Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Internships

How do I post an internship?

Until further notice, due to COVID-19, AES is only reviewing internships that are offered virtually. To list your virtual internship, complete the AES Internship Posting Form. This form will guide you through what information is necessary for your internship posting. For ease in creation of your listing, you will be able to choose between four internship templates that fit into the focus of:

• Arts Marketing and Communication Internship;
• Arts Fundraising and Development Internship;
• Arts Programming Internship;
• Research Internship.

You may include additional internship information to add to the template or if your internship does not fall into one of these four focuses, you may create an entirely new listing.

AES staff will make suggestions and edits to your internship post and send it back to you. Once you submit a final draft, we will post it on our website, in UMass Amherst Career Services via Handshake, and begin actively promoting it to our students.

In addition to agreeing to the AES guidelines for internships, will need the following to complete your internship listing:

• A description of your organization/business;
• Your organization or business logo;
• A horizontal representative image of your organization/business;
• General contact information;
• Additional qualifications and tasks associated with your internship beyond the AES internship templates.

Please have that information ready when you complete the form.

How is an intern different than an employee?

This is the most commonly asked question. There are six criteria from the U.S. Department of Labor to help guide the analysis of whether the intern must be paid:

1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;
2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;
3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;
4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern, and on occasion, its operations may actually be impeded;
5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and
6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.

You can also read a fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Labor.This is the trickiest question to answer for some potential internship providers – feel free to contact AES if you need help.

What will AES do to promote my internship?

AES sends regular emails to students in our program about internship opportunities and HFA Advising and Career Center will submit your listing to Handshake. We also forward internship opportunities to different departments on campus and ask faculty/staff to share your internship with their students. We feature internship opportunities on our website, via our social media, and in our emails to students.

Is there anything AES requires me to do as an internship provider?

By posting an internship through the AES and UMass Amherst Career Services, you agree to the following memorandum of understanding (listed on the AES Internship Posting Form):

1. Inform the Arts Extension Service if I get an intern from my posting through the AES website and Career Services database.
2. Follow all local, state, and federal requirements for masking, distancing, and other COVID precautions.
3. Allow the Arts Extension Service a site-visit or virtual meeting while I am working with my intern.
4. Fill-out a simple evaluative survey at the end of my intern’s internship, to help AES better support arts and culture internship providers.
5. Have all meetings with an intern take place in a public or commercial/industrial zoned location, or submit to a background and criminal record check if the internship meets in person and meets at a location that is also a residential zoned location.
6. Contact the Arts Extension Service as needed with questions or suggestions.

Will AES “match” me with an intern?

No. When possible, we at AES do contact individual students we know with internship opportunities that might interest them. Because AES classes are seminar-sized and interdisciplinary, we have close relationships with our arts and culture students from a variety of departments.

Potential interns have contacted me! What should I do next?

Congratulations! Your next step is to set up a time to interview prospective interns. You may also attend one of our workshops on the best internship practices.

Can my intern be a work study student?

Community nonprofits in Massachusetts may be eligible to become a Registered Community Service Agency so they may host off-campus work study positions. Find out about the Guidelines & Work Study Limitations here. Learn about the registration process here.

My intern is interested in doing their internship for credit – is there anything I need to do?

Yes, but it is nominal. If your intern decides to do an internship for credit it is up to them to do all the legwork. If they ask you about it, tell them to talk to Career Services or the Arts Extension Service. It is up to the student to find a professor willing to sponsor them and to create an academic plan with them.

If your intern is doing their internship for credit, you will receive two emails from Career Services:

1. At the start of internship: a request for you to submit a description of the position – depending on what you and your intern determine their exact projects and duties to be, this might vary from your original internship posting.
2. At the end of internship: a request for you to complete an evaluation form.

It is incredibly important that you complete both forms otherwise your intern will not be able to receive credit for their experience.

I work from home. Can an intern work from my home studio?

Remote Internships must agree and abide by the AES internship guidelines. For in-person internships, yes, as of August 2016, Yes. When you submit your internship posting, indicate that the location is your home office or studio. We will notify UMass HR that you are interested in working with a student in your home. HR will contact you and get the information required to do HireRight and SORI background checks. These background checks are done at no cost to you and will only have to be done once. Once you have cleared your background check, you will be labeled as a registered "Internship Provider" in the UMass HR system, and in AES's records - the whole process should take less than two weeks. In the meantime, your internship can be posted on our website and the UMass database so you can start fielding applicants.

When is the best time to post an internship?

Listed below are the best times to post internships to fit your needs:

• Summer (May-August): post between February-March;
• Fall (September-December): post between June-August;
• Winter session (January): post between October-November;
• Spring (late January-May): post between November-December.

Keep in mind that students are often overwhelmed with work during certain times of the year – midterms, and the final weeks of school in particular. An end of the fall semester post may not bear much fruit until after the holidays, but DO post according to the chart above.

What if I don’t get an intern?

Take heart! AES’s work promoting internships is new and students – and internship providers - are still learning about the availability of arts and culture internships in this area. If you can, stick with it and keep your internship posted.

Who should I call or email if I have other questions?

If you have any questions, feel free to email or call the Arts Extension Service at aes@acad.umass.edu or 413-545-2360.

What are AES Internship Templates?

AES provides several internship templates that are applicable to any field.

The templates include:

• Arts Marketing and Communication Internship;
• Arts Fundraising and Development Internship;
• Arts Programming Internship;
• Research Internship.

If your internship offers unique offerings that do not apply to these templates, you can create a listing that fits your opportunity.

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Arts Marketing and Communication Internship - Online, Template Example

The arts marketing and communication intern may focus on the following areas: content creation and writing, using promotional tools, market research, and assisting in marketing analysis. Interns will work directly with staff and/or appointed members from the organization/business on general internship onboarding, creating a schedule, establishing weekly check-ins, and scheduling timely feedback meetings.

Work may include the following:

• Assist in content creation including, email, blog, social media, and video creation;
• Learn how to use and evaluate the effectiveness of marketing tactics using marketing analytics;
• Assist in the research of target audiences;
• Research promotional tools to reach audiences;
• Help to maintain a social media presence;
• Other duties as necessary.

Requirements:

• Strong writing skills.
• Understanding of social media platforms – especially Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Experience in Office and Google Drive;
• Enthusiasm for the organization’s mission;
• Other skills as needed per position.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Completion of AES Arts Marketing course;
• Some experience with digital design and editing platforms such as Canva, Adobe Spark, iMovie, and/or other photo/video editing programs is helpful.

Additional information will be included about your listing and requirements for application. List your internship.

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Arts Fundraising and Development Internship - Online, Template Example

The fundraising and development intern will focus on the following areas: grant research, donor research, and fundraising events. Interns will work directly with staff and/or appointed members from the organization/business on general internship onboarding, creating a schedule, establishing weekly check-ins, and scheduling timely feedback meetings.

Work may include the following:

• Identify grant/foundation opportunities;
• Help to create a grant calendar;
• Learn how to conduct donor research;
• Assist to create individual donor cultivation plans;
• Draft narratives and case studies for grant applications;
• Craft donor solicitation materials;
• Generate commonly used development documents, i.e. development calendars, print materials, and other supplementary materials for campaigns;
• Assist in planning development events;
• Research and assist in developing online fundraising campaigns;
• Other skills as required per position.

Requirements:

• Strong writing skills;
• General understanding of fundraising and development;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Experience in Office and Google Drive;
• An enthusiasm for the organization's mission;
• Other skills as needed per position.

Preferred Qualification: 

• Completion of AES Arts Fundraising course;
• Prior experience with a crowdfunding campaign.

Additional information will be included about your listing and requirements for application. List your internship.

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Arts Programming Internship - Online, Template Example

The arts programming intern will focus on the following areas: virtual programming research, assistance in event planning, outreach to partners and attendees, serving visitors or event attendees as well as general operational support. Interns will work directly with staff and/or appointed members from the organization/business on general internship onboarding, creating a schedule, establishing weekly check-ins, and scheduling timely feedback meetings. Events may include performance, exhibits, and educational events. 

Work may include the following:

• Help to organize events: researching vendors, developing timelines, and contingency plans;
• Research other virtual cultural events;
• Assist in adapting events to online platforms;
• Learn how to evaluate programs;
• Post to online calendars;
• Learn about outreach and collaboration with partners and teams;
• Assist in scheduling online meetings;
• Other duties as necessary.

Requirements:

• Strong writing skills;
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills;
• Experience in Office and/or Google Drive;
• Experience with Zoom and or other online meeting platforms;
• Enthusiasm for the organization’s mission;
• Other skills as required per position.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Completion of the AES Arts Programming course;
• Experience with presenting events.

Additional information will be included about your listing and requirements for application. List your internship.

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Research Internship - Online, Template Example

The research intern will focus on the following areas: research of relevant fields to the organization/business and research documentation. Interns will work directly with staff and/or appointed members from the organization/business on general internship onboarding, creating a schedule, establishing weekly check-ins, and scheduling timely feedback meetings. 

Duties may include the following:

• Assist in online historic or other related research;
• Copyediting and proofreading documents and updating current research;
• Research similar offerings and/or programs;
• Tagging online digitized libraries.

Requirements:

• Strong writing skills;
• Basic understanding of research processes;
• Exemplary organizational skills;
• Experience with Office and Google Drive;
• Enthusiasm for the organization’s mission;
• Other skills as needed per position.

Additional information will be included about your listing and requirements for application. List your internship.