join the Arts Council for Long Beach at the second annual “Interns in the Arts,” a luncheon benefiting Creative Long Beach Internship Program. California State University, Long Beach president, Dr. Jane Close Conoley will give a keynote address regarding the importance of internships in a creative economy. The event will take place at The Reef Restaurant in Long Beach. The Creative Long Beach Internship Program strives to develop and retain new arts leaders by pairing California State University, Long Beach and Long Beach City College students with quality internships at Long Beach arts and cultural organizations. The program is facilitated by the Arts Council for Long Beach and provides an educational framework that expands opportunities for current college students in preparing them for future job placement in the arts and culture sector. Since its founding in 2015, Creative Long Beach has funded 60 interns in local artistic and cultural organizations. With the support of its founder, Linda Gunn, and dedicated funders, over $140,000 has been invested in providing talented young students with an excellent start to a career in the arts. With the right professional connections and hands-on experience, their first and greatest challenge of just getting a foot in the door is overcome. This is why Creative Long Beach was formed. The intern positions empower future business people, entrepreneurs and thinkers with the tools and resources to become successful leaders, not just for themselves but also for the arts community as a whole. To date, ten interns have been hired at their respective host sites, eight as full-time employees. Creative Long Beach Internship program benefits from a committee of volunteers that help with grant allocations and fundraising. The members are: Victoria Bryan (chair), Dean Cyrus Parker-Jeannette, College of the Arts at CSULB (retired), Barbara Blackwell, Tasha W. Hunter, Lyn Pohlmann, and Sharon Weissmann. This luncheon is supported by Edison International, The Molina Family Foundation, Port of Long Beach, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors-Janice Hahn, Matson Foundation, interTrend, Chronic Pain Releaf Center of Long Beach and dedicated donors. Visit Eventbrite to see how you can win two JetBlue tickets good for one year anywhere in the continental US.