What is a Local Arts Agency?  A local arts agency (LAA) is a private community organization or local government agency that supports cultural organizations, provides services to artists or arts organizations, and/or presents arts programming to the public. LAAs endeavor to make the arts part of the daily fabric of community living. Each LAA is unique to the community that it serves and each change as fast as its community changes. However, all seek to serve the diverse art forms in their community and make them accessible to every community member.

Local Arts Agency Services creates and delivers programs and services that strengthen LAAs such as content for the annual convention, online learning and “how to” trainings, fulfilling technical assistance requests, producing publications, and ensuring peer-to-peer engagement through member affinity networks. Local Arts Agency Services is a department within Local Arts Advancement at Americans for the Arts.

Local Arts Agency Services builds its programs and services around the needs and program areas of local arts agencies. Standard and ongoing programs include:

• Professional Development through workshops, webinars, and the annual convention, Americans for the Arts provides access to learning to advance the field.
• Technical Assistance is provided to local arts agencies through resources about sustainability, trends, research, and information on the ongoing programs and services of local arts agencies.
• Peer Networking is executed through Americans for the Arts’ established councils and networks, they include:
• Arts Education Network
  • Emerging Leaders Network
  • Local Arts Network
  • Public Art Network
  • United States Urban Arts Federation

The Local Arts Agency Services Intern will assist the department with various projects including the annual convention, programs and services to the department’s five networks, department planning, and general office duties, including routine web and information updates. The Local Arts Agency Services Intern will also have the opportunity to work on tasks and assignments with the Americans for the Arts Animating Democracy program; the 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