Become an empowered learner, innovative designer, creative communicator and global collaborator with By Western Hands. We have developed a multi-tiered curriculum that encourages those with a passion for western design and trains interns in successful pursuits through internship, adult education, and member education programs. We have partnered with Northwest College to develop internships for an art and business curricula 2-year Associate Degree of Applied Science in Technical Studies and a 1-year By Western Hands certificate.
Through the partnership with Northwest College (NWC) and By Western Hands (BWH), this learning experience features a degree internship program. Interns live and work in beautiful Northwest Wyoming being immersed in a design culture influenced by the American West. The program has a unique historical background that preserves the past and redefines custom-made, functional art.
Interns and BWH artisan-mentors are matched for on-the-job training. The program will cover the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Industrial or Technology Education Standards. These standards educate, equip, and empower interns as they learn from some of the finest craftsmen in the United States. They will be taught how to use different tools and learn various skill sets necessary to design and create functional art. The internship personalizes artisanal renaissance as it incorporates a customized, flexible, differentiated, and career-ready education. The rugged, expansive landscape of the Wild West comes to life in these environmentally-inspired and artistic expressions.
*Competencies for Internship may be developed by employer and student with approval and monitoring by BWH staff. Non-Registered Internship work plan or ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Standards may be used.
This non-degree program outline assumes that 30 hours of credit will be applied as Intership/Business Practicum.
The business concentration supports students interested in owning/managing a studio, gallery or art sales business.
(Estimates based on Fall 2021 fee schedule)
Supplies for personal projects which may be completed during the internship will vary on cost depending on choice of materials and equipment which may be needed and not supplied by the employer. Assume $500-$1,000 per semester.
Institutional Cost/Staffing: The Internship is done as an independent study, thus an Art or Business faculty would be paid, according to faculty payment policy (approximately $50/credit hour).
Annual awards for selected students enrolled in the BWH Education program to assist with academic and internship costs.
Want more information about the coursework? Visit https://nwc.edu or email the By Western Hands at admin@bywesternhands.org.
WORK PROCESSES SCHEDULE
Western Design Functional Artist
Approximate Hours
Core Skills + Tools + Machinery Skills 50 (may be able to test out)
Design and Assembly 450
Surface Preparation and Finish 200
Presentation and Installation 100
Supplemental Skills (optional) 100
Total 800 – 900 hours
*Competencies for Internship I may be developed by employer and student with approval and monitoring by BWH/NWC staff. Non-Registered Internship work plan or ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Standards may be used.
This degree program outline assumes that 12 hours of credit will be applied as Internship/Business Practicum.
The business concentration might be chosen by students who wanted to intern, but are more interested in owning/managing a gallery or art sales business.
(Estimates based on Fall 2019 fee schedule)
Supplies for personal projects which may be completed during the internship will vary on cost depending on choice of materials and equipment which may be needed and not supplied by the employer. Assume $500-$1,000 per semester.
Institutional Cost/Staffing: The Internship is done as an independent study, thus an Art or Business faculty would be paid, according to faculty payment policy (approximately $50/credit hour).
As degree-seeking students, scholarships may be awarded through NWC’s Trapper Scholarship Program and BWH. Federal financial aid in form of grants and loans is also available. Housing for interns could also be included in a student aid package for students enrolled in an AAS degree
program.
Featured scholarships include:
Jim and Ginger Dager/By Western Hands Scholarship
Annual awards for selected students enrolled in the BWH Education program to assist with academic and internship costs.
For more information about the coursework? Visit https://nwc.edu or email the By Western Hands at admin@bywesternhands.org.
By Western Hands is the home of a unique industry-driven training program born of its legacy artisans and their wealth of knowledge. Workshops at BWH are always open to the public, but specialized coursework and internships, wherein students have the opportunity to apprentice with legacy artisans, is a rare and special opportunity for highly dedicated (including high school, college, and non-traditional) students of craftsmanship and western design.
