Jacob's Pillow Internship Opportunities
Becket – During the summer of 2008, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival offers thirty-one internship opportunities for those aspiring to professional careers in arts administration and technical theater production, and is now accepting applications for the 2008 Intern Program. A National Historic Landmark and the longest-running dance festival in the U.S., Jacob’s Pillow offers a high-energy, international atmosphere where interns from around the globe carry out key roles in producing Festival programs.Erin Smith, Ph.D., a former Archives/Preservation Intern, remarks, “Jacob’s Pillow gave me the opportunity to establish professional relationships with influential people in the field of dance and arts management.” For additional internship information, to view a video clip of the internship experience on campus, or to apply, visit www.jacobspillow.org/home/summer-internships.asp or e-mail info@jacobspillow.org. Applications for priority consideration are due February 8 and all applications must be submitted by February 29
Thirty-one positions are available in over ten program areas: Archives/Preservation, Business, Development/Individuals, Development/Institutional, Editorial/Press, Education, Graphic Design, Operations, Photojournalism, Presenting, Production, Ticket Services, House Management and Video Documentation. Interns are selected through a competitive process of written application reviews and phone interviews.
Living amid Jacob’s Pillow’s international and historic environment from May 21–August 28, 2008, interns become an integral part of the diverse community of artists, faculty, students, and staff. Extensive on-the-job training is led by the Pillow’s professional staff and is enriched by regular attendance at performances, dance classes, staff-led workshops, and Festival events—all provided to interns free of charge. A monetary stipend and free room and board are also provided. Internships provide key career contacts, knowledge of current issues related to the field, invaluable first-hand experience in arts administration or technical theater production, and networking with the Pillow’s international community of artists and alumni. College credit is available through the Pillow’s affiliation with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and often also available through the intern’s college.
Katie Friis, a former Education Intern, points out, “because of this internship, I am applying for jobs that I never would have felt qualified for three months ago. The experience has given me skills and professional confidence that I will take with me to my future positions.” Former interns have been employed at prestigious arts organizations in the U.S., Europe, and Asia such as the Baryshnikov Arts Center, Danish Dance Theater, Kennedy Center, Mark Morris Dance Group, National Public Radio, Princess Grace Foundation, The Washington Post, and Jacob’s Pillow. For more information, visit www.jacobspillow.org or call 413.243.9919.
Jacob’s Pillow celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2007 and is home to a renowned international dance Festival, presenting and commissioning works of artists and companies from throughout the world. The School at Jacob’s Pillow encompasses a professional training program in the diverse disciplines of ballet, cultural traditions, contemporary traditions, jazz/musical theatre dance, and a choreographers lab, as well as an Intern Program. The Pillow’s extensive Archives, open year-round to the public free of charge, chronicle over 75 years of the often ephemeral and elusive art form of dance in print, video, and more. Jacob’s Pillow’s year-round Community Programs enrich the lives of children and adults and the Creative Development Residency program supports artists as they create, yet another piece of the Pillow’s cultural legacy. In 2003, Jacob's Pillow was declared a National Historic Landmark and is the first and only dance entity in the U.S. to achieve this honor.
As of January 2008, major support for Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival has been provided by: The Barrington Foundation; The Dana Foundation; Danish Arts Agency; Frances Alexander Foundation; The Marshall Frankel Foundation; The Howard Gilman Foundation; The Harkness Foundation for Dance; The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; The Leir Charitable Foundations, in Memory of Henry J. Leir; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Mertz Gilmore Foundation; National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts; Evelyn Stefansson Nef Foundation; Netherland-America Foundation; Netherlands Culture Fund; New England Foundation for the Arts; Bessie Pappas Charitable Foundation; The Prospect Hill Foundation; Arch W. Shaw Foundation; The Shubert Foundation, Inc.; The Starr Foundation; The Surdna Foundation; Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism; National Endowment for the Arts; ALEX®; Ameriprise Financial; Big Y World Class Market; Capezio/Ballet Makers Dance Foundation; The Legacy Banks Foundation; Tourism Cares; The Pillow Business Alliance; and Jacob’s Pillow Members.
Major endowment support is provided by The Barrington Foundation; The William Randolph Hearst Foundation; The Leir Charitable Foundations, in Memory of Henry J. Leir; Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Onota Foundation; The Prospect Hill Foundation; The Puffin Foundation; Arch W. Shaw Foundation; and the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative, a collaboration of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Surdna Foundation.
