What's New?
The Arts & Culture Department will require that internships take place on site at the organization, with the option to have the intern complete up to 100 of their 400-hour internships remotely. The program will maintain the extended timeline that was implemented during the 2020 program year:
- Interns will be able to complete their 400 hours between June 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025.
- Awarded organizations will submit one invoice for 100% of the grant funds at the time of contract execution.
- The final hiring deadline for all interns in the program will be December 1, 2024. Any internships left unfilled on that date will be automatically considered forfeit and unused grant funds will need to be returned to the department.
- The rate of pay for interns in the program will be reassessed and possibly amended after the public release of minimum wage guidance by the city and county of Los Angeles in January 2024. All grant amounts listed below will be amended as necessary should the minimum wage in the city or county of Los Angeles be raised above $16.90 an hour. Additional guidance will be provided to awarded grantees at that time.
Overview
Each organization participating in the program is awarded a grant ranging from $6,760 – $7,510 per intern. The amount an organization receives and the eligible number of internship positions requested depends on the applicant’s budget size (the total operating revenue less in-kind for the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year).
The grant supports an intern’s salary for 400 hours of employment between June 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025. Organizations choose the intern's start and end date within that period, as well as how many hours a week they will work. A full-time (40-hour per week) position lasts ten consecutive weeks, while a part time (15 hour per week) position lasts 27 consecutive weeks. Organizations may modify that schedule if needed within the program timeframe but may not exceed 8 hours per day/40 hours per week without paying overtime.
All interns will be paid $6,760 for 400 hours of work ($16.90 per hour). An additional stipend of $750 is awarded to organizations with budgets less than $500,000 to assist with administrative costs and any other additional expenses associated with hosting an intern.
NOTE: funded organizations are responsible for recruiting and selecting a student who meets eligibility requirements for the program.
In 2017, the Board of Supervisors expanded the number of positions funded through the program as part of the Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative (CEII) in recognition of the unique role of workforce development opportunities like the Arts Internship Program in addressing continued disparities of equity and access to arts careers. The Board stipulated that the additional positions be reserved for community college students, emphasizing inclusivity of those from communities that experience barriers to arts access.
All organizations are encouraged to be inclusive in recruiting and hiring students of all backgrounds, including community college students.
| Organizational Budget Size | Allowable Internship Request | Grant Award Per Internship | Maximum Award Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget under $500,000 | One or two | $7,510 | $15,020 |
| Budget over $500,000 | One, two or three (if three, at least one community college student) | $6,760 | $20,280 |
View The Guidelines
A full list of guidelines for applying to the 2023 Arts Internship Program.