A Look Inside SAEN's Readiness Program

Right now somewhere in New York, maybe on the subway or tucked into a shoebox apartment or sprawled under the sun in Central Park, there is an artist. Maybe they’re playing saxophone under a bridge, or memorializing a moment in charcoal, or sitting quietly with their hands in their lap, fingers twitching with unfulfilled desire. Maybe you recognize this image because you’ve seen them on your afternoon walk. Or, maybe, you recognize it because this person is you, or the person you’d be if you didn’t have to worry about rent, groceries, and utility bills. 

Committing to being an artist and dedicating your time, money, and energy to something that doesn’t come with a guarantee of success can be incredibly daunting, and often the fear of the initial plunge turns aspiring artists away from believing they can turn their passion into their livelihood. As a result, they turn to more conventional career paths, and while they may make it work, they’re stuck with that ever present thought; what if?

At SAEN, we strive to answer that question. We believe every artist deserves the chance to create the kind life they want to live, and not have to spend a lifetime wondering what could have been. From the outside, the creative world can seem like an impenetrable one, or one only certain people can enter, but nothing could be farther from the truth. All you really need is the right set of tools, which is exactly what our program aims to give you. 

The Readiness Program is designed to teach creative minds how to step into the business of the art world. Over the course of 22-weeks, interns gain hands-on experience in the behind-the-scenes operations of what makes the art world tick; from event and fundraiser planning to marketing to education in legal studies, participants work closely in collaboration with mentors to expand their skillset and immerse themselves in the study of what could very well be their future. We also partner with affiliate organizations with whom we place interns, so if ever you find yourself wandering off your path, we’ve got the resources to help you find your way to a new one. 

In addition to lived experience, interns also gain access to online training courses that offer verifiable certifications once completed in topics like how to run a non-profit, the key to efficient and effective marketing strategies, and more. In describing her experience in the Readiness Program, Program & Arts Coordinator Kashfia Mahmud stated “In the past 22 weeks, I’ve learned so much. Not just the business side of art, but how to move with intention and confidence as well." Through SAEN you do more than learn to move through the art world. You learn how to let the art world move through you. 

Making time outside of work for what you love is great, but making what you love work for you? That’s even better. And that’s why we do what we do here at SAEN; because with the proper training, you can embrace not just your creative impulses, but sides of yourself you may not yet even know exist. Because we believe you deserve the answer to the question of what if. And with a program designed to work with your schedule, you don’t have to put everything on the line to find out.

To learn more about our initiatives and which one would best fit your goals, visit the 'Programs' tab on our site. With just one click, you're one step closer to transforming your life into the one of your dreams!