
ArtLab@WaterFire is a year-long, paid internship and mentorship program for BIPOC male high school students to develop professional skills in the arts and culture industry. Led by Program Coordinator, Grechel Rosado and Peter Mello, Managing Director + coCEO, the program officially launched in January of 2023 in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Providence.
The 5 ArtLab@WaterFire Fellows chosen for the pilot program are Anthony Cordova, Jose Gutierrez, Derick Lemon, Vladimir Rodriguez, and Calvin Sangster Jr. All 5 fellows are students at Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School.
The current cohort of ArtLab Fellows are participating in a pilot program that will end in September, with a new cohort being onboarded in the Fall of 2023 to be completed in the Fall of 2024. During the internship program, Fellows will be working at the WaterFire Arts Center gaining experience installing and uninstalling exhibitions, working as gallery docents, gaining retail and merchandise experience, as well as participating in the WaterFire event downtown. Each student will also be exposed to a range of different subjects through workshops, field trips, and activities like financial literacy and how to apply for student aid for college. In the coming months, WaterFire is recruiting BIPOC community leaders in Rhode Island to serve as mentors to each ArtLab fellow.
It’s a bittersweet feeling to have reached the finish line with our pilot program of ArtLab@WaterFire. 🔥🏆
We’re truly fortunate to have had these five, fantastic fellows Derick, Anthony, Jose, Vlad, and Calvin as the first students to embark on this impactful program.
We hope these past 8 months have broadened your perspective of the world around you and that you have made lifelong connections both within the WaterFire organization and beyond. We are all so proud of you gentlemen and we know that the world is so lucky to have you!
Thank you to Dee Allen, Scott Lapham, our mentors, and the @bgcprov for your continuous support as we build out this program.
This program also would not exist without the generous support from @pocfoundation.ri !
We cannot wait to see what our fellows accomplish now with the skillsets and experience they have gained while being at WaterFire. We love you and you are forever apart of our family. ❤️🔥

It’s a bittersweet feeling to have reached the finish line with our pilot program of ArtLab@WaterFire. 🔥🏆
We’re truly fortunate to have had these five, fantastic fellows Derick, Anthony, Jose, Vlad, and Calvin as the first students to embark on this impactful program.
We hope these past 8 months have broadened your perspective of the world around you and that you have made lifelong connections both within the WaterFire organization and beyond. We are all so proud of you gentlemen and we know that the world is so lucky to have you!
Thank you to Dee Allen, Scott Lapham, our mentors, and the @bgcprov for your continuous support as we build out this program.
This program also would not exist without the generous support from @pocfoundation.ri !
We cannot wait to see what our fellows accomplish now with the skillsets and experience they have gained while being at WaterFire. We love you and you are forever apart of our family. ❤️🔥
Come stop by the WaterFire Arts Center today, Thursday August 3rd, 2023. For Troop Top! Stop by grab a drink, listen to some music, and enjoy amazing art work, as well as a live performance. 🫶🏽🐝☀️🎶 ALSOOO come check out this amazing exhibit! but be sure to hurry quick since this exhibit closes on August 17th!!!

Come stop by the WaterFire Arts Center today, Thursday August 3rd, 2023. For Troop Top! Stop by grab a drink, listen to some music, and enjoy amazing art work, as well as a live performance. 🫶🏽🐝☀️🎶 ALSOOO come check out this amazing exhibit! but be sure to hurry quick since this exhibit closes on August 17th!!!
Congratulations to our ArtLab Seniors Derick, Anthony, and Jose for graduating high school this month! We have been so lucky to have these fellows be apart of our pilot program and they have set the standard high for the next group that will come after them!
Our Programs Coordinator, Grechel, supported the fellows at their graduation ceremony and it was a special treat to witness! 🥹🫶🏻

Congratulations to our ArtLab Seniors Derick, Anthony, and Jose for graduating high school this month! We have been so lucky to have these fellows be apart of our pilot program and they have set the standard high for the next group that will come after them!
Our Programs Coordinator, Grechel, supported the fellows at their graduation ceremony and it was a special treat to witness! 🥹🫶🏻
June was a busy and monumental month for our ArtLab Fellows! 🎓🎂🥳
Derick, Anthony, and Jose celebrated their biggest accomplishment to date: graduating High School!!! We wanted to show our support and admiration for our incredible fellows so we threw them an intimate surprise celebration in the office! We also celebrated Anthony’s 18th birthday which occurred the same night as his graduation! 🤯
Our ArtLab fellows have set the bar high and we have thoroughly loved getting to each and every single one of them.
Now with the summer in full swing, the fellows will be working full time with us at the WaterFire Arts Center. 💪🏼

June was a busy and monumental month for our ArtLab Fellows! 🎓🎂🥳
Derick, Anthony, and Jose celebrated their biggest accomplishment to date: graduating High School!!! We wanted to show our support and admiration for our incredible fellows so we threw them an intimate surprise celebration in the office! We also celebrated Anthony’s 18th birthday which occurred the same night as his graduation! 🤯
Our ArtLab fellows have set the bar high and we have thoroughly loved getting to each and every single one of them.
Now with the summer in full swing, the fellows will be working full time with us at the WaterFire Arts Center. 💪🏼