WORCESTER—When submissions closed for ArtsWorcester’s upcoming exhibition, 130 pieces of art had been entered from across the city. Just 38 were selected — by a jury of 13 Worcester public high school students.
Those students are part of the Future Arts Workers (FAW) program, a yearlong paid internship run by ArtsWorcester that introduces Worcester Public Schools students to the inner workings of arts organizations. The program culminates in a fully student-curated exhibition. This year’s show, “Change,” opens Wednesday, May 20, with a reception from 6-8 p.m. at 44 Portland St.
FAW was first piloted during the 2024–25 academic year, following the end of ArtsWorcester’s previous youth engagement model, teen nights, which were discontinued during the COVID-19 shutdown. That pause gave the organization an opportunity to rethink how to better engage young people — and address broader inequities in the arts.
“One of the main places I saw inequity was frankly in the staffing and leadership of arts organizations,” said Juliet Feibel, executive director of ArtsWorcester. “There are many, many serious and substantive reasons why a disproportionate number of the staff and professional leadership of arts organizations are people like me coming from white backgrounds, affluent backgrounds, from communities and families that have deep history with legacy and anchor arts institutions.”
She also noticed a recurring question from young visitors: “Is this your job?”
Uche Mba practice their best handshakes (photo by Nathan Fiske)
In response, ArtsWorcester developed FAW to give students direct experience, professional exposure and a clearer understanding of career paths in the arts beyond creating artwork.
Interns meet weekly after school, with additional sessions closer to the exhibition. Programming spans the full scope of arts administration — from writing calls for artists and selecting a theme to learning about nonprofit finance, fundraising and exhibition logistics.
By April, students are handling submissions, reviewing artwork and preparing the exhibition itself.
This year’s cohort selected “Change” as the theme.
“A central thread we saw in their ideas were topics around community, justice, freedom and socio-political change,” said Dana Mais-Mendes, education manager at ArtsWorcester. “As youth who are passionate about their present and future, FAW believed there was no better time for artists to share work that educates, challenges and connects people than now.”
For students, the process was both collaborative and demanding.
“It was the first step in actually working on the exhibition, and it was a huge step at that,” said intern Ryan Belpedio, recalling early debates over the theme. “We had words and phrases written everywhere.”
Vivian Truong (photo by Nathan Fiske)
The jurying process proved equally rigorous. With most submissions coming from adult artists, students had to evaluate each piece and come to a consensus.
“We really had to listen to one another and take all 13 opinions into account,” said intern Imogene Gay.
Uche Mba described the process as intense.
“It felt like being in a courtroom during a heated case — presenting evidence for or against a piece, deciding if it truly fit the call,” Mba said.
Despite the challenges, students said the experience was rewarding.
“Since all of us were extremely passionate, the discussions were long, but worth it,” said intern Vy Duong. “Now that the jurying process is over, I’m starting to reflect on how fun it was to interact with my peers in this manner.”
Feibel said that kind of collaboration is one of the program’s most valuable lessons.
“You learn to listen to others, you learn to express your opinions, and you learn to justify your opinions,” she said. “You learn to advocate for yourself, and you also learn to give way when the greater good or the greater opinion is not yours.”
The interns represent schools across the district, including Doherty, South High, Burncoat, North High and Worcester Technical High School — a mix Feibel said creates a unique sense of community.
“It’s just a beautiful thing to see,” she said.
While the program introduces students to arts careers, Feibel emphasized that participation isn’t about becoming an artist.
Instead, it’s about understanding the many roles that support the arts — and building connections that can carry forward after graduation.
“These kids will understand how these places work,” Feibel said. “These kids will understand who you reach out to when you are interested in an internship… They’re going to have a team here really happy to write them letters of recommendation, so I don’t worry about these kids.”
Even for those who don’t pursue arts careers, the experience leaves an impact.
“I did not know how lively and welcoming Worcester could be, but now that I’ve experienced it, I notice it wherever I look,” Duong said. “I’ve created an appreciation for this place, and I definitely see a future for myself here.”
The students are responsible for every aspect of the exhibition, from selecting artwork to organizing the opening reception. There are no adult speakers — only students — and even the event details, including food, are chosen by the interns.
“Change” runs through June 21 at ArtsWorcester, 44 Portland St.
