Practical Experience. Truly Rewarding.
Internships
Beginning in Summer 2026, LexArts will offer cohort-based General Arts Administration Internships in the spring, summer, and fall. Each session includes 2–3 interns selected to participate as a cohort.
This program provides interns with broad, hands-on experience in nonprofit arts administration through a rotational, cross-department structure.
Interns participate in a weekly rotation across LexArts departments, gaining exposure to the organization’s core areas of work. Rotations are structured to balance learning objectives with organizational needs and may vary slightly by term.
Departments may include:
During each rotation, interns:
- Receive a brief orientation to the department’s programs and priorities
- Complete meaningful, department-specific tasks and projects
- Work with a designated staff point person for guidance and support
Time Commitment
Interns complete up to 150 total hours, aligning with common university internship credit requirements. Candidates should be able to commit 10-15 hours per week for a full semester or summer session (allowing for holidays, doctor visits, etc.). Days/times are flexible with intern’s schedule. At this time, we do not offer remote internships and interns are expected to be able to work in person at the LexArts offices at ArtsPlace.
Cross-Department Task Bank
To ensure consistent and meaningful work throughout the internship, LexArts maintains a shared list of cross-department intern tasks. This task bank allows interns to support additional projects when a department’s workload is lighter during a given rotation.
Tasks may include:
- Research and data organization
- Grant research and draft writing
- Event preparation and documentation
- Communications and content support
- Database and administrative assistance
- Program documentation and evaluation
- Public art inventory and archival support
Supervision & Support
Interns are supported through a shared supervision model:
- The Internship Coordinator oversees onboarding, scheduling, rotations, and university communication
- Department staff provide week-to-week guidance during rotations
- Interns participate in brief, regular check-ins to support progress and learning
Learning Outcomes
By completing the General Arts Administration Internship, interns will:
- Gain practical experience across multiple areas of nonprofit arts administration
- Develop an understanding of how departments collaborate within a community-focused arts organization
- Build professional skills in communication, organization, and time management
- Create resume-ready documentation of their work and contributions
- Expand professional networks within the Lexington arts community
Internship Outcomes & Documentation
Interns track their hours throughout the term. In addition to recording hours, interns document weekly tasks and accomplishments.
At the conclusion of the internship, each intern compiles a final resume-ready or course-required summary of their completed work based on this documentation.
Important Dates and How to Apply
We have currently paused our Spring internship program in order to restructure the program for the summer and fall! Please follow our socials for updates on the future of our internship options.
LexArts accepts applications for General Arts Administration Internships on a rolling, annual basis for each session.
Application Deadlines:
- Summer Internship Application Deadline: April 15
- Fall Internship Application Deadline: July 15
- Spring Internship Application Deadline: November 15
Selected applicants will be contacted following the application deadline to schedule interviews.
Questions may be directed to:
Arden Barnes
Special Programs Manager, LexArts
abarnes@lexarts.org
Interns will receive a
at the end of their internship and college credit is available to applicants enrolled at a university or college.
