Reg Sutphen’s Summer Internship at Washington Performing Arts

Think a DC semester is only for politics majors? Think again! Reg Sutphen, a Music major at SUNY Plattsburgh, spent the Summer 2023 term interning at Washington Performing Arts, a performing arts non-profit working to unify the Washington community through collaborations with artists, educators, and community leaders. Learn more about Reg’s internship experience supporting (and participating in!) the DC art-scene.

Tell us about your internship experience.

I interned at Washington Performing Arts (WPA) as their Mars Arts DC intern. As a whole, WPA offers a wide range of artistic programs to stages, schools, and neighborhoods. They exist to unify their community through the arts. The Mars Arts DC initiative was created to showcase local artists and give them a platform. As someone who values diversity and supporting local artists, this organization was perfect for me.

My internship took place in the summer, which happened to be in between seasons at WPA. As the Mars Arts DC intern, I assisted the Mars Arts DC department in laying the groundwork for the Walk with Amal event by creating map routes and graphics and contributed to creating the itinerary of the event.

I loved feeling like I was contributing to something important. I loved feeling like I belonged at the company, like my work was meaningful, and I was truly valued as an employee. I also loved exploring career paths and navigating real-world situations.

What was your favorite part about living in DC this summer?

My favorite part about living in DC was getting to experience a piece of life outside of college in a controlled environment. After we graduate, we're usually just thrown out into life. Getting to have this experience has helped me plan for life after graduation in a realistic and effective way. I also got to better my time management and find work-life balance.

What advice do you have for future WII students?

Partake in as many opportunities as you can!! This truly is a once in a lifetime experience. During my semester, I saw a lot of professional and local theatre, explored the city, ate lots of amazing food, and I was able to participate in a community theatre production while I was there which helped boost my resume.

Read more about Reg’s experience in WII’s Summer 2023 feature in The Washington Post.