Summer Arts Internship Coordinator

The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance was founded in 1972 and is one of the nation’s best-known and most effective arts service organizations. We operate in five counties surrounding Philadelphia and also serve southern New Jersey and Northern Delaware as part of our metropolitan region.  We have nearly 400 nonprofit and for-profit members, but the Alliance serves the entire cultural sector – over 1,500 performing arts, visual arts, history, science, horticulture, arts education, community art centers, and other cultural organizations. 

The Summer Arts Internship pairs rising high school seniors from Philadelphia public schools with arts and culture organizations in the city for a paid internship. The program not only provides real-world work experience but professional development in the areas of public speaking, self-advocacy, self-actualization and post-secondary readiness. Philadelphia is one of seven cities across the country that power similar programs and is proud of the tremendous growth the program has seen over the past three years. 

Position Summary

The Summer Arts Internship is an important program that has the following components:

●      Summer Internship: A citywide eight-week program that places 100 rising high school seniors in internships at arts and culture organizations across Philadelphia. The program also delivers cultural immersion activities, weekly professional development and post-secondary readiness workshops.

●      School Year Internship: A 10-month expansion of the summer internship, which provides a small cohort (50+) of students with ongoing professional development experiences through the completion of real-world, project-based learning experiences at their worksites.

●     Alumni Engagement: The Cultural Alliance plans and delivers in-person and remote programming throughout the year that keeps internship alumni engaged with our organization and one another while continuing to explore the region’s cultural landscape and developing vital post-secondary skills.

The Summer Arts Internship Coordinator is a six-month, part-time position starting on or near the 2nd of March 2026 that supports the planning of the Alliance’s Summer Arts Internship programming and helps to manage the day-to-day implementation of the program. The Coordinator works closely with and directly reports to the Senior Manager of Bloomberg Arts Internship. The Summer Arts Internship program is supervised and strategically guided by the Senior Director of Community Engagement. With additional seasonal support from college-aged mentors, art therapy students, and consultants, the Coordinator supports recruitment, event planning, and administrative tasks such as data entry, phone calls, etc.

This is a part-time position, averaging 20-25 hours per week through June 15, 2026, with closer to 30-35 hours per week during the summer internship (June 15, 2026, through August 31, 2026). This is a hybrid position, with flexible hours including some evenings and weekends. During the summer internship, the Coordinator will be required to be on-site for events on Mondays and Fridays and will follow a hybrid work model Tuesday through Thursday. 

Primary Role & Responsibilities

●      Be the first line of support to a diverse cohort of creative and ambitious interns.

●      Manage a rigorous schedule of intern interviews, including guiding internship applicants through the application process.

●      Manage the onboarding process of interns selected to the program, this includes but is not limited to: helping to facilitate intern onboarding, collection of intern paperwork, and pairing of mentors

●      Collaborate with the internship team on intern placement at organizations.

●      Manage the program experience for a portion of the summer cohort (up to 50 interns)

●      Represent the Cultural Alliance at weekly cultural site visits and professional development days, including supporting the Arts Internship Manager, program partners and facilitating workshops as appropriate.

●      Support program wrap-up processes, including program evaluation and grant reporting.

Qualifications

A high school diploma and 1-2 years of experience working with students representing diverse backgrounds and cultures in creative and/or educational programs, or a combination of relevant education and experience are required for this position. A background or strong interest in program facilitation, administration, and implementation. Strong interpersonal and communication (verbal, written, presentation) skills. Ability and comfort in providing one-on-one support and mentoring, as well as the ability to lead a cohort of 40+ teenagers. Ability to be solution-oriented and excellent time and project management skills. Familiarity and appreciation for Greater Philadelphia’s arts and culture sector. Must be team-oriented and have the ability to work independently. Strong attention to detail and ability to meet set deadlines. A strong dedication to youth development through arts and culture. Experience with internships is a plus. MUST PROVIDE COPIES OF UP-TO-DATE CLEARANCES (PA Criminal Background, PA Child Abuse Check and FBI Fingerprint)

Clearances can be obtained utilizing this link.

Compensation

This is a part-time position, averaging 20-25 hours a week, with closer to 30-35 hours at certain points in the summer. Compensation is $22/hour.

This is a hybrid remote/in-person position based in Philadelphia, with some time in the office required for program administration and meetings. Proof of COVID vaccination is required for this position.

How to Apply

To apply, please email bai@philaculture.org with the subject line Arts Internship Coordinator <Last Name>, <First Name>, and include the following:

●  Resume

●  Cover letter detailing your relevant experience and interest

●  Two references

The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  We strongly encourage candidates with lived experiences from a wide range of communities to apply and we welcome applicants of all backgrounds. Our office is located in The Philadelphia Building, which is an accessible space in Center City Philadelphia.

The Cultural Alliance Work Environment Values Statement

As the Cultural Alliance serves our members and the broader arts and culture sector, we also celebrate the people who make that vital work possible. We know that as happy, healthy and fulfilled individuals, we are better advocates for the Cultural Alliance and its constituents.

We create an inclusive and supportive environment by practicing respect, empathy and valuing the diversity and perspective of each individual. Through our actions, we are accountable to our mission and values and considerate of each other and our stakeholders. We encourage work/life balance because we know that our unique backgrounds, passions and interests outside of work help to inspire innovative solutions.

We believe that we are all leaders, all possessing important insight into the mission of the Cultural Alliance, and all deserving of opportunities for advancement and professional development. We work as a team to build trust and collaborate in a way in which everyone’s input is heard and their contributions appreciated. We promote creativity and out-of-the-box thinking and challenge ourselves to continually ask what a strong organization looks like.