JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION: Animating Democracy Intern/Graduate Assistant
LOCATION: Washington, DC (possibility for remote working)
CLOSE DATE: until filled
DEPARTMENT: Animating Democracy Program, LAA
SUPERVISOR: Animating Democracy Program Coordinator
ABOUT ANIMATING DEMOCRACY
Animating Democracy (AD) inspires, informs, promotes, and connects arts and culture as potent contributors to community, civic, and social change. As a program of Americans for the Arts, we bring national visibility to arts for change work, build knowledge about quality practice, and create useful resources. By demonstrating the public value of creative work that contributes to social change and fostering synergy across arts and other fields and sectors, we work to make the arts an integral and effective part of solutions to the challenges of communities and toward ensuring a healthy democracy.
SCOPE
Animating Democracy Intern/Graduate Assistants at Americans for the Arts work to support AD’s website through content development, site-maintenance, and implementation of communication strategies. , Through web research and outreach to art and social change practitioners & funders, interns help expand Special Collections, Profiles and special features on the website. Special projects might include developing and implementing an aggressive call for submissions campaign to a range of targeted sources (such as artist networks or community development organizations) or creating a series of short videos introducing users to various parts of the website.
NOTE: specialized internships can be shaped for candidates with a particular interest in funding for arts for change or social impact evaluation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Animating Democracy Interns will assist AD staff with website maintenance, communications strategy implementation, and various other projects. The intern may be responsible for tasks including:
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Approving and keeping record of profiles added to the site and contacting those artists and funders who might want to add additional information to their listing.
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Building a repository of carousel featured items to use on the landing pages.
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Supporting the tracking and recording of news items and interesting, relevant content for AD’s monthly newsletter and crafting language for that communication.
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Expanding the PROFILES section of the website by:
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developing and implementing new ways to solicit profile submissions from a range of targeted sources (e.g. artist networks, community development organizations, social justice organizations that include arts strategies, grantees of funding organizations that support arts for change, etc.)
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identifying artists and organizations through internet research and other means and inviting submissions of profiles.
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Identifying other resource organizations and information networks to link to and cross-reference their databases of arts for change work (e.g. Creative Time’s international artists/projects database).
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Researching projects, organizations, and artists in particular areas that will fill gaps, capture trends, and otherwise deepen the database (examples include: projects related to issues of class and the economy; public health; women and girls; veterans; museums doing arts for change work; projects/programs related to housing; discipline-specific projects, e.g. design, music, literary arts)
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Supporting and moving forward other special projects that will vary depending on the focus of AD’s work during the intern’s term.
QUALIFICATIONS
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Interest in art and civic engagement/social change work
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Ability to move between detail-oriented work and big picture concepts
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Strong research and writing skills
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General knowledge of present and emerging online and new media
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Strong computer skills. Experience working with html and website editing tools a big plus
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Ability to work independently. It is preferred, but not necessary for this intern to work in the DC office.
Time commitment: Interns commit to a mutually agreeable part-time (15-20 hours/week) or full-time (40 hours/week) schedule during regular hours of operation for the length of the term (minimum of 12 weeks). There is a possibility of mutually agreed upon internship extension.
Stipends: Interns and grad assistants receive a modest stipend based on the commitment of time and duration of the internship. Following Americans for the Arts Internship Program guidelines, AD offers a $500 stipend for part-time work and $1,000 stipend for full-time work for a minimum of 12 weeks. Interns receive a one-year base membership to Americans for the Arts. Membership benefits include legislative alerts, access to listservs, copies of member publications, bookstore discounts, research assistance, and invitations to member events. Other benefits may be negotiated such as complimentary registration for the Americans for the Arts annual convention.
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Help? 1/13/2009
