New York: Fine Arts

This program is designed by the Art and Theater Departments for students with a demonstrated interest and background in art and theater, whether they are majors in these departments or not.  The program focuses on contemporary theater and art being created in New York City and the surrounding area. During the semester, students take three content courses and complete an internship component. Each student finds and arranges their internship prior to arriving in NYC with the help of the Program Leader and the Center for Career and Community Engagement. Credit may be arranged in departments other than art and theater. Applicants for the program should be prepared to utilize what they have learned in their area of study to benefit their internship organization. Likewise, students should use the knowledge and experience they have gained from their internship positions to enhance the remainder of their studies at Lewis & Clark. The ideal applicant to this program would be either a sophomore or a junior (at the time of application) who has taken coursework in the fields of theater or art.

Theater, Art, and Architecture in NYC: The three content courses that students take during the semester focus on theater, art, and architecture in the city. Coursework will be supplemented with visits to the theater, museums, galleries, auction houses, and various parts of the city. On average, students will attend theater once weekly. The group will meet with artists, curators, critics, publishers, actors, playwrights, and other important figures involved in the visual arts scene of New York. These activities make up a significant part of the cultural experience of spending a semester living in NYC.

About the Program Leader: Rebecca Lingafelter is a performer, director, producer and teacher living in Portland, OR. She received her MFA from Columbia University, where she studied with Anne Bogart, Andrei Serban and Kristin Linklater. In New York she performed at Classic Stage Company, PS122, The Ontological Hysteric Incubator, HERE Arts Center, The Bushwick Starr, The Chocolate Factory, Judson Church, Vortex Theatre Company, Target Margin Theatre, and The Metropolitan Opera. She has performed internationally in Korea, Germany, Italy, England and Budapest, Hungary. She was co-artistic director of experimental theatre ensemble Performance Lab 115 from 2005-2010, and was lead-artist for PL115’s six-month residency with Mabou Mines mentored by Ruth Maleczech. In Portland, Rebecca is co-artistic director of Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble (www.petensemble.org), and a company member at Third Rail Repertory Theatre. Rebecca teaches acting, directing, devised performance, voice and movement, global contemporary performance, and directs mainstage productions.

Requirements Fulfilled:

General Education - OCS 233 fulfills the Historical Perspectives or the Creative Arts general education requirement.

Art 309 fulfills the Creative Arts general education requirement, and may be applied to the Studio Art major, the Art History major, and the Art minor (as an art history elective). 

Participation in the New York City program does not fulfill the Global Perspectives general education requirement.

Credits: 16 credits (4 courses)

Curriculum:

Art 309: Art of New York (4 credits)

This course explores art and art history through the resources and opportunities in New York City. Exploration of how art is made, how it reaches the public, and the process of its interpretation and display. The group will visit major museums, galleries, and auction houses to see various exhibitions.              

Theater 250: Theater of New York (4 credits)

This course examines contemporary theater in New York including traditional and experimental work, American plays, and plays from the international repertoire. The group will attend weekly theater performances, and a group discussion will take place after each performance. Students will also meet with playwrights, actors, directors, designers, and producers to investigate current trends in theatrical writing, production and criticism.

OCS 233: History of New York

An overview of the architectural history and urban structure of New York. Particular emphasis is given to examining the process of continuity and change in New York architecture from the colonial period to the twentieth century.

OCS 345: Internship (4 credits)

The internship experience gives students a professional site-specific work environment in an institution closely related to the student’s major and/or potential career choice. Students will develop skills, both interpersonal and job-specific, that are appropriate to that work environment. The internship will create opportunities to view the city from an ethnographic perspective, looking closely at the lives of those who live and work in New York. The student on an internship avoids the singular perspective of a cultural tourist. The goal is that the skills and attitudes acquired through a New York internship will be transferable to academic life and professional development.

Housing: The group is housed in student apartments through Educational Housing Services (EHS). Students stay in double rooms with a private bathroom. The apartments are fully furnished. Amenities in the apartment include: wifi and cable TV, access to a communal kitchen, laundry facilities, and 24-hour security & surveillance. Students are responsible for purchasing and preparing their own meals, but the Overseas Office will give them a stipend to cover the cost of their food. Students can use the communal kitchen to prepare their meals, or they can eat at the many restaurants, cafes, delicatessens, and hot dog stands that the city has to offer.

2026-2027 Fee Breakdown*

Total Fee (includes Tuition, Program Fee, and Health & Wellness Fee): $44,791

Tuition: $35,329

Program Fee: $9,425

Health & Wellness Fee: $37**

Included in the program fee are room/housing, board/meals, and administrative fees. Not included are airfare, passport and visa expenses, primary insurance coverage, photographs, books, immunizations, and incidentals. 

*Fees are updated every February for the following academic year.

**The Health & Wellness Fee supports the operations of Wellness Services staff in delivering pre-program orientation services, as well as in providing health-related consultation regarding participant health needs. All students in the College of Arts and Sciences pay a mandatory fee of $37 per semester.

Stipend: Students will receive a stipend to cover the cost of meals and transportation costs not covered by the program fee.

Estimated Airfare (Round Trip PDX to LGA or JFK): $400 - $900

Estimated Health Insurance Fee: $1,906

Students are required to have comprehensive health insurance during their participation in an off-campus program. All students participating in overseas programs, both abroad and domestic, are automatically enrolled in the College’s student health insurance program. Similar to a regular semester on-campus, students participating in off-campus programs may waive enrollment in the student health insurance program if they have other comprehensive health insurance (e.g., through a parent, guardian or employer) that 1) provides coverage for them in the geographic region in which they will be studying and 2) includes mental health benefits. Find more information regarding health insurance & overseas programs.

Physical Requirements:

Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically and/or emotionally able to participate in the following physical demands required by some of this program’s activities:

• Walking or hiking up to 5 miles in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on uneven terrain
• Climbing and descending stairs
• Using public transportation, including sometimes crowded buses or trains
• Standing for long periods during tours and site visits
• Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
• The possibility of warm/hot temperatures while residing in locations without air conditioning, and/or cold temperatures while residing in locations with a comfort for lower indoor temperatures
• The possibility of long, busy days with little downtime and infrequent days off from program activities

If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Lewis & Clark College Overseas & Off-Campus Programs office (overseas@lclark.edu).

Application Process: Applications are due one year before the start of the program. The semester before the program, students who have been accepted will meet regularly for orientation. This orientation is meant to prepare the students for life in New York City by exploring literature and culture, and provides an opportunity for students to learn more about the logistical details of the program.

Learn more about our application process.

Travel: Students usually fly into the LaGuardia or JFK airport, where they take a taxi to their housing.