The STEMarts Apprenticeship program caters to girls aged 14-19 residing in Northern New Mexico. Apprentices delve into their creative interests while acquiring valuable work skills as integral members of the STEMarts creative team.
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The STEMarts Apprenticeship program provides a unique opportunity for young New Mexican women (ages 14 through 19) to develop their artistic, scientific and humanistic literacy while learning invaluable professional skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. Each apprentice receives a $1,000 stipend, and at the end of the program each participant is placed in a paid internship or other STEMart opportunity (based on level of completion and skill level).
Apprentices develop valuable STEAM workforce skills by becoming international ambassadors for one of STEMarts’ traveling sci-art installations (such as Space Messengers). This ambassadorship gives apprentices the opportunity to collaborate in teams, lead others, and, in doing so, build their self-esteem and confidence. Through workshops, professional new media artists share immersive and interactive art making tools with the participants, showing them career pathways they might not otherwise know existed.
Apprentices delve into their creative and scientific interests while serving as integral members of the STEMarts team. They receive specialized training in STEAM areas, spanning Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), projection mapping, data visualization, interactive design, and website creation. Apprentices cultivate leadership skills through teaching, giving presentations, and collaborating with the STEMarts team on projects. Mentorship from women in STEM fields provides valuable insights and empowers apprentices to envision exciting career trajectories.
Interactions with professional scientists deepen science literacy, focusing on particle physics, astrophysics, and space science, nurturing informed and creative planetary citizens. Combining in-person Bootcamps, online workshops, and enriching field trips, the program facilitates ongoing collaboration among the five winning apprentices throughout the year.
Chosen apprentices can look forward to:
- Helping to create the NM Youth Space Program
- Building their own website and STEMarts blog
- Becoming a STEMarts Ambassador and joining the International Space Messengers Team
- Learning to create digital media mixed reality art
- A space field trip to the Very Large Array or Spaceport
- Participating in festivals as experience guides
- A final field trip to Meow Wolf
- Apprenticeship reflection and future planning
- So much more
LOOKING FOR STEAM TRAILBLAZERS
We are seeking candidates who are enthusiastic about delving into the intersection of art, science, and technology (STEAM). Our ideal candidates are intrigued by the vast universe and space exploration, with a keen interest in disciplines such as particle physics, astrophysics, native science, space science, and futures thinking. We value self-motivated individuals who possess a natural curiosity and a passion for continuously learning new concepts. Creative thinkers who crave exposure to innovative opportunities are encouraged to apply. If you’re eager to jumpstart your career in STEAM-related fields and are open to international and cross-cultural collaborations, along with exciting travel opportunities, we invite you to join our dynamic team.
Eligibility: Girls/women identifying individuals between the ages of 14-19 who reside in Northern New Mexico and who have:
- Access to stable internet for video calls and online work
- Access to transportation to attend in person events throughout the year
- Time to devote to this program; 4-6 hours a month plus field trips and festivals
- Flexibility to attend out of town festivals and events (see more information below)
Please note that STEMarts provides parent travel stipends as needed, and is also happy to help troubleshoot internet concerns. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Apprenticeship Program Period: January 15 to December 15
When to apply: Applications for the following year’s program are accepted anytime before November 1st of the year prior (i.e. applicants for the Apprenticeship Program starting January 15th, 2026 should apply anytime before November 1st, 2025)
More Information:
- Five (5) winners are selected for each program year
- Winners receive a stipend of $1000 in monthly payments throughout their year in the program
- Travel stipends and meals are provided for in-person meetings
- Apprentices qualify for the travel award competition in their second year as Ambassador
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Apprentices Pave the Way: Bootcamp
The STEMarts Bootcamp at UNM-Taos HIVE is the kick-off event for the STEMarts apprentices. Participants meet for the first time in person and settle in for the full day, hands-on workshop with both onsite and virtual guest instructors. Topics include Introduction to History and Future of VR Technologies (including hands-on training with Oculus Quest headsets), Principles of Virtual Reality (VR); Augmented Reality (AR), and Extended Reality (XR) Technologies with Digital Ant Media; and, for the science portion, guest scientists in the fields of astrophysics, particle physics, space science, space policy and futures thinking.
Help to Create the NM Youth Space Program
Apprentices will be part of designing the Taos Chapter of the first New Mexico Youth Space Program. Through meaningful connections with experts in the space field, apprentices will explore topics such as astrobiology, astrophysics, particle physics, satellite design and space environmentalism coupled with new media artists exploring cutting edge tools for personal expression, science communication and visualization. Apprentices learn to actively shape the future direction of space exploration as we enter the second space age.
Portfolio Building: Create Your Own Website and Blog
This workshop will guide apprentices through the steps of building their own websites, using Weebly. STEMarts will share examples of professional websites and blogs as inspiration and share tips for creating and managing blogs. STEMarts mentors will help apprentices decide what to include in their websites to represent their interests and strengths. Apprentices will learn how to create a STEMarts blog in order to document their experiences as a STEMarts apprentice. The apprentices websites’ will be linked to the STEMarts website and will serve as your professional portfolio beyond the workshop.
Join the International Space Messengers Team
Apprentices will become part of the Space Messengers installation team and the STEMarts Ambassador program.They will enter our custom platform called The Space Board to write their “space messages,” which become part of the final installation as part of the Space Messengers curriculum. Ambassadors develop their science literacy by exploring the universe through the lens of particle physics, astrophysics, space science, native science and space policy. They also learn to create sci-art video clips that are entered into the Space Messengers Design Challenge. Winning designs and videos become part of the final installation.
Learn to Create Digital Media Mixed Reality Art
XR (Extended Reality) experts will lead exciting content creation workshops in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), creative coding, and interactive art. These will be in person at Bootcamps, as well as virtual workshops to provide hands-on learning experience with cutting edge new technologies.
Space Field Trip: Very Large Array or Spaceport
In the summer, ambassadors will take an exciting, full day field trip to visit the Q Station, a space tech incubator in Nob Hill, Albuquerque. STEMarts will get a private tour led by Director Randy Trask and learn about career pathways in the space industry. Afterwards, ambassadors head to the Frontier restaurant around the corner for breakfast together, and then drive out to the Very Large Array in Socorro. There STEMarts will receive a private tour led by Summer Ash, Astrophysicist and STEAM Coordinator, who will also lead a STEAM activity. Ambassadors have a snack before heading back home! On the journey, all apprentices and chaperones will be together in a private shuttle so they can share experiences.
Participate in Festivals as Experience Guides
During the first months of their apprenticeship, participants work with the STEMarts team to plan, coordinate and rehearse the Space Messengers installation which will be presented at designated venues. Participants will meet the creative team behind the Space Messengers installation, who will assign them to training and tasks based on their developing skills. Participants will work in a focus area (i.e. VR stations, social media/web development, interactive silhouette stations, Avatar scientist, etc.) and learn how to plan, install, and man the sci-art stations at STEMarts’ fall festivals. During the festival event, they will serve as “experience guides’ and assist with the install and break down.
Final Field Trip to Celebrate Our Year!
For the final field trip of the program, the STEMarts team and ambassadors visit Meow Wolf in Santa Fe to explore the art, science and technology behind that immersive installation. As the closing in-person event, the team and apprentices will celebrate their year together and share their plans for the new year.
Reflection and Future Planning
The final month of the apprenticeship focuses on one-on-one meetings where apprentices reflect on their experiences in the program and explore what they would like to do next. The STEMarts team presents opportunities for continued internships and/or job-placement that focus on the apprentice’s areas of interest. Participants are also eligible to continue with the STEMarts Lab team in year two as a trained STEMarts Ambassador, receiving stipends as experience guides at festivals, mentors to new apprentices, and/or instructors at Bootcamps.
