I started this internship with Art2Action in May 2024, exactly three days after I graduated with my Theatre degree from the University of South Florida (USF) School of Theatre and Dance. I do think it's important to note that my A2A journey technically began back in October of 2022, during an informational meeting for a study abroad theatre program in Madrid that I would attend in 2023, led by my favorite Theatre professor and founding Artist Collective Member of A2A, Dora Arreola. Art2Action generously sponsored scholarships for myself and several other students of color, making it possible for us to afford the program. I first met Art2Action's General Manager, Gabi Vigueira, at these on-campus meetings. Then in the fall semester of my senior year, I did what I feel most college seniors do, and panicked about what the future would hold for me after graduation. As a scholarship kid, I've known for a long time that I want to eventually have my own nonprofit to make theatre more accessible to underserved kids. Having a goal and having a plan are two separate things though, so during midterms week I sat down to start researching my next steps, and landed on an MFA program that sounded like it was made for me. This is where I should inform you that I was a first-generation college student, and had absolutely no idea how to get into an MFA program. I was faced with questions that I didn't have the answers to, and given this career path, I didn't know many people who would have the answers. I decided to email Dora, who was my mentor and director at the time, asking for help. It was then that she told me that interning with an arts organization would be a good idea -- not only that, but she had a specific organization in mind, and would be happy to reach out to them with a recommendation on my behalf. I should have pieced together that it would be Art2Action, but I didn't until the following semester when A2A's Artistic & Executive Director Andrea Assaf reached out asking if I would want to be part of a staged reading of The Gaza Monologues that she would be directing, co-presented by A2A and 200 Muslim Women Who Care. I said yes and was eager to help out in every way I could. I was offered an honorarium, making this my first paid performance. I also assisted Gabi behind the scenes on the day of the event.
After this impactful experience, I interviewed for a summer internship with Art2Action, which I got! And in true A2A fashion, I'm going to report out on some of my most memorable moments.
My internship began in May, and while I did a lot of administrative tasks, I'd like to officially begin this report-out in June for my first out-of-town residency - three weeks long! As a planner, a recent college graduate, and a perpetual wearer of shorts, I feel obligated to share that I absolutely panicked over what a person is to pack for such a trip. TikTok and Pinterest held no answers. I had no friends in this line of work to ask for advice, but I did have Gabi who, with no hesitation, helped me get a better grasp on how to best prepare myself for this trip. Then on June 11th, Andrea, Gabi, and I set out for Minneapolis to begin the in-person prep work for the National Institute for Directing and Ensemble Creation. My first week was spent meeting with the wonderful staff of Pangea World Theater, who welcomed me so warmly into this delicately crafted team. As we prepared for the Institute, I was brought into conversations about radical hospitality, something I had never heard before and yet resonated so deeply with. It became so clear to me how much both of these organizations cared for each other and for the directors they were bringing into this space. The energy of this co-organizing group made me excited to be part of the team.
As our prep week came to a close, Art2Action set off to Chicago for the TCG National Conference. (Reminder that I was still a fresh college graduate, so getting the opportunity to attend a conference of national proportions -- absolutely incredible!) Beyond the regular conference sessions, Art2Action partnered with Golden Thread Productions to present "Staging Testimony," a session featuring live excerpts and readings from new plays by Middle Eastern/Southwest Asian/North African (MENA/SWANA) theatre-makers, dedicated to advocating for Palestine. This session also gave me the opportunity to meet so many amazingly talented people, which is a privilege by itself, but downright joyful when you know your values are aligned. I left TCG feeling more confident in myself, and even more excited to learn from the directors at the Institute.
I regret to inform you all that I did, in fact, get COVID from the conference, despite diligent masking. I was completely asymptomatic, and only knew because of Art2Action and Pangea's COVID protocols, something I am completely grateful for since it meant I didn't spread my germs to anyone else! I was devastated to say the least. I literally cried in my hotel room because I was so ready to meet all of the incredible people I had been hearing about nonstop. I was so relieved to know that I could still partially participate/listen to the sessions because Pangea had set up a Zoom room for me and one other participant who was sick. Despite the extra work it caused staff, they prioritized us at the beginning of each session to make sure we were able to listen and take part in every activity.
After my fifth day of isolation, and two negative COVID tests, I got to return to the group for a Water Walk ceremony led by Sharon Day, an Ojibwe Elder, artist, and Founder & Executive Director of the Indigenous Peoples Task Force, which was such a dreamlike experience that I don't know if describing it would do it justice. What I do feel comfortable describing is how welcoming every single person was when I was finally back in-person. Participants I had only seen through my Zoom camera were hugging me and saying they were so happy I was feeling better. For the rest of the week, I was welcomed and encouraged to be in the space, even getting the chance to work with Ova Saopeng and Sandy Augustin directly on small transitional scenes for the devised Community Sharing. I have never felt so replenished in my life as I did during that residency.
Art2Action returned to Tampa in July, and while most of you may assume that meant a rest period, I'm here to tell you that I got to dive right on into another phenomenal project with Art2Action and Golden Thread Productions -- 24 Hours for Palestine: A Moon Will Rise From Darkness. This 24-hour livestream event had over 100 participants, not including the behind-the-scenes staff and crew, plus HowlRound. Over 1,700 people tuned in live from 54 countries! Plus hundreds more who watched the online archive. Was I tired? Yes. Would I love to be part of this event again? 100% yes!
Now I know what you're thinking. Madi, Art2Action couldn't possibly top this by adding on another trip, and to that I will say that you'd be wrong, because in August I got to attend my very first ROOTS Week! I deeply treasure the time I got to spend with folks here, especially my porch time. Each showcase and workshop brought new life to the space, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much sheer knowledge and wisdom was in the room at any given time. And being a young bisexual woman in the U.S. South, I cannot express how much it meant to me to see so many queer elders in one space. This week was healing for the soul in more ways than one, to say the least.
At this point, the internship was going well, and Art2Action decided to keep me through the end of the year. This brings me to September and October... While Gabi and Andrea were away working on 11Reflections: San Francisco, Florida was hit hard twice by two hurricanes. Despite being deep in work there, they both made sure that I was taken care of here. That meant making sure I was still paid, despite having to evacuate and spend time helping my family. I felt relief knowing that I could focus on the disaster at hand without being forced to work or risk being behind on bills.
We still had one more event, which was added in response to the ongoing genocide. So as our local community returned to normal, Art2Action paired up with Poetry Is Activism to bring Poets for Palestine and Lebanon to Hooch and Hive. I had the opportunity to promote this event, work the social media that night, and was encouraged to sign up for the open mic portion. I donned my keffiyeh and did just that, reading one of the original Gaza Monologues to the audience. The rest of the night I spent feeling each poetic line laid out before the audience.
Now it's December, and my internship is coming to a close. So Madi, what have you learned? I could tell you all that I now know how to use Canva, and that I now have a basic understanding of grant language. I could mention that I’ve gotten to practice general assistant skills, that I’m getting really good at using Google Sheets, and that I am exceptional at researching whatever project I’m given. While these are all skills that I will absolutely be adding to my resume, Art2Action -- and more specifically, Andrea and Gabi -- have taught me how I should be treated in this world of arts organizations and theatre. I am extremely lucky to have had them set the standard for me as I enter the professional world, and for that I am forever grateful. I have learned what it feels like to be a receiver of radical hospitality and radical generosity. I have learned that there are people out there who value you as a person before you as a worker, and that it should be my standard. I have watched as Andrea actively practices what she preaches, and have been inspired as she does the learning in the moment. I have learned that we are all students and teachers every day, in every moment. My internship is ending, but I know that Art2Action will keep teaching me new things as life goes on.
I hope you all have enjoyed my journey as much as I have. As I part from you, all I ask that you support Art2Action by donating so that the important work they do will continue to thrive.
With much appreciation,
Madi Corbin