Apprentice, a 501c3 nonprofit, empowers aspiring writers and artists in Dallas, Texas, by bridging the gap between emerging talent and established creatives. The Apprentice Creative Space provides affordable co-working memberships for creatives, free education programs to the public, and inclusive community events. As a hub for the literary and creative community in Dallas, they provide mentorship opportunities and resources to nurture creativity, foster growth, and cultivate a thriving literary and creative arts scene. All revenue from the co-working memberships and events go toward supporting our educational and community programs. Rooted in the vibrant community of Oak Cliff, the Apprentice Creative Space is located at the historic Oak Cliff Assembly building, just a stone’s throw from the Dallas Zoo with easy access to public transit. I’m excited that the president Kaitlin Siebert and board member Steven Monacelli have sat down to discuss this program and what it means for the Oak Cliff community.
Grayson Mask: My first question is for anyone unfamiliar with the Oak Cliff Assembly. What is it, where can people find it, and when did it all start?
Kaitlin: Great question! We can speak primarily about Apprentice, which is a subset of the Oak Cliff Assembly. The Oak Cliff Assembly is essentially a creative arts campus run by a company called Proxy Property. We got involved through their Art Walks, which are interactive, community-based one-day gallery events. I participated in the first two as a freelance artist. So, the Oak Cliff Assembly has been a part of our lives for at least two years now.
Through those events, we met A.J. Ramler and Hayley Levitt, who run the campus. After participating in the Art Walks and brainstorming with A.J. and Hayley, we came up with the idea of opening a community space on their campus. That’s how Apprentice was born. It’s a nonprofit co-working space focused on literary arts education, offering affordable and accessible opportunities for those looking to start a career in the arts.
Grayson Mask: You mentioned that your introduction to Oak Cliff Assembly was through their Art Walks as a freelance artist. I’m curious about your backgrounds. What kind of art do you both do? Did you come into this as artists, or did you have experience in the nonprofit sector as well?
Steven: Great question. Kaitlin is a fine artist; she does painting and photography. She also works at the SMU Library and is pursuing her Master of Library and Archival Science to become an archivist or librarian. I’m a freelance journalist, mostly doing investigative journalism, and I also publish an independent literary arts magazine that is a nonprofit.
Before journalism, I worked with several nonprofits, including two arts nonprofits in San Francisco and a smaller one in Washington, DC. I originally started out in management consulting, working for nonprofit and government clients, and later worked at Google in business strategy and program management. My background is actually in theater and writing, so this project aligns with our shared interests and experiences.
Grayson Mask: You talked about bringing your vision to the local community. I noticed you have community partners like Dallas Weekly. Was it a fast process for other organizations to notice your vision, or was it a slow build to partner with others?
Steven: It was definitely a gradual process that began before we even conceived of Apprentice. We were already involved in the community through various activities like volunteering and mutual aid. When we started developing the idea for Apprentice, we reached out to people and organizations we had connections with, like Dallas Weekly, to see if they were interested in partnering with us.
We’re hosting an event with Big Thought soon, which isn’t public, but it’s a great example of how our space can be used for programs that align with our values. Over time, as more people have seen our space and the work we’re doing, it’s become easier to attract partners and communicate our vision.
Kaitlin: We were also inspired by Cedars Union, an arts incubator that offers coworking memberships on a sliding scale. I was a coworking member there and cleaned in exchange for access. We wanted to expand that model to include literary arts and education, particularly in information literacy and writing. When we talked to people focused on education, they naturally understood our mission and wanted to use our space. Dallas has many places for lease, but not as many that are as collaborative and community-focused as ours.
Grayson Mask: When building a community, I was curious about the workshops you offer. Have there been any fan favorites that everyone has enjoyed, or are they typically very specific depending on the creative outlet?
Kaitlin: It really depends on the workshop. We have great turnouts for our book clubs, which are partnered with the Silent Book Club run by Haewon Park. Our art events with Dallas Art Club also see great participation. We’ve had a fantastic response to our summer concerts with Urban Arts Center, held throughout August on Thursdays. The turnout can vary depending on the season, but overall, it really comes down to individual interests.
Steven: We’ve also had some larger events with great attendance, like the inaugural Oak Cliff Summer Book Fair. We had around 300 people show up for that. Another significant event was the Kufiya Comedy Festival, a multicultural comedy and arts festival focusing on different cultural subgroups each day. It was a great test run for hosting big multi-day events, and people seemed to really enjoy it.
Grayson Mask: On the topic of community engagement, I noticed on your website that people can volunteer to teach courses or mentor others. Are there any teachers or mentors you’d love to have in the program, especially in specific subjects or areas of expertise?
Steven: That’s a great question. Most of the people currently involved in teaching workshops tend to focus on literary arts and writing, which is fantastic. However, we’re definitely open to expanding that. What do you think, Kaitlin?
Kaitlin: I think it would be great to diversify the types of writing workshops we offer. We’ve had many poetry classes, but I believe expanding into short story writing or different prompts would be beneficial.
Steven: And specifically, offering workshops in Spanish, especially in creative writing, would be excellent. Given how many people in Oak Cliff speak Spanish, it would be important for us to meet the community where it is.
Grayson Mask: Looking ahead, are there any future goals planned for Oak Cliff Apprentice? Any events or developments you’re excited about for the rest of this year?
Steven: Absolutely. In the next six months, we’re aiming to establish consistent programming and identify what resonates most with the community. We want to grow our membership base to create a healthy and sustainable community. We’re also looking to expand into a fully-fledged mentorship program. Right now, we’re partnering with some organizations that offer mentorship, but we have yet to fully launch our planned mentorship program, which will connect our members with aspiring creatives, particularly high school students.
Grayson Mask: You mentioned sustainability. Do most people who join the Apprentice program fully engage with the co-working space and attend various events, or do they tend to only participate in events that are specific to their interests?
Steven: Currently, many people who attend our events aren’t necessarily members, and not all of our members participate in events. However, there’s a good overlap; many of our members have hosted events, taught workshops, or participated in activities like the book fair. We usually gain members from people who attend our events, love the space and community, and want to join.
We also attract attendees through word of mouth, social media, and partnerships with organizations and individuals with their own followings. The needs of those who require a co-working space often differ from those looking to learn, so we aim to serve both groups effectively. At the moment, we have several nonprofit organizations using our space, focusing on literary or creative arts. We’re steadily growing our community each month, intentionally welcoming members who have a creative practice.
Grayson Mask: For my last question, I’d like to hear both of your thoughts on the future. How optimistic are you about the Oak Cliff art scene or the Dallas art scene in general?
Kaitlin: That’s a great question. I’m definitely optimistic. I’m not originally from Dallas—I grew up in Houston and finished my undergrad in Denton. One of the things that attracted me to Dallas was the artist community here, which I found to be inclusive and vibrant. I think it’s crucial to let people know there are spaces that support creativity and help facilitate more of those “third spaces” where people can gather and create sustainably.
Often, we hear from organizations we’ve partnered with that finding space can feel competitive, like when you’re trying to work at a coffee shop. While coffee shops are great, it’s also important to have a place where people feel ownership and agency. I’m hopeful about creating more of these spaces and connecting with more people in Dallas. I love the community here and feel honored to contribute to its growth. It’s helped me grow as an individual and an artist.
Steven: I’m also optimistic, and I don’t think we would have decided to create Apprentice if we weren’t. Our optimism comes with a commitment to work towards making the art scene what we want it to be. There are great conversations happening about the importance of creating inclusive and accessible artistic spaces, not just for those who want to experience art but also for those who create it.
People are beginning to understand that a thriving art scene is part of what makes Dallas a great city. If you care about that, it’s something that can keep you here. One of the main challenges we hope to address with Apprentice is the issue of “brain drain.” Many in the creative community feel they’ve hit a ceiling in Dallas and need to move elsewhere to find opportunities. We want to show people that it’s possible to have a thriving creative life right here in Dallas.
