skip navigation | text only | accessibility | site map
Log In| Contact Us

Kennedy Center Arts Management
Internship Placements


Advertising Communications
The Kennedy Center Advertising Department develops and executes the strategy, language, and design of marketing collateral to help generate ticket tales for the Center’s performances. Through primarily writing and editing projects, the Advertising Communications Intern will gain valuable hands-on experience in many areas of arts marketing and will have the opportunity to hone a diverse set of creative and strategic skills. They will learn about the most effective ways to message events across disciplines and to diverse targeted audiences through the creation of newspaper and magazine ads, brochure and direct mail materials, Web and e-mail content, and commercials for radio and television. Additionally, the Advertising Communications Intern will conduct research on artists and performances, assist in planning promotional events, contribute to broadcast scheduling and production, coordinate feedback for all advertising projects across multiple departments, maintain artist files, and participate in weekly marketing meetings. All applicants who are interviewed will be asked to complete a short writing assignment in order to demonstrate their ability to write clearly, creatively, and concisely.


Advertising/Graphic Design
Kennedy Center Advertising designs and produces all print marketing materials for the Center including direct mail, newspaper and magazine ads, signage, and invitations. The intern assists in the design and production of these materials utilizing desktop publishing (QuarkXPress, PhotoShop, and Illustrator) in a PC environment. Applicants must submit three examples of their work.


Accessibility
The intern will become knowledgeable about best practices in the field of accessibility in the arts, including programming and compliance by participating in the daily activities of the Accessibility program. During the summer semester the intern will also gain hands-on experience with conference planning, vendor relations, public relations, community outreach, and professional writing while assisting with the annual ADA conference organized by the Kennedy Center.


ArtsEdge
The ARTSEDGE intern will be involved in all aspects of the development and maintenance, including content review, graphics development, HTML coding, and database creation, of ARTSEDGE, the Kennedy Center's education website, www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org. They will participate in all phases of development of a mini-site—an online exploration of an arts-related theme—including research and storyboarding. They will learn how content is acquired, developed, edited, formatted for the Web, launched and promoted. Additionally, the intern will work with the ARTSEDGE curriculum team to develop educational materials specifically for students. This work will introduce the intern to elements of both graphic design and curriculum development work as they learn how arts-related materials are presented on the Web. The intern will participate in the planning, organization and facilitation of ARTSEDGE workshops and meetings, enabling them to learn about topics such as how to integrate technology and the arts into the K-12 classroom.


Community Partnerships
The Community Partnerships programs provide arts education projects for D.C. Public Schools (DCPS). Enrichment and exposure programs for culturally diverse communities in the District of Columbia along with extended performance and training opportunities for students, families and teachers are also provided. The intern will assist in gathering information about each school's overall plan, make recommendations on Kennedy Center resources to support the plan, participate in meetings, site visits, and training on-site and in the schools, and collect evaluation materials for each resource.


Corporate Fund
The Corporate Fund campaign generates over $4 million each year in contributions for the Kennedy Center, primarily through the solicitations of the Corporate Fund Board – a group of more than 100 executives from prominent national and international corporations. The intern will gain a thorough understanding of how the Center implements this corporate fundraising campaign by: conducting prospect research; drafting, generating and distributing letters and solicitation materials; communicating with corporate contacts; attending special events and performances; and working closely with other departments in the Center.


Dance Programming
Dance Programming is responsible for the administration of a broad range of dance programs including engagements of ballet, modern dance, and The Suzanne Farrell Ballet. The Dance Programming intern will have exposure to the primary elements of artistic programming and artist relations at a major performing arts center. Specific responsibilities include: contract coordination, supernumerary coordination, artist hospitality, special performance event management, and logistics.


Friends of the Kennedy Center/Volunteer Management
The Friends of the Kennedy Center represents 550 volunteers who serve in many capacities: as tour guides; providing services to the public at the Public Information Center; providing administration support; and staffing the Education Reception desk, the Concessions booths, and the Gift Shops. The intern gains hands-on experience in recruiting, training, and supervising individuals of all ages and cultural backgrounds, and develops event-planning skills including work of an annual arts festival, annual volunteer recognition gala, and National Volunteer Week. The intern also works on various projects such as the volunteer newsletter, Friendscript, and volunteer management.


Electronic Media / KC Website
The Web Content Department is responsible for the Kennedy Center's online presence covering thousands of pages on upcoming performances, education, and programs and creates all electronic mailing campaigns. The intern will be responsible for creating and updating pages and graphics using current web design software such as Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Flash. This is a fast-paced internship for anyone who is interested in learning how a web design/e-commerce department works within the context of a larger organization.
Learn more about this internship

Grants & Sponsorships
Corporate sponsorships and foundation and government grants represent a significant element of support for the Kennedy Center. To help this office secure needed funding, the intern assists in drafting proposals, applications, and reports for special projects (i.e. festivals, education programs, special events) and for general support. The intern interacts with programming, finance, education, and press staff on a daily basis in the preparation of materials. The intern also has administrative duties and assists occasionally with donor servicing at special events such as galas and festivals.


International Programming
The International Programming Department produces several arts festivals each year at the Kennedy Center, including the AmericArtes festival. The intern will gain a better understanding of international producing and presenting through assisting with company management and coordinating various aspects of the department includingresearch, writing, and interacting with international artists and governmental entities. The intern may also be involved in reviewing scripts, press kits, and videos submitted for consideration by international artists.


Jazz Programming
Jazz Programming encompasses several performance jazz series highlighting the talents of vocalists, pianists, big bands, and a series and festival broadcast on National Public Radio. The intern is involved with the planning and operation of these programs, including: hosting guest artists, arranging for artist transportation, housing and hospitality, research on artist biographical information; and the processing of Center production, ticketing, press, marketing, development and finance departments.


Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
This is a national educational theater program designed to identify and promote quality in college-level theater. The Intern learns about and assists with the technical and administrative coordination of the national festival, including but not limited to travel arrangements for national festival cast and crew, coordinationof student design and acting awards, press and promotions of the festival, and meeting and escorting arriving national festival companies


Major Gifts
The Major Gift Annual Fund Campaign's goal is to secure undesignated annual gifts of $25,000 and greater. The Major Gifts Office also works with the Kennedy Center Trustees in order to raise funds for the Trustees Annual Fund Campaign as well as other programmatic activities at the Center. In addition, the office manages the Kennedy Center's Planned Giving program consisting of bequests and other estate plans. The intern observes and participates in prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and donor stewardship, including preparation of materials for donor correspondence, and assisting in the planning of special events.


National Advancement
This office is responsible for three donor committees - the President's Advisory Committee on the Arts, the National Committee for the Performing Arts, and the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts - as well as soliciting major contributions and cultivating major donors who live outside of the Washington metropolitan area. The intern participates in every aspect of donor servicing, including maintenance of donor records and biographical information, special event planning, as well as prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and donor stewardship.


National Partnerships
National Partnerships is a program comprised two national networks: Partners in Education which fosters partnerships between arts organizations and school systems to provide resources for educators and artists; and the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN), a coalition of state-level organizations that advocate for arts education. The intern learns about and assists with the planning and implementation of major national meetings: a membership annual conference, a training institute for new members, advisory committee meetings, and artist training seminars. The internship provides the opportunity to communicate with arts administrators and educators from across the country and to learn about the many issues surrounding education reform, the professional development of teachers, and arts education administration.


National Symphony Orchestra Development
A microcosm of the overall Kennedy Center Development office, the NSO Development office is responsible for a variety of campaign areas, including: individual, foundation, and corporate annual funds (for general support), a local board of directors, a national board of trustees, as well as corporate sponsorship for special projects (i.e. festivals, education programs, touring, performance series, and special events). The intern assists in drafting solicitation letters and gift acknowledgements, prospect research, drafting proposals, applications, and reports for special projects; logistics for special events; donor servicing; and daily administrative duties.


National Symphony Orchestra Education
The NSO Education Program introduces young people and families to classical music by presenting specially-designed live NSO performances at the Kennedy Center and in the local schools through the In-School Ensemble program; develops and promotes talented young people through competitions and training programs; develops an appreciation of the performing arts in music; and develops and promotes the role of performing arts education nationally. During the summer, NSO Education administers the Summer Music Institute, a four-week summer program for talented young musicians from across the country and the world. The intern is involved in all aspects of the program. Music students preferred.


National Symphony Orchestra Operations and Administration
The intern will learn and work in symphony orchestra production and administration with the NSO Operations and Productions staff; includes administrative and technicalpreparation for rehearsals and concerts, various festivals, and tours amongother programs. The intern is involved in projects and assignments (as determined by the NSO's season programming) while experiencing how symphonic, education, pops, and televised concerts are produced. Previous experience in concertproduction or administration is recommended. Students in Arts Management, Production, or Music preferred.


National Symphony Orchestra Press
The intern acts as a junior press agent in the Kennedy Center's NSO Press Office, assisting with all aspects of publicity and media relations for the Orchestra, including its activities in Washington, D.C. as well as its frequent tours and American Residencies. The intern has the opportunity to interact with the NSO and the Kennedy Center programming and production staffs, as well as Music Director Leonard Slatkin, guest conductors and soloists, and members of the Orchestra, often escorting such persons to media interviews and other events. Duties include preparing material for the house program, developing new media contacts, and assisting the NSO Press Director in obtaining stories about current and future productions and securing reviews of concerts.


Performance Plus
This internship focuses on adult arts education programs in ballet, dance, music, and theater, utilizing the artists performing at the Kennedy Center. Events include pre- and post-performance discussions and demonstrations with creators and artists, special festival events, and educational publications. The intern learns about and assists with all aspects of administration, including event program development, implementation, marketing, volunteer management, and evaluation.


Performing Arts for Everyone
Through Performing Arts for Everyone programming and logistics are handled for the Millennium Stage performance series as well as administration and coordination of events that are a part of the annual Open House. The intern will gain insight into the systems, strategies, and level of detail associated with managing festival and performing arts events on a large scale.

Press
Acting as junior press representatives with the Kennedy Center, interns learn how to promote the performing arts. Interns learn basic approaches and methods that the Kennedy Center have found successful in inducing print, radio, and television writers and commentators to report about Kennedy Center performances, programs and events. While clerical and organizational work is required, each intern is given an independent project for which to create a press plan, issue materials, collect clips, and document as a portfolio project.


Production
This fast-paced and busy department is responsible for the production of shows and events in the Kennedy Center's seven stages and non-theater spaces. The intern's duties include logistical support for upcoming shows and events, research for long-range projects, and depending upon qualifications, the opportunity to work on events and shows as a production or design assistant.


Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers
The intern learns about and assists with professional development workshops for teachers focusing on teaching the arts and teaching other subject areas through the arts. Duties include attending and evaluating educational events and performances, coordinating technical and logistical details for events, and assisting with the preparation of teacher resource materials. The intern communicates with teachers and principals throughout the DC metropolitan area and artists from across the country.


Special Events
The Special Events department plans, coordinates, and executes over 2,000 events each year including the National Symphony Orchestra Ball, the Spring Gala, donor cast parties, Insider events, cultural festivals, private dinners, and other cultivation events in addition to managing donor lounges and ticketing services. The intern works in every aspect of the department and learns how to design invitations, compile guest lists, choose menus, design floral arrangements and centerpieces, work with external clients and contracts, administrative details, lounge management, and donor servicing. The intern has an independent project and coordinates an event from start to finish, providing a unique learning opportunity and an overall sense of event planning.


Theater for Young Audiences
Theater for Young Audiences (TYA) commissions, produces, presents, and tours productions for young people and families in all the performing arts disciplines. The intern participates fully in the administrative life of a producing and presenting organization. The intern's varied duties include assisting with production meetings, auditions, artist hospitality, technical rehearsals, scheduling, contracts, Playbill, sales analysis, commissions research, season planning, and budgeting.


Web Architecture
The IT/Web Architecture department develops and maintains the foundation for the Kennedy Center's public and internal websites. The intern will be involved in a fulllife-cycle development study to include requirements gathering, database design,database procedural coding, front-end display to be used on public and/or internal website, user acceptance testing, deployment, and maintenance. Applicants must have a background in web programming fundamentals to include database design, object-oriented patterns, and HTML/JavaScript coding. Experience using ColdFusion Application Server and Macromedia Flash MX would also be beneficial.