Blacksky Up
Blacksky Up — Apprenticeship Program Overview
What Is Blacksky Up?
Blacksky Up is Blacksky Media's community apprenticeship program — a hands-on, multi-discipline learning experience spanning Media, Technology, Business, and the Arts. It is built on the belief that talent is everywhere and opportunity should be too. The program creates a pipeline of empowered, skilled creators and leaders rooted in the Blacksky community.
Core Philosophy
The best way to learn is by doing. Apprentices work alongside experienced mentors on real projects and build a portfolio of work they own. Blacksky Up is not a traditional classroom — it is project-based from day one.
Who Can Join
Blacksky Up is open to all members of the Blacksky community at any age or experience level. There are no prerequisites — only a genuine desire to learn, grow, and contribute.
Especially encouraged to apply:
- Teens and young adults building creative and professional skills
- Adults exploring career changes or building side businesses
- Creatives who want to professionalize their craft
- Community members who want to give back and become future mentors
The Four Pillars
Every apprentice engages with all four disciplines. Deeper specialization is available based on individual goals.
1. Media & Content Creation — Learn to tell compelling stories across video, audio, and digital platforms.
2. Technology & Coding — Develop technical skills that power the modern creative economy.
3. Business & Entrepreneurship — Build the business acumen to monetize skills and grow a brand.
4. Arts & Design — Develop a visual voice and bring creative concepts to life.
Program Structure
Blacksky Up is an ongoing program with no fixed end date. It runs continuously, offering free courses and expanding over time. Individual courses like LLM 101 and NLM 101 are 2 weeks each. The program is also a talent pipeline — Blacksky actively looks to hire from within the community.
What Makes Blacksky Up Different
- Community-centered: Grounded in shared culture and values
- Project-based: Apprentices ship real work from day one — no busy work
- Mentorship-driven: Each apprentice is paired with an experienced guide matched to their goals
- Multi-discipline: Participants gain exposure across all four pillars
- Flexible: Designed to work for people with varying schedules and backgrounds
What Apprentices Receive
Every participant receives:
- Dedicated mentor matched to their goals and discipline
- Access to Blacksky tools, equipment, and workspace resources
- A growing professional portfolio of completed, real-world projects
- Certificate of Completion upon graduating the program
- Invitation to the annual Blacksky Showcase event
- Ongoing access to the Blacksky alumni network
Platform Features
The Blacksky Up program runs on a dedicated community platform built on Directus CMS with the following features:
- Community board with global and class-scoped feeds
- User connections system — send and accept connection requests
- Direct messaging between connected users
- Student and teacher portals with tab-based navigation
- Access to course materials, capstone frameworks, and digital resources
How to Get Involved
Interested in becoming an apprentice, serving as a mentor, or partnering with Blacksky to support the program:
- Email: info@blackskymedia.org
Courses Within Blacksky Up
Blacksky Up includes structured courses as part of the program curriculum. The first two courses are:
- LLM 101: Language Models & You — A 2-week intro to how AI language models work, no coding required. Students build a no-code RAG chatbot as a capstone.
- NLM 101: Intelligence Without Words — A 2-week companion course exploring emergent intelligence, IoT, swarm behavior, and NUDGE theory. Students design and present their own behavioral simulation using Slimehive.
Both courses are instructor-led, live, and open to all disciplines — Media, Technology, Business, and Arts.
Common questions
Is Blacksky Up free? Yes. Education is free and real. No exceptions.
Do I need any experience to join? No. The only requirement is a genuine desire to learn.
What do I get when I finish? A real portfolio of work, a Certificate of Completion, access to the alumni network, and an invitation to the annual Blacksky Showcase.
Can adults join or is this just for teens? Adults are welcome. The program is designed for any age — from teens to adults making career pivots.
What disciplines are covered? Media, Technology, Business, and Arts. Every apprentice is encouraged to engage in as many as possible, with room for specialization.
How long is the program? Blacksky Up does not have a fixed length — it's an ongoing program. Right now it's offering free courses because Blacksky believes education should not only be free, it should pay you for your time. Individual courses like LLM 101 and NLM 101 run 2 weeks each. The program also serves as a talent pipeline — Blacksky actively looks to hire from within the community, so standout apprentices may be considered for employment opportunities.