Summer Internship Program, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), North Adams, MA

Posted February 12, 2020

Internship Dates: Monday, May 18th – Saturday, August 15th

Internship Application Deadline: March 1st, 2020

Compensation: Housing & $150/week stipend

 

Stage Tech / Performing Arts Production

Interns work with the Production Coordinator, Master Carpenter, Master Electrician, House Sound Engineer, and house crew on all aspects of technical theater, music, and films. This includes hands-on in all of the following areas – carpentry, lighting, sound, audio/visual, and running crew. You are not required to have a driver’s license.

 

Performing Arts Administration

Intern works directly with the Managing Director of Performing Arts in the coordination of current and future season planning, general office work, and maintaining and updating all performing arts files, databases, and calendars. The intern will alternate between the Project Coordinator and Artist Services Director with drafting event programs, researching upcoming artists, assisting with front of house operations as well as with artist services to arrange transportation and housing logistics of visiting artists, staff, and fellow interns.

You are required to have a valid US driver’s license.

 

Visual Arts – Curatorial

Intern assists in the day-to-day operations of a busy curatorial department and helps with the preparations for upcoming programs, as well as the maintenance of current exhibitions. Responsibilities consist of research, writing, administrative duties, assistance in the procuring of exhibition materials, installation of artworks as necessary, and any number of unexpected errands or jobs required to help maintain an ambitious exhibition program of contemporary art. Intern also works with the Education Department, receiving training to lead tours of exhibitions, interact with museum visitors, and develop focused “spotlight” talks on topics of special interest. This is a crucial part of the internship experience.

The successful candidate should be self-sufficient and have an eye for detail, strong writing and research skills, and a positive attitude about performing many kinds of tasks on a demanding schedule. Must have driver’s license and be willing to do a fair amount of driving.

 

Graphic Design

Intern assists in day-to-day tasks of the museum’s in-house design studio, working directly with the senior and junior graphic designers. Projects include production and installation of vinyl exhibition graphics and wayfinding signage; design and production of seasonal marketing collateral (posters, ads, social media graphics); vendor contact; upkeep of website components; and general studio tasks.

The intern should demonstrate enthusiasm, stamina, good attention to detail, and willingness to work with a team. Excellent knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) required.

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, résumé, and portfolio link in order to be considered for this internship. A driver’s license might be helpful, but is not required.

 

Development

Interns in the development department will work to help ensure the success of MASS MoCA’s fundraising activities, which supports $3.3m in annual income. Work will vary between specifics projects, for which the intern will have the opportunity to see the project from start to finish, and individual tasks on larger projects directed by department staff. The intern will gain experience in prospect research, grant-writing, direct mail solicitations, special events, membership programs, and database management. In an average week, you will spend approximately 40% of your time working on prospect research and proposal preparation, 40% on membership and individual giving, with the remaining 20% alternating as the workload requires.

You are not required to have a driver’s license.

 

Communications

The intern works on all aspects of marketing and public relations to support MASS MoCA’s visual and performing arts programs. There is a strong emphasis on groundwork: street-level marketing throughout western Massachusetts, northwest Connecticut, eastern-central New York, and southern Vermont. The marketing intern logs lots of miles spreading news about MASS MoCA events across our beautiful region. Days in the office include written contributions to social media, eblasts, websites, press releases, and other promotional material. The interns are responsible for preparing press kits and for keeping MASS MoCA’s event listings current on regional event calendars.

The interns help with bulk mailings, occasionally staff an off-site information booth interacting with tourists, and sometimes join an ambassador team to attend concerts, comedy shows, and music festivals around the northeast to promote our extensive program of live events. Interns are expected to attend internal and interdepartmental marketing meetings, museum tours, and work a weekly shift at the museum’s busy Info Desk. If that sounds like a lot — it’s because it is — and we promise tons of fun along the way. 

A driver’s license and sense of humor are required.

 

Audience Services/Box Office

The Audience Services intern reports to the Box Office Manager. This position incorporates interpersonal skills and organizational skills to operate and coordinate all aspects of ticket sales for both Performing Arts events and Gallery Admission. The Audience Services Intern will assist the Box Office Manager with data management, generating lists, analyzing ticketing data, acting as a greeter and providing customer service (general information about MASS MoCA and North Adams), as well as maintaining the overall look of the lobby. The Audience Services Intern is responsible for providing phone and administrative support, processing ticket orders, maintaining the mailing list database and daily cash drawer. This Intern will be responsible for working the information desk, giving private and public tours of the MASS MoCA Galleries in addition to working the James Turrell and Laurie Anderson reservation exhibitions. 

This Intern will learn basic and complex functions of the Tessitura and waitwhile software. Candidates must be friendly, patient, computer-savvy, a self-starter and confident to work independently during performing arts and outreach events. Knowledge of the North Adams area and experience with customer service are preferred. Experience with ticketing software (Tessitura) is desirable but not required. Customer service experience is a must.

A driver’s license might be helpful, but is not required.

 

Education

The education intern will focus on PreK-12 student and teacher engagement. This experiential internship is a great opportunity for a recently graduated college student who wants to gain experience working with school audiences in a contemporary art museum setting. The intern will be trained in the museum’s 3-pronged educational pedagogy ArtInSight, which incorporates conversational-style tours, mindfulness-based insight exercises, and hands-on art-making workshops, and then will implement these strategies as a lead tour guide. The intern will further support education programming by: assisting with teaching artist residency programs; supporting evaluation efforts; maintaining and monitoring art supplies; and conducting research for spring programming.

Successful candidates should be self-sufficient, have an eye for detail, strong oral, writing, and research skills, an enthusiasm for public speaking, and strong customer service skills. They should be able to learn quickly and be confident in their abilities to take on “trial by fire” challenges. Preference is given to candidates with museum / art education experience. Weekend hours required.

 

Requirements

• All applicants must be US citizens, over the age of 18.

• Most interns MUST have a valid US driver’s license unless specified.

• Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and 3 professional references.

 

To view apply for this program, please visit the following link.