

  • Workspace integration plan (including mentorship and supervision details)

Questions?

For inquiries regarding the Fall 2025 Semester CSU Creative Arts Fellowship, contact:

Sophia Domeville, Senior Manager, Arts Intern College Program:
artsintern@studioinstitute.org

 

Details

Fellowship Eligibility

Who’s eligible to apply? Current full-time CSU undergraduate juniors and seniors with majors in Art, Design, Creative Writing, or Film, and a 3.0 Minimum GPA in the major.
Learn more about eligibility.

Fellowship Structure

The Creative Arts Intern Fellowship program aligns with CSU’s Fall 2025 academic calendar.

Note: The CSU Fellowship is currently only available for the Fall 2025 semester.

  • Fall Program Dates: September 2 — December 12, 2025

  • Student-Centered Schedule: 150 total hours (10 hours weekly for 15 weeks) with flexible scheduling to accommodate academic commitments

Employment Structure

Host organizations hire Fellows as temporary part-time employees paid on the same schedule as other employees on the organization’s payroll.

Financial Support for Host Organizations

$1700 Total Support Package Includes:

  • $1,500 Grant to Cover Fellow Wages: $15/hour, 10 hours per week, 15 weeks per semester

  • Studio Institute provides an additional $200 administrative stipend to offset onboarding and supervision costs

Host Organization Requirements

Host emerging talent during a concentrated 15-week period that aligns perfectly with academic schedules and organizational planning cycles.

  • Participate in Selection Process: Conduct student interviews between May 5 and May 16.

  • Design Meaningful Projects: Create substantive work that benefits the fellow and your organization, detailed in a department-specific, 15-week project plan.

  • Provide Intentional Mentoring: Deliver regular feedback and professional guidance throughout the Fellowship period.

Fellowship Program Timeline:

  • May 5 – May 9: Cleveland State University will review student applications and approve students for participation. 

  • May 9: Host sites receive information on students approved for participation.

  • May 12 – 23: Host sites will review student materials, contact students of interest, and conduct interviews.

  • May 23: Final student placements are communicated to Cleveland State and the Studio Institute Team from all host sites.

Participating Arts Organizations — Fall 2025

Join leading, local cultural Institutions in shaping the next generation of arts innovators, which in 2025, includes:

Assembly for the Arts, Heights Arts, Oh Sew Powerful, and Zygote Press.

I like to let students make mistakes and then provide feedback. I let them succeed by empowering them to make mistakes. They struggle, I provide feedback, and they learn from the experience.

David Piurek, Conservation Technician of Paintings and Frames, Cleveland Museum of Art;
Arts Intern Supervisor and Mentor