Internships
Deadline for Spring internships: Nov 9, 2010
Spring Internship Period: Jan 4 – May 16
CounterPULSE is one of San Francisco’s leading venues for cutting-edge, interdisciplinary performance. Our interns experience a lively and bustling work environment at the heart of the Bay Area’s arts community, gaining essential hands-on work experience, making valuable contacts, and participating in the leadership of the organization. Internships are available in the following four areas:
Outreach Internship
Our outreach intern works closely with our Communications Manager to execute all aspects of promotion and publicity. This position is a crash-course in how to promote a working art space and the productions within. CounterPULSE believes in creative outreach strategies that involve the audience in the work that is produced in the space. The outreach intern will utilize social networking sites, blogging and traditional publicity routes to get the word out about everything that is CounterPULSE. They follow events from their curatorial inception to the actual performance, helping to shape how we communicate art and ideas. They will play a pivotal role in all planning processes and production meetings, and duties include online publicity, procuring donations, documentation of audience members and artists during rehearsals and performances of events, and general office and database upkeep. This internship offers the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of social media, engage in the creative process, and practice professional outreach and publicity strategies.
Candidates should have regular access to email, a working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Google documents, Facebook, and Twitter, excellent and professional phone and people skills, and enthusiasm for art and creative problem solving!
Program Internship
Our program interns learn valuable skills in arts administration through “hands on” experience. They play a pivotal role in and out of the CounterPULSE office, assisting our Programs Manager with all aspects of administration, and are a key member of the staff. This position is active and varied. Its duties range from attendance and secretarial tasks at board and staff meetings, to correspondence with donors, to management of databases and demographic surveys, as well as everyday office tasks. The program intern also has the opportunity to accrue skills in curatorial strategies and philosophies, and to gain a fundamental understanding of the general ebb and flow of a non-profit community arts space.
They are also encouraged to initiate independent projects applicable to their interests, and to fully bring their voice and critical thought to the development and identity of CounterPULSE. Candidates should have basic computer knowledge (including MS Word and Excel), excellent phone and people skills, and enthusiasm for working with a diverse public.
Technical Internship
It is the goal of the Technical Internship program to introduce aspiring technicians to the processes and skills involved in running a rental facility and producing shows in a small, but busy professional theater. This experience will also introduce the intern to an eclectic array of artists and projects in hopes of expanding their knowledge of the performance world in the Bay Area. The Technical Intern will work closely with the Theater Manager to assist in executing all CounterPULSE-produced projects such as Slow Foods Feast, Frolic, the Artist in Residence showcase and co-productions. The Technical Intern is a hands-on position and the intern will be required to assist in the general maintenance and upkeep of the space and equipment. Through this process, the intern will learn first hand how to use all of the technical equipment at CounterPULSE and apply it to productions. The Technical Intern will be required to attend some rehearsals, production meetings and staff meetings in order to learn all aspects of producing a show from a technical standpoint. The Technical Intern should have some technical background and be comfortable working on a ladder. They should also have professional people skills, accessibility to email and a working knowledge of MS Word and Excel. The Intern should be prepared to work 10 hours a week. Design experience and a flexible schedule are not required but are encouraged. There is the potential that this internship experience could lead to more professional technical experiences with CounterPULSE.
Production Internship
Our production interns learn valuable skills in arts administration through “hands on” experience. They play a pivotal role in and out of the CounterPULSE office, assisting our core staff with all aspects of administration and coordination of CounterPULSE productions.
The production intern also has the opportunity to accrue skills in curatorial strategies and philosophies, and to gain a fundamental understanding of the general ebb and flow of a non-profit community arts space. They are also encouraged to shadow lighting or sound designers when appropriate and attend Board of Directors Meetings and other CounterPULSE activities.
The Spring 2010 Production Intern will focus on CounterPULSE nnual festival/fundraiser May Day. They will work closely with our Executive Director and Program Manager: Residencies and Gallery to execute all aspects of May Day event.
In addition to assisting with May Day, this position will assist with a broad variety of tasks including liaising with artists, administrative upkeep and organization, managing contact lists and timelines and helping on-site at a broad variety of CounterPULSE events.
Candidates should have regular access to email, a working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Google documents, excellent and professional phone and people skills, and enthusiasm for heritage-based and contemporary performance.
| Title | Time Commitment | Stipend |
| Outreach Intern | 15 hrs/week | $400 |
| Production Intern | 15 hrs/week | $500 |
| Program Intern | 15 hrs/week | $400 |
| Technical Intern | 15 hrs/week | $400 |
Internship commitments and deadlines are as follows:
| Season | Application Deadline | Length of Internship |
| Summer, 2011 | March 7, 2011 | May 10-Sept 15 |
| Fall 2010 | July 12, 2010 | Sept 1-Jan 14* |
| Spring 2010 | November 9, 2010 | Jan 4-May 16 |
*For Fall of 2010 the Production intern will begin on August 2nd.
All interns receive free admission to all CounterPULSE events and academic credit if applicable.
To apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to internships@counterpulse.org. In the subject line, please indicate the title of the position for which you wish to apply. It is possible to be considered for multiple positions with one application.
