KID smART opens applications for 2026 Prestigious 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 excited to announce that applications are now open for the nonprofit’s 2026 Arts Internship program. This is the third year that KID smART has offered rising high school seniors an exclusive eight-week summer paid internship program at arts and cultural organizations throughout New Orleans.

“KID smART remains deeply committed to supporting the vibrant creative industries in our city and we are excited to witness the continued impact these talented students will make,” said Elise Gallinot Goldman, Executive Director of KID smART. “We are proud to offer our prestigious internship program for a third year.”

The internship will consist of set work hours 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.

Interns have opportunities to continue in the program past high school, further developing professional skills to prepare them for a career after graduation.

Applications opened December 8, 2025 and will close February 27, 2026. To learn more about the program and to apply, visit https://www.kidsmart.org/arts-internship-26. 

Founded in 1999, KID smART has served more than 63,000 students and 11,000 teachers, providing underserved students with the opportunity to experience dynamic, creative, and relevant learning through the arts.

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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 national thought 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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