by Willy Franzen on August 27, 2008

Ok, I’ll admit it. I bought 10 Facebook gifts for $5 back when Facebook gifts were new. I don’t know why I did it, but I did it, ok? Why would anyone in his or her right mind give a digital gift that has no practical value? I don’t know, but I’ve done it, and you probably have too. The only redeeming quality that I can see in these gifts is that they don’t take up space, as in they don’t add to the mountain of crap that you’ve accumulated in your short life. If I think that digital gifts are stupid, when why am I writing about Viximo and their entry-level jobs today? Because digital gifts aren’t stupid at all. They’re becoming a big business, and Viximo is banking on being a major player in the digital gifting economy. Birthday cards are pretty useless, but Hallmark has had a pretty good run. It’s time for the next step in showing people that you care, and Viximo is ready.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
all employers,
arts,
design,
information technology,
Massachusetts,
web development
by Willy Franzen on August 17, 2008

I am the black sheep of my family. My mom is a graphic designer, my dad is an architect, and my sister is a painter (although she doesn’t want to be labeled). I have no artistic talent whatsoever, and I barely have the ability to appreciate good art. That means that I’m probably not the best person to tell you about the The Museum of Modern Art, but they do have some great entry-level job opportunities, so I’m going to tell you about them anyway.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
administrative,
all employers,
arts,
education,
history,
museum,
New York,
non-profit
by Willy Franzen on July 6, 2008

Continuing with our patriotic weekend, we’re going to take a look at Arena Stage, a non-profit theater company that produces “huge plays of all that is passionate, exuberant, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit.” They put out all types of productions “from vast epics to charged dramas to robust musicals.” Located in Washington, DC, Arena Stage has been around 6 decades and was one of the first non-profit theater companies. They reach an annual audience of over 200,000 people (we reach more here!) and strive “to instill in the public a life-long love of and participation in the theater arts through [their] education programs.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
all employers,
arts,
construction,
development,
drama,
sales,
Virginia,
Washington DC
by Willy Franzen on June 28, 2008
by Willy Franzen on June 3, 2008

People don’t typically associate technology and innovation with Detroit and the auto industry. Whether it’s deserved or not, American car manufacturers have a pretty weak reputation these days. It’s unfortunate because the decline of the Big Three has seriously hurt the entire Michigan economy. That’s why you see these commercials with Jeff Daniels that try to sell businesses on a Michigan location. Armstrong White is exactly the type of company that is going to bring jobs back to Michigan. They have built a business in Bloomfield Hills, MI that directly serves the auto industry, but is also high tech and extremely innovative. No, they haven’t developed some sort of alternative energy technology. They specialize “in rendering reality out of automotive 2D and 3D assets and digital landscapes for print, broadcast and interactive mediums.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
all employers,
animation,
arts,
design,
flash,
Michigan
by Willy Franzen on May 10, 2008

I was always bad at art. From the moment I had my first art class, it was blatantly clear that I had no business using paint, clay, pencils, or crayons to express myself. This probably isn’t too unusual, except for the fact that my Dad is an Architect, my Mom is a Graphic Designer, and my sister is a Painter. Somehow the artistic genes missed me. This led to a love-hate relationship with art class. The fact that you could talk and get messy during a class was pretty neat, but it’s hard to enjoy something when it’s so obvious that you have absolutely no talent for it – especially at a young age. Still, I appreciate having had the opportunity to realize that art wasn’t for me. I had access to art supplies in school and at home, but many children in inner-city schools never even get to give art a try because the programs because funding has been cut at their schools. Inner-City Arts is a non-profit organization that provides art instruction for children who would otherwise miss out on art at their public schools.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
all employers,
arts,
California,
education,
non-profit,
teaching
by Willy Franzen on May 6, 2008

In less than a decade the common perception of auctions has changed dramatically. Auctions used to be reserved mostly for the wealthy, but now much of the world’s auctioneering happens on eBay, managed by a computer. An auction is the purest way to sell an item, for the person who values the item the most typically wins. It’s quite democratic that the luxury of this form of sale has been brought to the masses, but much of the culture and tradition associated with auctions has been lost in translation. Luckily, auction houses like Christie’s have adapted to the online world while maintaining their auras of international glamour. Founded in 1766, Christie’s is now the “world’s leading art business with global auction sales in 2007 that totaled $6.3 billion.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
all employers,
arts,
auction,
international,
New York,
Singapore,
United Kingdom
by Willy Franzen on December 22, 2007

Americans for the Arts is a non-profit organization that represents and serves local communities in its efforts to create opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Whether you’re interested in painting, dance, theatre, or sculpture – Americans for the Arts wants to enhance your ability to access artistic creativity, whether it be your own or someone else’s.
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
all employers,
arts,
marketing,
non-profit,
Washington DC
by Willy Franzen on November 18, 2007

Have you visited your college’s art museum lately? Gone to a student theatre production? Explored the library and looked at an exhibit on rare books? These are opportunities that you might be taking for granted, but many families have limited access to the cultural institutions that are commonplace on many college campuses.
Cool Culture is making New York City’s cultural institutions more accessible to low-income families. A solid education must extend beyond what kids learn in school, but visiting museums, wildlife centers, zoos, and botanical gardens can be both cost prohibitive and intimidating for a family with limited means. By building partnerships with many of these institutions, Cool Culture is able to offer a Family Pass that grants low-income families access to 71 cultural institutions in New York City. Member families are also provided with “a quarterly publication that provides a borough-by-borough listing of cultural attractions, including practical information on hours and public transportation, as well as a calendar of events especially geared toward families and young children.”
Read the full article →
Tagged as:
all employers,
arts,
museum,
New York,
non-profit,
program development