Los Angeles, CA 90007
Reporting to artworxLA’s Communications Associate, the Production Intern’s primary project will be to produce two styles of short video content that not only convey artworxLA’s unique approach to arts education, but also advocate for the role of the arts in education and everyday life.
The first will be a short documentary-style video that captures artworxLA’s summer activities—from trainings and meetings at museums and cultural sites to hands-on workshops and participant interviews—told from the intern’s unique perspective. This project offers an opportunity to further develop their creative voice while gaining insight into the impact and behind-the-scenes development of arts education programming.
The second will be a scripted video that incorporates the intern’s voice and choice by selecting one of the following concepts:
- a launch video for their own production company;
- a launch video presenting a team vision for a proposed artworxLA rebrand;
- a video that highlights the arts as essential to human experience, everyday life, and especially education.
A team of professional mentors—including producers, filmmakers, editors, and social media managers—will guide the intern throughout the workflow of developing a treatment or film brief. Through this process, the intern will:
- collaborate with a team to develop a brand positioning statement—what artworxLA does, what makes us unique, who we serve, and why we exist;
- produce visual responses to speculative brainstorm exercises: If artworxLA were a music video, what locations would it feature? If artworxLA were a person, how would you portray them in a portrait? If artworxLA were a song, what would the vibe and structure feel like? If artworxLA were a television ensemble, who would you cast?;
- work with the Marketing Intern to create a problem/solution script that includes context, a core conflict, and a resolution centered on arts education advocacy;
- outline two narrative script options that reflect an “idealized reality” that artworxLA promotes as a brand—contrasting this vision with current circumstances and imagining the people who inhabit that ideal world and how they might act;
- develop a storyboard for a final video project, along with lists of equipment/props, and supplementary content (music, stock footage, etc.);
- execute the video, including shooting and editing, with the support of professional mentors and assistance from a peer team. This project will provide the intern with hands-on digital media production experience in service of advocating for the essential role of the arts in education and everyday life.
In addition to their primary project, the interns will engage in a variety of daily tasks that build creative and professional skills. The intern will participate in regular check-ins with supervisors that connect day-to-day tasks to big-picture concepts, address questions and mediate any confusion, and support their individual growth. Ongoing creative review sessions will build comfort in receiving feedback from staff and mentors on design, messaging, and production techniques. Interns will also join portions of weekly staff meetings and communications team check-ins to learn how departmental planning, messaging, and production workflows operate within a nonprofit arts organization. To highlight the cultural treasures of SPA 6: South Los Angeles, interns will take part in special visits to nearby cultural institutions in Exposition Park, such as the California African American Museum, the USC Fisher Museum of Art, 24th Street Theatre, and others, gaining broader exposure to LA’s arts ecosystem. Interns will also participate in field trips to Special Group’s headquarters (with transportation provided by Special/artworxLA via HopSkipDrive), where they will meet creative professionals from Special’s team and clients including Uber, Hanes, Fox Sports, Apple, Nike, and local production studios. These activities will provide a well-rounded understanding of the creative and logistical components of marketing beyond a nonprofit arts perspective.
Candidates should be passionate about the arts, eager to work as part of a team, and interested in pursuing arts education, marketing, or digital media production as a career path. Ideal candidates will have completed at least one creative project and one group project, either at school or through another activity. Some experience in media or visual arts, creative writing, or design is helpful—particularly familiarity with at least one creative software or tool. This might be one of the following: Procreate, Canva, Photoshop, or Illustrator for graphic design/illustration; Premiere, iMovie, or CapCut for video editing; or experience with cameras or lighting. Most importantly, candidates should be curious and willing to ask questions and share ideas with others.
artworxLA brings arts education to alternative high school students through ongoing workshops led by professional artists and opportunities to showcase their work in museums and cultural centers. Every year, more than 750 students across Los Angeles County participate, gaining creative skills, building confidence, and learning practical skills they can use in school, college, and future careers—all while experiencing the healing power of the arts.
Submit a resume and cover letter to internships@artworxla.org. Any questions or requests for application support can be directed to carlos@artworxla.org.