Erie Arts & Culture Seeks Summertime Folk Art Intern

Erie Arts & Culture is looking for a summertime intern.

The Folk Art Intern will work closely with Erie Arts & Culture Folklorist in Residence on a project where 10-15 different folk artists provide a total of 45 – 50 summertime workshops and/or demonstrations at public libraries in Erie, Warren, Mercer, Venango, Lawrence, and Crawford Counties. The internship will involve planning, administration, and working with a wide variety of folk and traditional artists and library staff in coordinating artists’ workshops during the summer of 2024. This internship will be funded by a grant and the exact start and end dates will be determined upon grant award notification that will be given this spring.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Assist with a digital literacy training for New American artists in email protocol, file management, and social media.
• Assist artists in preparing lesson plans for workshops and refining their presentations.
• Assist with managing letters of agreement between EAC, libraries, and artists.
• Attend workshops with artists, document the workshops, and write social media posts.
• Interview and survey artists, librarians, and workshop participants on the efficacy of the program.
• Other administrative duties as needed

Requirements:

• Have completed at least six semesters towards their bachelor’s degree or have at least 2000 hours of experience working in community, educational, or arts-related settings.
• Be ready to devote themselves full-time for a 15-week period May – September 2024.
• Possess a strong interest and background in folk art, cultural anthropology, community based art, arts in education, ethnomusicology, and/or community based learning.
• Have access to a reliable computer.
• The applicant shall be available for an interview virtually or in person.
• Have reliable transportation to drive within the 6-county region. Mileage is reimbursed at the current GSA rate.
• Work, on average, 35 hours per week and flex their schedule to attend workshops, many of which will be on Saturdays or evenings.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Normal office setting with frequent computer work approximately 50% of the time.
• Travel to community sites and artists’ homes with varying degrees of temperature, humidity and noise approximately 50% of the time.

To Apply:

Please email 1) a cover letter introducing yourself and your accomplishments that align the responsibilities of the position, 2) a resume/CV, 3) recent grade transcripts (if currently a student) and 4) three references to Kelly Armor, Folklorist In Residence, Erie Arts & Culture, at with the subject line “Folk Art Intern position.” Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Screening of applications will begin immediately and it is anticipated that interviews for qualified applicants will begin in early May. Although Erie Arts & Culture has every reasonable assumption this position will be created, this position is contingent upon official grant award notification.

Learn more about the internship here.