The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (UCIMC) is offering an employment opportunity for six high school students this summer! We will hire 2 visual artists, 2 documentarians, and 2 poets or rappers. Students must be between the ages 14 to 18 to apply.

The 2026 Summer Youth Employees will: 

1. Execute a creative project that will be archived with the IMC and added to their individual portfolios. The visual artists will be responsible for adding to a new community mural in the lower-level of our building and a professional free-standing piece. The documentarians will be responsible for assisting with the documentation of the Youth Showcase and creating a short film interviewing a non-profit leader. The poet or rapper will be responsible for developing a set of poems or rapper that can be turned into a book/zine and perform at the Summer Youth Showcase themselves or by another performer.
2. Collaborate with our Program Manager on planning our Youth Showcase and June Community Night.
3. Work with mentors for professional development, including creating a strong resume, cover letter, and artistic project.
4. Participate in a final presentation at the end of their employment.

The Illinois Arts Council funds these positions.

Application Deadline: Thursday, April 30th

Length of Employment: 5 weeks 

Employment begins: June 9th

Employment ends: July 9th   

Weekly hours of employment: 12-18 hours per week 

Employment pays: $16 per/hour

Equal Opportunity
At the IMC, we don’t just accept differences - we celebrate them, we support them, and we thrive because they benefit our employees, volunteers, and our community. The IMC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

If you have questions about the position, please email Ty Lewis, IMC Program Coordinator, at [email protected].