Interns with Smithsonian Associates are offered unique opportunities to learn about all aspects of educational programming for both adults and children, while contributing extensively to one of the world's great cultural institutions. Intern projects are designed to benefit both the Institution and complement the intern's own interests, skills, and experience.

Intern Duties: Promotional and programmatic support for the large scale public events, with a special focus on after-hours, Smithsonian-wide programs for young professionals.

The intern will assist with general event planning as well as social media outreach.

Tasks include:

• Maintaining, enhancing, & providing content for social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram
• Researching similar events in DC and beyond and suggesting best practices
• Logistical planning, including communicating with vendors, volunteers, partners, artists and performers; ordering supplies; and attending planning meetings and discussions
• Event implementation, including greeting the general public and answering questions; helping with set-up and clean-up; and supporting vendors, partners, artists and performers by addressing equipment, technical, and other needs
• Assists the programming department with additional duties as assigned.

Intern will also assist with all aspects of Associates' core programming, including:
• Research, booking, budgets, speaker selection, contract negotiation, space rental, catering, technology requirements, logistical set-up, and marketing
• Event implementation, including greeting the general public and answering questions; helping with set-up and clean-up; and supporting vendors, partners, speakers and performers by addressing equipment, technical, and other needs
• Assist with staffing duties during some evening and weekend programs
• Assists the programming department with additional duties as assigned. Learning Objectives: By working closely with the program coordinators, the intern will gain experience in all aspects of program and event production, including: budgeting, performance reporting, customer service, trouble-shooting/problem-solving, adapting to different situations, multi-tasking, creative thinking, researching, coordination at events, creating and maintaining inventories, editing promotional materials, communication, box office and house management, organization and time management, event management.
• Apply internet research skills and gain experience in social media marketing
• Develop experience in event planning and production • Improve writing skills through a variety of communication mediums (formal correspondence, marketing materials, web content)
• Expand professional network in producing events

Pre-Requisites:
• Ability to work efficiently with attention to detail
• Familiarity with Microsoft Word & Microsoft Excel
• Internet research skills, including social media and networking sites
• Knowledge of and interest in culture, art, science and/or history and programming in a museum setting
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills
• Ability to creatively solve problems as they arise and work with loose supervision
• Must be able to interact with different types of people while maintaining a professional demeanor.
• Experience and/or interest in educational public programming, museum programming, house management, arts management, and/or event planning
• Background or strong interest in culture, art, science and/or history or event planning required
• Ability to work quickly with attention to detail both independently and as a team

Seasons: Spring (Jan - May), Summer (June - Aug), Fall (Sept - Dec)
Time Commitment: 25 hrs/week; 1 full semester Schedule: Mon - Fri, 10:00am to 3-4:00pm, plus 3-5 evening events throughout the semester

Supervisors: Lauren Rosenberg, Program Coordinator, and Heather Jaran, Program Coordinator

Compensation: All Associates internships are unpaid and housing is not provided. College credit may be granted, but must be coordinated in advance with the intern's university/college. Location: Virtual for the time being.