Local Arts Advancement Intern

Description

SCOPE

The Local Arts Advancement Department works to cultivate local arts development in communities across the country by developing and implementing programs and services that strengthen and validate local arts agencies and the many other individuals and organizations that advance arts, culture, and artists at the local level.  Our activities are inclusive of professional and leadership development, convenings, on-line resources, and peer networking opportunities.  Local Arts Advancement brings to bear Americans for the Arts’ unique strengths in research, policy, professional development, visibility, advocacy, and strategic partnerships in order to provide vital tools, information, and resources needed to establish and implement favorable policies benefiting arts organizations, artists and local cultural development nationally.

In addition, Local Arts Advancement Services is a foremost authority on the full diversity of local arts agencies—their budget trends, programs, innovations, how public vs. private or large vs. small differ, as well as their organizational and leadership needs. A local arts agency (LAA) promotes, supports, and develops the arts at the local level to strengthen the daily fabric of community living. Each LAA is as unique as the community it serves and they all share the goal of enabling diverse forms of arts and culture to thrive, ensuring that they are available to every member of that community.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Local Arts Advancement Intern supports the effort of the department to design and execute programs that provides support and resources to leaders working throughout the country to advance the arts in their communities. Standard and ongoing programs include:

Professional Development through workshops, webinars, and the agency's Annual Convention.

Spring and fall interns will have the opportunity to support the efforts of the Annual Convention. The Americans for the Arts Annual Convention offers a unique chance to join the most extensive gathering of arts leaders and professionals from across our field. This is the only national arts meeting that assembles leaders from multiple disciplines with a wide range of experience and with different perspectives for advancing the arts in America. For more information on the Annual Convention, please visit http://convention.artsusa.org.

Technical Assistance is provided through resources about sustainability, trends, research, and information on the ongoing programs and services of the local arts advancement field.

Peer Networking is executed through Americans for the Arts’ established councils and networks, including:

· Emerging Leaders Network

· Local Arts Network

· Public Art Network

· United States Urban Arts Federation

The Local Arts Advancement Intern will work with a team of four program areas including leadership development, public art, professional development, and local arts agency services; in addition, the Intern will have the opportunity to work on tasks and assignments with the Americans for the Arts Animating Democracy program; this program fosters arts and cultural activity that encourages and enhances civic engagement and dialogue.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Knowledge of Microsoft office products

· Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

The ideal candidate for this position has:

· Prior knowledge of the field of arts-based community development

· Professional or academic experience with an arts, arts-service, or community development organization

· The ability to support the work of multiple projects in a fast-paced, fun, and flexible environment

· A commitment to advancing the arts in America