Summer Festival internships run May 24 through September 2, 2022 and are part of a structured program decades in the making. Jacob’s Pillow internships offer invaluable training and mentorship towards your professional career. By interning with Jacob’s Pillow during the summer, you join a team of seasoned arts professionals and assist with multiple programs pertaining to the Festival, The School, the Archives, and Community Engagement.
Last year, the 2021 internship program offered fewer internships than has been customary in the past, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, to strengthen our vigilance, full COVID vaccination is required as a condition of employment and internship. Jacob’s Pillow has adopted this policy on mandatory vaccination to safeguard the health of employees, interns, and guests from the hazard of COVID-19. Additionally, Jacob’s Pillow invests in medical staffing, COVID-19 testing, and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), and implements protocols in consultation with medical professionals and in accordance with local laws and regulations. All interns will be asked to commit to these guidelines as a condition of their appointment, the details of which will be available prior to acceptance.
As a Summer Festival Intern, you will:
- Be a member of the team executing one of the world’s most prestigious dance festivals.
- Experience a Festival environment offering world-class ballet, contemporary, cultural, dance/theatre, and jazz dance; public events including artist talks, master classes, community classes, open rehearsals, and free performances; access to one of the field’s most valuable dance Archives; and professional advancement training in The School at Jacob’s Pillow.
- Receive on-the-job training and experience working with the Festival’s staff.
- Gain a broad perspective on the international performing arts field.
- Join an international community of artists, faculty, scholars, staff, students, and intern peers in a dance-filled environment.
- Enjoy the rich heritage of this National Historic Landmark in the beautiful Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.
- Learn more details about intern life at the Pillow by clicking here!
Interns receive:
- Career talks, topical discussions, Staff-led seminars, training, and mentoring
- On-campus housing
- 3 meals per day
- $2,000 stipend
- Free performances and dance classes
- College credit, work-study, independent study, and/or cooperative learning programs may be available through your school. Or you may register for college credit at Jacob’s Pillow through our partnership with the Division of Continuing Education at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Check with your college registrar’s office and department to determine whether these credits will transfer to your school. Credit fee information is available after May 1.
Additional Special Opportunities: Candidates may be eligible for an additional stipend and other support through The Barbara and Amos Hostetter Internship Program. Read the full details of this sponsored program here. Please fill out the application to express interest in this program and to begin a review of eligibility for financial support, including travel stipends to/from the Pillow.
Applicants must be 18 years of age in order to participate in the internship program. Criteria for acceptance are the same for everyone without regard to race, color, gender, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status.
Jacob’s Pillow is committed to providing an inclusive, diverse, accessible, and equitable environment that cultivates the celebration of the art of dance and its positive impact on communities. Jacob’s Pillow’s mission is to support dance creation, presentation, education, and preservation; and to engage and deepen public appreciation and support for dance. Organization-wide values include inclusion, leadership, integrity, flexibility, partnership, and sustainability. Learn more about Jacob’s Pillow, its mission statement, and its values here.
Jacob’s Pillow is a registered 501(c)(3) not for profit organization that provides equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law. This policy also prohibits employees from harassing any other employee for any reason including, but not limited to, race, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disabled status.
2022 Summer Intern Positions
Archives / Audience Engagement
Two Archives / Audience Engagement Interns work alongside the Director of Preservation and Associate Archivist to provide public access to the Pillow’s extensive collection of videos, photographs, books, and other historical materials.
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Community Engagement
Two Community Engagement Interns work closely with the Director of Community Engagement, the Community Engagement Programs Manager, and the Community Engagement Administrative Fellow to implement the Pillow’s on-site, off-site, and virtual Community Engagement Programs in a holistic and inclusive way, while following safety guidelines around COVID-19.
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Company Management
Three Company Management Interns assist work with staff in the day-to-day management of a multi-venue dance festival and are responsible for a wide variety of logistics associated with company management, campus management, and customer service.
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House Management
Two House Management Interns work closely with the Theatre Manager and Patron Services Interns, the Director of Patron Services, Box Office Management and staff, and Production staff to provide the highest level of customer service to patrons.
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Marketing / Digital Media
Two Marketing / Digital Media Interns report to the Digital Marketing Manager and also works closely with the Director of Marketing and the Digital Marketing Associate to enhance the Pillow’s vibrant digital media presence.
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Operations and Systems
(Information Technology)
The Operations and Systems intern assists the Director of Operations and Systems and works with both the Database Administrator and the Associate Systems Administrator to provide technical support to the staff during the festival season.
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Patron Services
Two Patron Services Interns work closely with the Director of Patron Services, Assistant Box Office Manager, House Management Interns, Theatre Manager, volunteers, and the public.
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Philanthropy / Individual & Institutional Giving
The Philanthropy / Individual and Institutional Giving Intern will have the opportunity to gain real work experience in a busy Philanthropy office.
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Philanthropy / Special Events
The Philanthropy / Special Events Internship offers an opportunity to gain real work experience in a busy Philanthropy office and work on multiple events of varying sizes.
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Production
Ten Production Interns work with the Production Staff, learning and gaining experience through Festival set-up, company load-ins, and show-operating positions in one indoor theatre, an outdoor stage, and multiple non-traditional theatre venues.
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Public Relations
Two Public Relations Interns work closely with the Public Relations & Communications Coordinator to assist with all aspects of securing, tracking, and archiving media coverage of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival while managing the editing and production of weekly printed performance programs.
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School Programs
Three School Programs Interns work with The School staff to coordinate and implement five onsite, professional advancement programs involving an international roster of up to 40 artist faculty and 118 dancers, as well as operations and logistics for Pillow affiliated intensives being held worldwide in partnership with peer institutions.
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Video Documentation
Two Video Documentation Interns work with the staff videographer to chronicle the Festival season.
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