Media Arts Apprenticeship
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MEDIA ARTS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Open Call for creatives ages 18-26 interested in media
Application deadline: October 6, 2025
Call Summary
The East End Houston Cultural District and Aurora Picture Show are assembling a group of young professionals interested in digital art and eager to make an impact in public spaces.
Apply to join our Media Arts Apprenticeship Program—a transformative program designed to equip you with the skills, experience, and connections needed to thrive in the multi-media art world.
Program Description
Five - ten apprentices (aged 18 to 26, living or working in East End) will be selected to participate in a series of meetings, exercises, visits to community arts spaces, and finally, the installation of a culminating indoor/outdoor media art environment. This program is October 2025 – February 2026, and each selected participant will receive a stipend of $2,500.
The Media Arts Apprenticeship is part of Creative Career Pathways, a program of the East End Houston Cultural District providing emerging artists and creatives with valuable opportunities to develop their skills and contribute to the East End neighborhood. Modeled after successful programs like Creative Waco’s ARTPrenticeship and Cincinnati’s ArtWorks, the CCP is designed to offer hands-on, professional training while fostering a deeper connection to community. Apprentices will engage with the artistic process and contribute to the creation of digital video projections.
What You’ll Learn:
● Video Production Basics: Learn video formats, resolutions, editing techniques, and best practices for creating high-quality content.
● Media Playback & Projection: Get hands-on experience with projectors, media players, and troubleshooting playback issues.
● Software for Media Display: Work with industry-standard software to create interactive media installations and seamless presentations.
● Video Synchronization: Master techniques to synchronize content across multiple screens for dynamic public art projects.
Program Highlights:
● Hands-On Workshops: Dive into focused sessions packed with practical exercises on technical and creative topics.
● Real-World Projects: Apply your skills by contributing to a large-scale public art project from start to finish.
● One-on-One Mentorship: Receive personalized guidance and career advice from professional digital artists.
● Community Engagement: Collaborate with local communities to ensure your art reflects cultural and historical stories, especially within the East End.
● Field Trips: Visit inspiring art hubs like Meow Wolf, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Artechouse to see professional digital art in action.
Program Schedule:
● In-Person Meetings: Meetings will take place from 5:30-7pm on Wednesday Oct 22nd, Nov 5th, Nov 19th, Dec 3rd, Dec 17th, Jan. 7th, and Jan 21st, with a public showcase and reception on Feb 4th at 7pm. Meetings will take place at Aurora Picture Show (5601A Navigation Blvd.)
● Final Showcase Event: Feb 4th at 7pm, where your public art project will be unveiled to the community
Why Apply?
● Build a professional portfolio with real public art projects
● Develop valuable technical and creative skills
● Gain mentorship from industry leaders
● Connect with like-minded artists and local communities
Stipend
Payment to each selected apprentice is $2,500.
Eligibility
Applying young professionals must be aged 18 to 26, live or work in East End, and legally able to work onsite in the United States.
About the East End Houston Cultural District
In 2014, the Texas Commission on the Arts officially designated Houston’s East End as a Texas cultural district, allowing tourists and local residents to explore the artistic value present in the East End community. The East End Houston Cultural District boasts one of the largest collections of outdoor murals in the city of Houston and is home to more than 30 arts and culture institutions, artist studios, showrooms and design and fabrication shops. The District is rich in historical sites and structures that connect the community to its heritage, as well as culinary traditions that offer visitors a taste of the best food Houston has to offer. Read more about the history of Houston’s East End at eastendhouston.com.
About Aurora Picture Show
Aurora Picture Show is an East End-based non-profit media arts organization dedicated to expanding the cinematic experience and promoting the understanding and appreciation of moving image art. Throughout the year, Aurora presents innovative non-traditional, artist-made film, video, and multidisciplinary works. Aurora supports artists, engage audiences, foster community collaboration, and seed the future of creative media-making in Houston through unique artistic and educational experiences. Aurora works with a wide range of community collaborators, regularly partnering with museums, organizations, festivals, schools, libraries, community centers, and hospitals to present an array of engaging programs throughout the city.
Questions regarding this application and/or process should be directed to culture@eastendhouston.com