Summer Youth Apprenticeship

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Summer Youth Apprenticeship

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity for High School Students!

An Art Program:

  • Students work with professional artists and learn to create iron and steel sculpture cast, using all the basic metal-forming processes--casting, forging and welding
  • Students create a wide range of decorative art
  • Students collaborate on production of large-scale work
  • Students create their own works of art
  • Artwork is professionally photographed and made available for student portfolios
  • The program culminates in a public exhibition of the apprentices’ work.

A Job Program:

  • A real summer job for talented students
  • Apprentices work 8 weeks, 30 hours per week, and are paid minimum wage.
  • Requires a social security number and a commitment to attend all sessions
  • Requires a willingness to work hard

How to Apply in 2010:
Applicants must be 16 of older by the start of the program.

  1. Submit an Application Package. This includes a completed application form; two references from a teacher, administrator, or mentor; and slides, photographs or samples of your artwork. Mail to: Apprenticeship, Sloss Furnaces, 20 North 32nd Street, Birmingham, AL 35222. Deadline for applications - Postmarked No Later than April 19, 2010; Hand-Delivered by April 19, 2010
  2. Introductory Workshop: Applicants are required to attend an introductory iron-casting workshop in early May. The workshop is designed to give students an understanding of the processes used on the job and is part of the evaluation process leading to selection of apprentices.
  3. Interview: Finalists are interviewed in the week following the workshop. Final selection is based on evaluation of the application materials, work performance during the workshop, and interview. Students will be notified of selection/rejection in early May.

Download the Application:

Click Here to Download Application. For other questions, please call Metal Arts Curator, Paige Wainwright at 205.324.1911 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Mail Application To: Metal Arts Sloss Furnaces Twenty 32nd Street North Birmingham, AL 35222


Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the work hours?
Workdays are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

How Much Will I Earn?
Apprentice Artists will be paid $7.25 per hour. You will not be paid for absences, tardiness, overtime, or missed days.

What Will Happen to the Work I Produce?
You will produce work in two categories: decorative art which is made to sell at Sloss to support the apprenticeship program, and individual projects in which you create your own work. All products from the first category are the property of Sloss. All products in the second category are the property of the apprentice artist.

What if I Want to Go on Vacation?
You will be allowed three excused absences. If you miss more than three days of work, you may not be able to come back for the rest of the summer.

Are There Program Rules?
Yes. You Can Be Fired Immediately If You...

  • physically or verbally abuse anyone
  • steal, destroy, or vandalize any property
  • use drugs or alcohol while on the job
  • carry a weapon onto the site
  • leave during working hours without a supervisor’s permission