The Program Intern will support ACTA’s cultural asset mapping project in the Antelope Valley, part of a health equity initiative funded by The California Endowment. The project is grounded in the understanding that arts and culture play an important role in community well-being. Through heritage-based and participatory cultural practices, the work strengthens engagement with local traditions and supports community-driven approaches to transformative social action.
A central component of the project is ACTA’s cultural asset mapping methodology, which identifies and documents the cultural treasures of a community. Cultural treasures include the people, groups, customs, places, and events that hold aesthetic or historical meaning and contribute to community identity. These assets may be material, immaterial, emotional, or spiritual. The project follows a community-led process in which local residents have been trained to document cultural assets and share them through gatherings and public events. Current efforts focus on engaging a council of local leaders to guide how the cultural map can be sustained and used to support long-term community health goals.
The Program Intern will support these activities by assisting with community gatherings, cultural events, and outreach efforts. Responsibilities include helping organize and process information collected through community gatherings and surveys, preparing materials so the information can be shared with the community, and supporting the organization and uploading of documentation to the project microsite. The intern will also assist with event logistics and other program tasks connected to ACTA’s broader initiatives.
Through this experience, the intern will gain practical exposure to community-based cultural research and documentation. The internship will introduce community-centered ethnographic fieldwork methods and approaches for respectfully engaging with tradition bearers and
community members. The intern will also develop skills in organizing cultural documentation and using digital tools to share community stories. The experience will provide insight into how traditional arts practices contribute to collective identity and community well-being, and how arts nonprofits build partnerships and community relationships to develop place-based programming in Los Angeles County.
JOB DUTIES
● Organize local cultural assets identified by the community in the Antelope Valley.
● Support the documentation of cultural assets through photography, research, and developing descriptions and updating microsite.
● Participate in brainstorming sessions and written content development to present the project, potentially through story maps or other ways.
● Engage in and help plan community outreach and engagement activities, both in-person and remotely.
● Provide support for the delivery of other ACTA projects, programs, and events as needed
● Attend bi-weekly staff meetings, bi-weekly check-ins with the cultural mapping team, and weekly check-ins with their direct supervisor.
● Contribute to ACTA’s website content updates as needed, such as creating artist profile pages and supporting panel processes for ACTA funding programs, and may be involved in editorial content development beyond the cultural mapping project.
● Support event logistics for online or in-person programs as needed. The position will work approximately 15-20 hours a week for a total of 400 hours between June 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. "
"● Interest in arts, culture, heritage, and how these are practiced in community.
● Ability to approach community-based work with openness, curiosity, and a strong work ethic.
● Creative, detail-oriented, resourceful, hands-on, and proactive in supporting program activities.
● Strong written English language skills.
● Availability for occasional evening and weekend hours for community engagement activities.
● Experience working with Google Workspace, MS Word, and Excel.
● Ability to organize tasks, manage multiple responsibilities, and meet deadlines.
● Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.
Preferred but not required:
● Background or coursework in community-based cultural work, community engagement, or cultural research.
● Some experience conducting interviews or engaging with community members in the field.
● Experience organizing or managing qualitative information such as survey responses, notes, or documentation.
● Familiarity with basic documentation tools (photography, audio, or video) used in community-based projects.
● Bilingual in English and another language, such as Spanish or Tagalog."
The Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) supports the health, vibrancy, and evolution of the State’s diverse cultural traditions through advocacy, public programs, grantmaking, and connections for folk and traditional artists. ACTA was founded in 1997 by an alliance of traditional artists, cultural workers, and arts administrators and has become nationally recognized for its cultural equity leadership, intellectual capital, and excellence in program administration. Over the past 28 years, ACTA has grown into a $5+ million, statewide organization headquartered in Fresno, with field offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and remote staff located in various parts of the state.
Please submit a resume, a cover letter explaining your interest in the internship and highlighting any relevant experience or skills, and a writing sample (e.g., blog post, newsletter excerpt, or essay) to jobs@actaonline.org with the subject line “Program Intern.” Please ensure all materials are submitted by April 30th. Position open until filled. ACTA will begin reviewing applications on May 4, 2026.