TIP: Here are some great places to look for other arts jobs:  
>> NC Arts Council Job Bank
>> NC Center for Nonprofits

INTERNSHIPS

VAE offers paid, part-time, in person internships to creative, driven, and fun individuals who are looking to get into the cultural arts or nonprofit world. VAE’s internship program is an extension of our core values. Over the past four decades, VAE’s staff work as an adaptable ensemble team structure where each team member takes the lead on the cross-departmental programs and projects they are most excited about and directly responsible for. VAE’s interns are an integral part in the process.

We welcome applicants from all levels of education. This internship is not designed with only college students in mind. Intern’s will establish learning objectives and perform tasks that align with the 8 career competencies outlined by NACE and their own personal goals. Our goal at VAE is to help our interns build the momentum they need to launch their career in arts administration. Internships can also be completed with school credit, if approved by your university.

Please visit our FAQ before reaching out to us with questions.

At this time, we are not accepting applications for internships.

EXHIBITION INTERN

5 months

10-15 hours per week (flexible schedule)

Deadline to apply: Not accepting applications at this time.

Exhibitions Interns are a vital member of VAE’s team and work predominantly with the Director of Exhibitions to help to facilitate, manage, and execute the physical and logistical aspects of VAE’s exhibitions, including solo, juried, and curated exhibitions in several venues around the Triangle. Tasks include creating and promoting calls for artists, curatorial research, creating exhibition materials (labels, webpages, gallery guides, etc), communicating with exhibition venues, managing art delivery and pick-up, designing and managing exhibition installations, staffing exhibition receptions, maintaining gallery spaces, and documenting gallery exhibitions. Exhibition Interns should expect to do the bulk of their work in person, during normal work hours (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm). There will be an opportunity to complete work remotely at the direction of the intern’s supervisor. Flexibility to staff some programming scheduled on nights and weekends is a plus. Interns attend staff meetings, cross departmental meetings, and one-on-ones with their supervisors weekly.  

Qualifications: Strong planning, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, as well as superior attention to detail, are must-haves! The best Exhibition Interns have the ability to multi-task and are self-motivated. Exhibition Interns help to oversee exhibits in multiple venues around the Triangle so reliable transportation is preferred (accommodations can be made, please see VAE’s equal opportunity statement at the bottom of this page).

Experience: Student working toward a degree in a creative field, with a Bachelor’s degree in a creative field, 1 year of experience working in a creative field, or 8 months of other relevant experience*. Light carpentry work or experience with power tools is preferred. Experience with exhibition ideation and production is ideal.

Work Environment: Exhibition Interns should expect to perform 80% of their tasks at a stationary desk and 20% active fieldwork that includes transporting, installing, and deinstalling exhibitions.

Physical Demands: Operate a computer and other office equipment, communicate with patrons and artists in the gallery, operate power tools, move art and materials up to 35 pounds (accommodations can be made, please see VAE’s equal opportunity statement at the bottom of this page).

Compensation: Exhibitions Interns are paid a stipend of $900 a month equalling a total of $4,500 for 5 months of work. The stipend will be paid, without taxes taken out, by check. Please allow up to two weeks for the check to be written and signed after the invoice is approved. The intern will receive a 1099 at the end of any calendar year where they are paid more than $500.

Application Process: OPTIONAL If available, please provide 3 - 5  images of exhibitions that you have designed and/or installed. 

COMMUNICATION INTERN

5 months

5 - 10 hours per week (flexible schedule)

Deadline to apply: Not accepting applications at this time.

VAE’s Communication Interns work with the entire team but will be mentored by the Executive Director. Communication Interns create graphics and content for social media, website updates, email campaigns, print materials, and press releases. Interns learn about the content strategy and style guide that VAE utilizes and learns what communications roles are like in small cultural arts organizations by assessing KPI of past campaigns. Interns should expect to do the bulk of their work in person, during normal work hours (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm). There will be an opportunity to complete work remotely at the direction of the intern’s supervisor. Flexibility to staff some programming scheduled on nights and weekends is a plus. Interns attend staff meetings, cross departmental meetings, and one-on-ones with their supervisors weekly.

Qualifications: Familiarity with the Google suite is a must. Strong communications, writing, and editing skills. Confidence with online platforms, including Squarespace, Facebook, and Instagram are must-haves. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite and email marketing software is a big plus!

Experience: Student working toward a degree in a creative field, Bachelor’s degree in a creative field, 1 year of experience working in a creative field, or 8 months of other relevant experience. Experience with social media management, content creation, and strategic marketing planning are ideal.

Work Environment: Communications Interns should expect to perform 50% of their tasks at a stationary desk, 30% active fieldwork that includes staffing programs, and events, and 20% around the gallery creating content.

Physical Demands: Operate a computer and other office equipment, communicate with patrons and artists in the gallery, and film and photograph content within the gallery.

Compensation: Communications Interns are paid a stipend of $600 a month equaling a total of $3,000 for 5 months of work. The stipend will be paid, without taxes taken out, by check. Please allow up to two weeks for the check to be written and signed after the invoice is approved. The intern will receive a 1099 at the end of any calendar year where they are paid more than $500.

Application Process: Please provide 2 - 5 images of graphics you have designed. Potential graphics would include but are not limited to fliers and social media posts/infographics.

VAE’s COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

The job descriptions above are written based on the skills most commonly found in the individuals who have previously filled those roles. Flexibility and accommodations will be provided to any candidate or team member who needs them. Because of the longstanding lack of diversity in the hiring practices of cultural arts organizations, VAE wants to make it clear that folks of color, folks with disabilities, queer folks, and folks without citizenship are welcome to apply for all current opportunities. If you’d like to start a conversation about any job, its requirements, or our staff culture before submitting application materials, please reach out to Ant Lobo-Ladd via email ant@vaeraleigh.org

VAE Raleigh is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to represent our entire community, including people at the intersections of multiple identities and lived experiences. We recognize and are working to ratify the inequities and lack of diverse representation in both the arts and nonprofit sectors. Creative individuals who are people of color, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, people with low-income, and hold other marginalized identities are encouraged to apply. VAE commits to providing accommodations and adaptations to job descriptions to choose the best team member. VAE Raleigh seeks to foster a fully inclusive work culture and expects all employees to further that as part of their commitment to our shared work.

Have questions? Visit our FAQ!

OPPORTUNITIES

Collaborative Curatorial Fellowship

DURATION: August 2024 - January 2025
APPLICATION DEADLINE: We are not accepting applications right now. Applications for the next cycle will open in early 2024.

It is almost time for round 3 of VAE’s Collaborative Curatorial Fellowship! This is your chance to be PAID to do your own artistic research and curation, in order to make your boldest idea into a reality. The selected Fellow (or collaborative team) will be awarded a $5,000 stipend to spend six months building their own creative project with the full support of VAE’s staff, board, resources, and network! In addition to their stipend, the Fellow will have a $5,000 budget to produce their project, pay artists and steering committee members, and create programming.