Reflecting on a Summer of Joyful Inclusion: Intern Lucy Adams Shares Her Experience

One of my first roles was serving as a camp counselor on a farm located in Oregon. I enjoyed leading craft sessions as I could witness the campers’ self-assurance blossom while they engaged with their creativity and turned their concepts into reality. This experience motivated me to consider a profession in museum education. While working towards my dual degree in Studio Art and Art History at Kenyon College, I interned at various small art museums in the Midwest, where I assisted in developing inclusive and accessible museum programs and educational materials. After earning my degree in 2023, I was stationed at the Information Desk at SAM for ten months. Next, I obtained the Family Programs internship, and I was thrilled to deepen my passion for arts education within a large and recognized institution like SAM!

As the Summer 2024 Family Programs intern, I assisted in organizing and facilitating SAM Camp, the museum’s summer camps at the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park. I was guided by Nani Trias, Educator for Family Programs, who was incredibly generous with her time and effort. In my capacity, I had a variety of duties. I helped facilitate communication between SAM staff, our teaching artists, and our remarkable team of counselors. I delivered morning announcements and arranged relaxation activities to ensure structure and cultivate a positive atmosphere for the day. I crafted four gallery tours each week, complementing the teaching artists’ curricula. I relished delivering these tours and forming connections with the Education staff members who volunteered to lead them. I also valued the chance to connect with the facilities, visitor experience, and security personnel at the Asian Art Museum, who made SAM Camp feasible. Creating a safe environment for kids to express themselves is my passion, and witnessing young campers blossom during their week at camp was incredibly rewarding!

My internship ignited my enthusiasm for a career in arts education. I enhanced my ability to coordinate various stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and to make significant decisions independently. Additionally, I learned how to curate engaging and accessible tours for young audiences, motivating children to express ideas and inquire in the museum environment. Most importantly, collaborating with Nani, as well as Nicole Henao and Cristina Cano-Calhoun from the Education department, was exceptionally inspiring. Their thoughtfulness, kindness, and dedication to providing meaningful art experiences for underserved communities energized me. I departed from SAM Camp feeling optimistic about the Seattle Art Museum’s capacity to create growth and connection opportunities for youth in the Seattle region.

Thanks in great part to the support of the mentors I bonded with during my internship, I secured a permanent position at the museum! In September 2024, I commenced my new role with the Public Engagement team to develop engaging and innovative programming during the museum’s Free First Thursdays. On the first Thursday of each month, the museum offers free admission all day; at the Seattle Art Museum located in downtown Seattle, they also provide free programming from 5 to 8 pm. I am immensely grateful to the Education and Visitor Experience departments for their unwavering support, and I have thoroughly enjoyed embarking on this new chapter with SAM. Come visit the museum on Free First Thursdays to experience what my colleagues and I have been envisioning!

– Lucy Adams, Public Engagement Associate

Photos: Courtesy Lucy Adams. SAM Camp photography: Chloe Collyer.