Arts Internship Program
OVERVIEW
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors established the Arts Internship Program (which provides internships for nonprofit performing, presenting, literary, and municipal arts organizations) as a companion program to the Getty Multicultural Internship Program (which provides internships to museums and visual arts organizations). The purpose of the County's program is to provide undergraduate students with meaningful on-the-job training and experience in working in nonprofit arts organizations, while assisting arts organizations to develop future arts leaders. Through this program, students develop a deeper understanding of the work involved in nonprofit arts administration, better understand the role of the arts in a community, and develop "real life" business skills that can be put to use in their future careers. During the ten-week course of the summer internships, participating organizations gain the assistance of extra staff to help with special or seasonal projects. Participating organizations also play an important role in molding and shaping potential new workers in the arts sector who may go on to arts leadership positions on staffs or boards.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORGANIZATIONS
The 2012 Arts Internship Program application is now closed. The deadline to submit an application was December 14, 2011.The program is for Los Angeles County-based nonprofit performing, presenting (including film and media organizations with a presenting program), arts service and literary arts organizations that are interested in mentoring an undergraduate college student for ten weeks during summer 2012. Grants of $2,500 to $3,500, depending on organizational budget size, to be used to pay interns are awarded to successful applicant organizations. To support the internships, Los Angeles County, through its Arts Commission, will give grants totaling $250,000 to approximately 75 arts organizations throughout the County.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
A 10 week paid summer internship (40 hours/week) for 74 undergraduate college students. Students are paid $350/week to work with a nonprofit arts organization within Los Angeles County. Nonprofits include various performing, presenting, and literary arts organizations, and local agencies. Interns also participate in several educational events.
Student eligibility for internship positions is limited to currently enrolled undergraduate college students who reside or attend college in Los Angeles County. Students must have completed at least one semester of college by June 1, 2012 or will complete their undergraduate degree by September 1, 2012 in order to be eligible to participate. Students who have already earned a BA, BS or a higher degree are not eligible.
Candidates can be sought from all areas of undergraduate study and are not required to have demonstrated a previous commitment to the arts. All college students regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability who meet the above criteria are eligible to apply to participate in the Los Angeles County Arts Internship Program. Students invited to participate in the program must provide a copy of their college transcripts verifying undergraduate enrollment.
Students must either reside in Los Angeles County or attend school in Los Angeles County.
ORGANIZATIONAL ELIGIBILITY
The following organizations are eligible to apply to the Los Angeles County Arts Internship Program:
- Nonprofit performing, presenting (including film and media organizations with a presenting program), arts service and literary arts organizations currently funded through the Arts Commission’s Organizational Grant Program (OGP I, OGP II, OGP 2.5 and OGP III) as well as organizations not currently funded through the Arts Commission’s Organizational Grant Program that are not part of a college or university; and
- Local arts agencies with 501(c)(3) status in Los Angeles County that provide arts programs and services to their municipal constituency.
The following organizations are NOT eligible to apply to the Los Angeles County Arts Internship Program:
- Municipal arts agencies or municipal performing arts organizations that do not possess 501(c)(3) status;
- Museums and visual arts organizations;
- Arts organizations, departments and programs that are part of a college or university.
