KID smART selected as the first nonprofit in the South for Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts Internship program

Written By Alicia Vial

Summer program will match interns with arts and culture worksites in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS – KID smART is proud to have been selected as a partner for the 2024 Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts Internship program. This exclusive arts internship program designed specifically for rising high school seniors is an eight-week summer program that will offer more than 15 students paid internships at arts and cultural organizations throughout New Orleans.

“This marks a significant milestone as it’s the first time the program is venturing into the South, and we are honored to be representing our region,” said Elise Gallinot Goldman, Executive Director of KID smART. “This program opens doors for rising high school seniors. Beyond the valuable work experience, interns will benefit from professional development, college prep support and exciting educational and cultural excursions."

Since 2012, the Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts Internship program has supported over 1,700 internships at more than 250 cultural organizations across five cities. This year, the program has expanded to Detroit and New Orleans while continuing in Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C.

So far, KID smART has selected interns from the following New Orleans schools to participate in its inaugural program:

  • Abramson Sci Academy

  • International High School of New Orleans

  • The NET: Central City

  • Walter L. Cohen

  • The Willow School

  • Eleanor McMain Secondary School

The internship will consist of three workdays a week along with program cohort days dedicated to college and career readiness, cultural experiences, and field trips. KID smART will match worksites with interns whose skills and passions match their unique needs and mission.

Founded in 1999, KID smART provides public school students with greater access to arts-rich education. In its 25-year history, KID smART has served more than 63,000 students and 11,000 teachers in schools throughout New Orleans. With the belief that the power of the arts should be available to all New Orleans children, KID smART works within public schools to reach underserved children with the most to gain from an arts-rich, social-emotional education. 

To learn more about the program and KID smART’s interns, visit kidsmart.org/arts-internship.  

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About KID smART|
Over the last two decades, KID smART has collaborated with more than 40 New Orleans public schools to blend the arts into academic lessons to make classrooms more effective and joyful places to learn. Through full-year artist residencies, students in KID smART Creative Schools prove to grow academically, artistically and emotionally. KID smART also partners with nationalthought leaders, including Harvard's Project Zero Classroom, to incorporate best practices in arts and education into its program model.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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