Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been a leading voice for arts and culture Downtown and throughout New York City for nearly 40 years, producing cultural events and promoting the arts through grants, services, advocacy, and cultural development programs.
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council is dedicated to making Manhattan a thriving center of arts activity with relevance to the arts community worldwide. It does this through a range of grants, cultural programs and advocacy.
INTERNSHIPS
What past interns say:
My internship at LMCC helped me get on track for my career in the arts. While working with an insightful staff — which I now consider my friends and colleagues — I was included in projects where I could apply the skills I was learning for my graduate degree… My experience was invaluable, and I continue to stay connected to LMCC and its mission.
— Will, Artist Residencies intern, 2009
I‘ve really enjoyed my time here and learned a ton about the programmatic aspects of grantmaking. This has been by far the friendliest organization I‘ve spent time at and admire all the hard work and dedication everyone contributes on a daily basis.
— Sabrina, Grants & Services intern, 2009
2012-2013
LMCC’s internship program provides opportunities for those interested in gaining hands-on experience to support arts and culture from the perspective of a non-profit organization in New York City. Interns learn and participate in building sustainable communities by making our public programs, grants & artists’ services, residency opportunities, and development activities accessible and replicable as alternative models to the public. Internships have a departmental focus, however interns will gain exposure to all our departments and support our small staff over a four-month period.
We strongly encourage applicants who are aiming to work professionally in the non-profit field and are invested in re-thinking how to engage and affect communities from Lower Manhattan and beyond. A travel stipend of $500 will be provided for the duration of the internship period.
Internship Cycle
Fall 2012
September 1 – December 24, 2012
Deadline: August 10, 2012
Winter 2013
January 2 – April 30, 2013
Deadline: December 1, 2012
Summer 2013
May 1 – August 30, 2013
Deadline: April 1, 2013
How to Apply
Please send this completed application, a cover letter and resume with “2012-2013 LMCC Internship Application: ” followed by “Fall”, “Winter”, or “Summer” as the e-mail subject line to specify which cycle you are interested in to internships@lmcc.net.
Download Application Form.
Internship Departmental Focuses
Artist Residencies
Development
Finance & Operations
Grants & Services
Marketing & Communications
Public Programs
Artist Residencies
The Artist Residencies department supports the residency programs, which transforms temporarily vacant spaces into studio, rehearsal and presentation spaces for artists of all disciplines and interests in Lower Manhattan. This is an ideal opportunity for those interested in gaining experience in open call processes and supporting artists and their needs. The intern will assist with residency applications including data entry, pre-screening and organization of work samples for panel review. He/she will also help maintain our various artist spaces with artists’ access, supplies and visitors. The intern will also assist in staffing at public events including weekly salons, open studios and performances. The ideal candidate is adept with Internet research, knowledgeable with contemporary art and/or the performing arts. Experience with the Adobe Creative Suite, light carpentry, audio/visual equipment and other hands-on technical skills are a plus.
Development
The Development department conveys the organization’s activities as crucial to building and enlivening the community in Lower Manhattan and beyond to existing and potential supporters of LMCC. This opportunity is ideal for those interested in gaining more experience in fundraising, government relations, sponsorship and event planning. The ideal candidate is highly organized and possesses advanced administrative skills in Microsoft Office, especially Excel, as well as customer relations. Activities may vary, but the intern will provide logistical support on special events, draft correspondence (letters and reports), and conduct prospect research.
Finance & Operations
The Finance & Operations department supports every part of the organization. In addition to the day-to-day operations, which include petty cash, insurance and payment requests, the department works closely with others to plan and implement projects. The department also works as a team to manage the office space, equipment and other organizational resources. This opportunity is ideal for those interested in gaining operational experience in the arts and non-profit financial and administrative management. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and demonstrates a can-do attitude and works well with others towards shared goals.
Grants & Services
The Grants & Services department provides grant opportunities and professional development services for New York-based artists and cultural organizations. Thisopportunity is ideal for those interested in learning how re-grant programs work and the process of coordinating professional development workshops and networking and knowledge-sharing events. Interns will be in direct contact with numerous artists and local community organizations during the program and will track event audits, along with information and images of grantee projects and assist with staffing for evening events. The ideal candidate has an interest in arts administration and is aware of the unique challenges faced by artists and small community organizations today.
Marketing & Communications
The Marketing & Communications department reaches out to our audiences and promotes LMCC’s programs and activities. This opportunity is ideal for those interested in informing through graphic/print design, blog and website updates, and documentation of LMCC’s public events. Interns will be in correspondence with designers, printers and venue managers, assist at LMCC events including distributing materials, set-up and breakdown. Interns with the interest and previous experience will also have the opportunity to work with graphic /print design and website content management systems. The ideal candidate has excellent written/verbal skills and an approachable personality with knowledge of social media tools. Experience with audio and video-editing software is a plus.
Public Programs
The Public Programs department develops and produces LMCC arts and culture programs across varying disciplines and venues, most notably the annual River To River Festival. This opportunity is ideal for those interested in developing their administrative skills through hands-on organizational planning, production and documentation tasks. The ideal candidate has exceptional organizational skills and some prior project management experience, a working knowledge of MS Office and, preferably technical production. He or she has an outgoing personality and friendly attitude under duress and is comfortable representing the organization to audiences and artists at public events.
We apologize that we are unable to respond to applications unless a candidate is being considered for an interview. Any questions may be sent to internships@lmcc.net. Please refrain from phone calls.