The Virginia Folklife Program is seeking one or more interns for Summer 2023 (roughly May through August). Online applications are due Friday, March 31. If you have questions, please contact folklife@virginiahumanities.org. (Please note: If you emailed “folklife@virginia.edu” before February 10 we did not receive your message—please resend!)
Internship Duties
Virginia Folklife Program interns will have an opportunity to work closely with the Virginia State Folklorist and Digital Media Specialist on a variety of projects, including:
- Supporting inventory of Folklife Program archives
- Processing fieldwork materials (interview transcription)
- Developing profiles of artists for our website and social media
- Designing social media content based on our collections
- Supporting our summer Apprenticeship Program events and the 2023 Richmond Folk Festival
- Marketing research and/or audience survey development
- Writing content for Sights & Sounds, the Virginia Folklife Program online publication
If desired, the intern will also have the opportunity to design and undertake independent fieldwork on a region, tradition, or community in Virginia to add to our archives and publish on Sights & Sounds.
Schedule & Compensation
We are seeking one or more interns for Summer (May–August) 2023. Interns must be able to work a minimum of 8 hours a week, with 16-20 hours a week preferred. Please indicate your desired start and end date, as well as proposed weekly work schedule in your application. Virginia Folklife Program offices are located at the Dairy Market in Charlottesville, and interns may work in person, remotely, or hybrid. We can offer $15 per hour for undergraduate students and $20 per hour for graduate students or emerging professionals. If you are seeking course credit for your internship, we will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements with you and/or your advisor.
Who May Apply
- Undergraduates with academic coursework related to folklife (ethnomusicology, anthropology, history, American Studies, or other arts and culture fields) and demonstrated interested in traditional or community-based arts and/or arts administration
- Graduate students with at least one year of study in a folklife related field (see above) and demonstrated interested in traditional or community-based arts and/or arts administration
- Non-students with a strong background in traditional arts or community-based culture work in Virginia who are pursuing a career in folklife, arts administration, or a related field.
Evaluation Criteria
Interns will be chosen based on their:
- Interest in related career pathways in arts administration, cultural programming, or working with historical archives
- Familiarity with Virginia folkways and/or relationships with cultural communities
- Writing samples
- Interest and/or experience in cultural documentation, including interviewing, photography, audio and/or video recording, and transcription
- Relevant professional experience, especially in the non-profit sector
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