By April Rodriguez
Nathalie Sanchez has helped students on campus get involved with the museum studies program along with other internships.
She is the Curator of Education programs at the Vincent Price Art Museum on the East Los Angeles campus.
She came on board to work on campus in October 2020 and has worked her way to becoming a big advocate for arts education and opportunities for students.
Her goal at the museum is to invoke inspiration within students.
She supports and advocates for the museum studies program and the internships for students seeking to expand their career in arts education.
She also takes on the responsibilities of arranging events that take place at the museum along with offering help to students that need guidance.
“It feels like such a privilege working on this campus,” Sanchez said.
She also attended this college and feels that her background allows her to gain more connection while working in the community.
There are two programs she aims to spread awareness on which is the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship program and the Washington D.C. Internship program which takes place at the Smithsonian Institution or the National Gallery of Art.
Both internships give students a hands-on opportunity in their future career field and allows them to branch out.
She attended the Getty Marrow program and said it was her first paid internship.
She encourages students to get involved in these internships because they are a huge step toward gaining experience.
She said one of her goals is getting more students with diverse backgrounds to apply.
Her experience allows her to help and support students in these types of internship opportunities.
She is a former visual arts educator and believes art education is vital for not only students but everyone.
She also advocates for these programs because they are intended to diversify the field of arts.
After doing research on demographic surveys from the Mellon Foundation Sanchez has found that people of color still make up a small percentage in arts education and the field itself.
“We still need a lot more change, especially after [COVID-19],” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said the events she puts together at VPAM are focused on bridging the gap between the little students may know about art and what makes art educational.
She also works hard on maintaining the facility and at times has to take on projects independently.
She said her position allows her to design, facilitate and solely make decisions that impact the museum.
She said students can make the museum their safe place where they can not only interact and share ideas, but they can get inspired with the art pieces on display.
She said art is important because it can bring beautiful knowledge and deep self reflection.
Sanchez hopes to see more students get involved, participate in events or even explore the museum that is offered on campus for free.