How to Apply to ESB-MACC Caminos
Applications are open!
ESB-MACC CAMINOS Teen Leadership Program Applications opened April 1, 2026.
If you are a teen who is passionate about pursuing a creative career, have a good work ethic and are excited about the idea of becoming an Ambassador of Latin American art and culture in Austin, Texas, then Caminos is right for you.
In this 10-month long internship, teens ages 16–18 have an opportunity to work alongside our Cultural Arts team while earning $22.05/hour, working on average 6–10 hours per week.
Application Package
Full applications, including the Application form, a Parent/Teacher Recommendation Form, and Portfolio submitted by email, are due by 11:59pm May 31st, 2026.
Recommendations are to be shared and submitted separately through our Caminos Class of 2027 Recommendation Form.
Portfolios are to be submitted separately to our email, caminos@austintexas.gov (more information within).
Process and Requirements
Students submit personal applications, portfolios, and teacher recommendations as part of their application package. They then undergo a series of one-on-one and panel interviews after initial application screenings.
Qualified applicants should:
- Currently be a High-School Student living in the Central Texas area.
- Between the ages 16-18. (Or turning 16 in the year that they apply!)
- Be interested in exploring careers in the arts/creative industries.
- Be passionate about their creativity.
- Demonstrate strong interest in exploring Latinx issues.
- Have a track record of reliability and strong work ethic.
- Passionate about enriching the ESB-MACC community.
- Be able to work legally in the US.
Why Apply
In the Caminos Teen Leadership Program, teens will learn special skills including:
Paid Internships & Job Experience
Students become paid interns at the ESB-MACC and get to work with outstanding professionals in areas that are relevant to their career path. They will work for 6-10 weekly hours on average earning about $22.05 per hour. Both interns and professionals will undergo an orientation process and receive guidance from the program coordinator along the way in order to ensure that the internships are both meaningful and productive for all parties involved.
Portfolio Guidance
Having a strong collection of works is essential for any creative professional to move forward in their career. That is why we will be offering portfolio guidance and support so Students can graduate from our program with robust work samples ready to be shared with universities, prospective clients and employers alike.
Collaborative Projects
Students will participate in a series of creative projects alongside accomplished artists which will focus on the promotion and preservation of Latin American culture in our communities. Types of projects include the creation of a graphic novel from A to Z; the making of a Mural, the production and branding of a Latinx Blog/Podcast, collaborations with local filmmakers, musicians and more!
Artist Mentorships
In order for us to improve at our craft there should be an exchange of techniques and ideas with others in our field. When young creatives are able to have this exchange with accomplished artists as mentors, the possibilities for rapid and meaningful growth often become a reality. Our Artist Mentorships are designed to benefit both parties by facilitating productive discourse with the aim of providing meaningful hands-on activities for the Student while the Artist benefits from the added energy, enthusiasm and extra help.
Caminos FAQs
The Caminos year starts Mid-Late August and runs through Early June.
We alternate between programming on most Saturdays, 10:30am-4:30pm and Wednesdays 6-7:30PM via Teams. In addition, there may be independent and small group assignments.
A typical Caminos work week ranges between 6-10 hours.
We typically have between 10-12 teens per cohort.
This is a blend. In the first semester, we have 2/3rds of the projects and mentorships/teachers already pre-selected. As we get to know the Caminantes (interns), we have flexibility in the second semester to have the teens have a say on possible areas and projects to focus!
Our program team leads conduct a basic scoring of the written applications received. 20-24 finalists are then selected to attend the interview panels which consist of MACC employees, Community Members, Artists and past Caminantes. Finalists are selected from there to encompass the 10-12 Caminantes for the cohort.