2023 Summer Arts Management – Development Internships (3)

2023 Summer Arts Management – Development Internships (3)

Who We Are

Penland School of Craft is an international center for craft education, offering residential workshops, residencies, community education programs, and exhibitions. Located on 420 acres in the NC Mountains, Penland has 16 teaching studios and 60 historic and contemporary buildings. We are an equal-opportunity employer with a staff of 70. Penland operates with a $54 million endowment and an annual operating budget of $7.7 million. We are located about an hour northeast of Asheville, NC.  Our mission supports making lives meaningful through making.

 

Commitment to Equity,  Diversity, and Inclusion

Penland welcomes everyone. Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, and other people who identify as people of color or BIPOC individuals are encouraged to apply, as are people holding other marginalized identities related to gender, sexual orientation, ability, and class background.

 

We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to fulfilling our mission. We want to inspire and nurture the human spirit, and we value the perspectives and contributions of all people. We want the Penland experience to include varied ideas, world views, and personal characteristics. Penland is committed to being a community that welcomes and respects everyone regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, race, religion, philosophical or political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, geographic origin, and socioeconomic status. We are committed to providing an environment free of discrimination. 

Position Summary 

A Penland internship offers a unique opportunity to live and work in a dynamic, creative educational community and work with accomplished professionals in a mutual learning and knowledge-sharing environment. The Arts Management Development Internships (3) are important members of Penland’s fundraising team and work closely with staff to gain practical work experience in fundraising,  scholarship management, and event planning. Three interns will join our team to experience and support our summer goals.  The following is a description of each role. 

 

Donor Stewardship Intern – You will support the summer scholarship and donor recognition program, which engages with scholarship students to share their experiences and showcase these stories to our donors. Additionally, this position will support summer development events, learn about/work in our constituent database, and support/engage in donor correspondence. They will leave with a good understanding of the fundraising components of an arts management organization.

 

Scholarship & Events Intern – You will support the summer student scholarship auctions that raise significant funds for student scholarships. In this role, you will focus on auction promotion and volunteer engagement on campus. You will learn to lead the five student auctions throughout the summer and ensure it is a lively and well-run event. You will also support the larger annual auction and other development duties to leave with a good understanding of special events and fundraising at an arts management organization. 

 

Special Events Intern – You will support the largest fundraising event of the year, the Penland Benefit Auction. In this role, you will support all event preparations with a focus on the registration process, including ticket reservations, mailings, seeking out in-kind gifts, and supporting volunteer oversite. You will learn about/work in our constituent database and support/engage in communications with various constituent groups.  This position seeks a person who likes a fast-paced environment and is highly organized. You will leave with a solid understanding of large event planning and general fundraising at an arts management organization. 

 

The internship begins on May 20th and will conclude on August 30, 2024 (Start and end dates have some flexibility). 

 

You will receive $200 per week (up to $3000 for the experience), and housing and meals will be provided at no charge to you for the duration of the internship period. If the dining hall is closed, we will not offer food, but there are kitchen facilities in the housing units. Class and studio access are not provided. Penland will work with individuals seeking educational credit for the internship and meet any college or university requirements. Details can be discussed in the interview process. 

Responsibilities 

  • Support the development team in the area(s) you are assigned
  • Work with development staff, interns, and other departments to clearly communicate the needs and processes that you are supporting
  • Assist with maintenance spreadsheets and donor databases that you are trained on
  • Provide writing and/or editing support for promotions and correspondence
  • Attend relevant department and committee meetings
  • Conduct prospect research
  • Conduct clerical and administrative duties such as data entry, filing, copying, etc. 
  • Weekend and evening hours are required

Qualifications 

    • Demonstrated interest in the arts/arts management
  • Highly self-motivated, task-oriented and goal-oriented
    • Must be able to work independently and as part of a team
  • Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel; strong command of mail merging is a plus
    • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and positive professional behavior
  • Excellent customer service skills; be comfortable making phone calls and in-person communications with patrons, supporters, instructors, and students
    • Ability to work within deadlines, under pressure, and with a positive attitude at all times
    • Possess excellent time management skills; attention to detail and accuracy is critical
  • Knowledge of Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge fundraising software or other database work is a plus, but not required (please indicate any experience with databases in your application)
  • Experience with development office work is a plus but not required
  • The ability to accommodate a flexible work schedule is required

Physical Demands 

This position requires you to walk unaided up and down hills and over uneven terrain, bend, stoop, reach above your head, use fine and gross motor skills, and work on campus. You must have normal visual acuity at a near and far distance with correction and hear the spoken word. You must be fluent in English. While performing this job’s duties, you will be regularly required to sit and work at a computer. You will frequently be required to use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. You may occasionally lift and/or move heavy objects weighing up to 75 pounds. 

To Apply  

The internship will remain open until filled; however, the initial review of applications will consist of applications received by February 1, 2024. Apply HERE.

We look forward to hearing from you!