Emily Holder is an oil painter, filmmaker, and marketing professional based in Bentonville, Arkansas. A graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in Studio Art and a minor in Art History, Emily has exhibited in several group shows, earned recognition in Cross Timbers Lifestyle magazine, and continues to grow her creative practice. She currently works at Art Bridges Foundation and leads Creative Vision Collective, an artist community with over 100 members that shares resources and helps create community.

Describe the company/organization you interned with, and what your role was during your time there.

I interned at Art Bridges Foundation, an organization that provides free access to art by partnering with museums across the nation that showcase American art. The foundation also works to bring artwork out of storage and into public view.

My role was Strategic Projects Coordinator. I helped support internal operations by managing Salesforce updates, creating SharePoint sites for each artwork, and leading the intern team in these efforts. I also created documentation for internal processes, developed a project charter for the Access for All initiative, and managed work intake forms and project templates.

Additionally, I contributed to the marketing and communications team by writing scripts for social media videos and assisting with video editing.

Share your internship search process: what worked, what didn’t, and any steps that led to you landing this opportunity.

My internship search began with meeting with each of my professors to gather advice and learn about available resources or connections. I also met with UNT career center to discuss potential opportunities. I searched across several platforms, mainly LinkedIn, and researched specific companies I admired to see if they offered internship programs. I reached out to my family and friends for leads, and many of my best opportunities came through those personal networks. Don’t be afraid to ask your mom. One of my best opportunities came from my mom’s friend who set me up with a meeting with someone from the company.

One thing that really helped was applying to several internships that I felt passionate about. Because of that, I didn’t treat any single interview as “do or die,” which helped me stay calm and confident. I also researched each company thoroughly, reviewing their mission statements and values, and tailored my résumé and application materials with AI to fit their job description.

Did the Career Center or your Career Coach provide you with resources for obtaining this internship?

Yes. Before I began my internship search, I had an initial meeting with the Career Center where they introduced me to different sites and resources. When I was ready to start applying, I reviewed their list of recommended tools. The Career Center also helped me refine my résumé, which made a big difference in my applications.

What is the most important thing you’ve realized or learned during this internship?

I learned the importance of being open about your goals from the very beginning. While this depends on the internship, I was lucky to have a fantastic mentor, and from our very first meeting, I told her that I loved the company and hoped to work there full time one day. It’s okay to communicate your goals clearly and professionally.

I also realized how essential relationship-building is. During my internship, I scheduled one-on-one meetings with almost everyone in the organization, not just to learn about their work, but also to get to know them as people and hear about their lives in Arkansas. 

Did your passions or goals change since completing your internship?

Not much has changed in terms of my overall goals. My main priority was to find a stable, well-paying job with good benefits, ideally in a great location, and I feel I achieved that. I’m now thinking about my long-term growth within the company and how I can continue developing new goals from here. 

Please share any advice you’d give to others searching for an internship.

Before you interview feel free to research the person you’re in communication with. Sometimes it will be HR, but other times it’s the person you’ll be working with. I used this research to find their interests and if I had a common interest I would mention it to them in our correspondence.  I don’t know if it’s a proven method, but I felt it helped. 

Also, don’t underestimate the value of getting your foot in the door. Sometimes experience and fair pay matter more than landing your “dream” role right away. As an artist, I’ve learned that earning good pay isn’t something to feel guilty about, it’s actually allowed me to invest more in my art and buy the materials I need.

My biggest piece of advice, after talking with so many people at Art Bridges, my professors, and others, is that no one has it all figured out, in fact most of us don’t have a single clue and that’s okay. Life isn’t something you can fully predict or control, so sometimes it’s best to embrace where it leads you. Remember, everyone is finding their way, and you’ve got this.

What are you up to these days?

I’m now based in Bentonville, Arkansas, where I’m focusing more on marketing and communications. I’m getting involved in the local art scene and continuing to collaborate with my group, Creative Vision Collective, which hosts art meetups in Denton for over 100 members.

Outside of work, I’m enjoying the outdoors—climbing, biking, meeting new people, decorating my home, and getting used to life in a new place. It’s been a big adjustment, but a really good one.

Can students get in touch with you if they have further questions? Absolutely! Feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to answer any questions or refer students to opportunities I know about. emyholder@icloud.com