Field Experience
The EM Department offers unique, NEC student-only field experiences for hands-on learning at Boston area arts organizations and on campus at NEC. All of these field experiences are paid, and some offer professional performance experience as well—read below to find out more about each individual opportunity.
North End Music & Performing Arts Center | Applications Closed
The North End Music & Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) is seeking a Program & Administrative Assistant to support the day to day operations of the community music school and performing arts center. The assistant will cover front desk hours at one of our facilities, answer calls, assist with student check in, help with marketing and programing initiatives, and should love engaging with students and families. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, organized, and is excellent at communication.
This position is part-time employee status, 10 - 15 hours per week, in-person, and must have availability at least 2 afternoons per week during our peak hours of 2 - 6:30 p.m and potentially on Saturday’s from 11 am to 2 pm.
To view the full position description, click here.
How to apply: Please send resume and cover letter to Sherri Snow, at ssnow@nempacboston.org.
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The North End Music & Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) seeks a Development and Marketing Intern to support development, marketing, and communications tasks, with a focus on the Annual Donor Appeal Campaign. The intern will report directly to the Development Manager and Marketing Manager and will gain broad experience in a non-profit environment, including building and sustaining donor relationships, creating compelling communication pieces that tell the NEMPAC story, participating in various print and online marketing campaigns, and running a major Annual Donor Appeal Campaign. The ideal candidate will be motivated and organized, with good attention to detail and strong writing skills.
To view the full position description, click here.
How to apply: Applicants should send a resume and cover letter to Pamela Feo, Development Manager at development@nempacboston.org by August 31, 2022 . Applicants will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.
This fellowship is open to any NEC student in any degree program, provided you are authorized to work by NEC Student Payroll (learn more at this link). The fellowship will consist of 10-20 hours of work per week for one semester. Compensation will be released shortly, and will be distributed through your NEC Student Employment paycheck. This fellowship will not count as on-campus employment and is not eligible for credit.
Community Music Center of Boston Arts Admin Intern| Applications Open
The Arts Administration Intern supports CMCB’s Advancement, Programs, and Operations teams on special projects, providing administrative support in a shared office space. This is an exciting time to work for CMCB as it is in the first year of a five year strategic plan with an ambitious vision to transform community arts education to be more culturally inclusive and learner-centered.
This individual will have the opportunity to support CMCB’s administrative staff on special events and projects and will work directly with CMCB's Chief Programming Officer, Senior Director of Development and External Relations. Projects will be coordinated based on the intern’s own background and interests. The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, a good communicator, and has an interest in community arts education.
This fellowship is open to any NEC student in any degree program, provided you are authorized to work by NEC Student Payroll (learn more at this link). The fellowship will consist of 4-6 hours of work per week and will be paid at $14.25/hr on your NEC Student Employment paycheck. This fellowship will not count as on-campus employment and is not eligible for credit.
Boston Music Project Intern(s) | Applications Closed
Celebrating over 11 years of youth music education, the Boston Music Project (BMP) is a creative youth development program committed to ensuring the long-term social and musical success of our cities' less advantaged urban youth by nurturing individual expression, celebrating unique cultures, and developing life skills through quality education and performance. BMP is inspired by El Sistema, the Venezuelan program that uses music education as a vehicle for social change. BMP serves 700+ students in kindergarten through 12th grade through ten partnerships with Boston Public Schools. All students are welcome to participate, regardless of musical ability. For more information, visit bostonmusicproject.org.
POSITION DESCRIPTIONS
Development Intern: Development Interns will gain hands-on experience in supporting fundraising and grant-writing efforts for a non-profit with a focus on musical excellence and creative youth development. Interns will assist the Executive Director and Development Manager with weekly grant writing, donor relations, and fundraising projects.
- To view the full position description, please click here.
Public Relations Intern: Public Relations Intern will gain hands-on experience in building a replicable public relations strategy for a growing non-profit with a focus on musical excellence and creative youth development. Interns will assist the Executive Director and Program Manager with day-to-day operations and learn about the various components of managing a school-based arts non-profit, including but not limited to marketing/communications, press releases, and social media management.
- To view the full position description, please click here.
This fellowship is open to any NEC student in any degree program, provided you are authorized to work by NEC Student Payroll (learn more at this link). The fellowship, which can be completed remotely, will consist of 4-6 hours of work per week and will be paid at $14.25/hr on your NEC Student Employment paycheck. This fellowship will not count as on-campus employment and is not eligible for credit.
Phoenix Orchestra Arts Administration Intern | Applications Closed
Arts Administration Interns with the Phoenix Orchestra will gain a deep understanding of how a small non-profit orchestra operates. Interns will assist the Executive Director Matthew Szymanski and General Manager Christina Dioguardi in day-to-day operations and gain hands-on experience with various components of managing a performance-based organization.
Responsibilities include:
- Attend periodic meetings regarding short-term and long-term season planning
- Assist with marketing and social media communications
- Assist General Manager with administrative tasks and coordination of production details and execution
- Provide support for production, planning, and execution of concerts and events
This fellowship is open to any NEC student in any degree program, provided you are authorized to work by NEC Student Payroll (learn more at this link). The fellowship will consist of 4-6 hours of work per week for one semester. Compensation will be released shortly, and will be distributed through your NEC Student Employment paycheck. This fellowship will not count as on-campus employment and is not eligible for credit.
Emmanuel Music Artistic Assistant | Applications Open
The Artistic Assistant at Emmanuel Music supports the Artistic Team with the day-to-day artistic management of the organization. This position requires alternating weekend hours, and the majority of the work will take place on-site. Responsibilities include providing backstage support for rehearsals and performances, assisting with the copying of distribution of scores/parts, preparing paperwork for artists and union payments, attending staff meetings, assisting with space reservations and various production needs.
Benefits of this position include:
- Hands-on experience to the daily management of an arts nonprofit
- Access to Emmanuel Music rehearsals, performances, and events
- Working closely with staff and interns across all departments
- Access to staff for support with things like letters of recommendation and interview prep that will extend post-graduation
- Inclusion in an alumni network of work-study students, interns, and ambassadors
This fellowship is open to any NEC student in any degree program, provided you are authorized to work by NEC Student Payroll (learn more at this link). The fellowship will consist of 6-8 hours of work per week for one semester. Compensation will be $15/hr, and will be distributed through your NEC Student Employment paycheck. This fellowship will not count as on-campus employment and is not eligible for credit.
EM Nova Fellowship
As an EM Nova fellow, you will be a part of a team tasked to putting on 2 concerts on NEC's Bowers Stage. EM Nova fellows will program the concerts, organize and audition artists, handle event operations, and promote and market the event, all with guidance from the EM Department. Each fellow will gain experience in event management, event services, arts administration, marketing, and strategic communications.
The EM Nova Fellowship carries a $750 stipend for the semester.
Expectations of EM Nova Fellows are:
- 3-5 hours of work per week.
- Collaborative work on a team of 3-4.
- Weekly meetings with EM Nova Fellowship cohort.
- Bi-weekly meetings with EM staff.
- Professional communication when working with all NEC Faculty and Staff.
- Manage a discretionary budget for the event, handling all funds with fiscal responsibility.
- Complete tasks and communications promptly.
The deadline to apply is January 22nd, 2023. Interviews will occur the following week.
Students may also earn credit for completing internships at one of Boston's many arts nonprofit organizations. Work side-by-side with a working arts professional, provide hands-on contributions to a real organization, all while earning elective credit.
There are many online resources for finding available internships. NEC students have free access in perpetuity to Bridge, EM's online opportunity board, and there are other Boston-specific websites like HireCulture that post available internships and are sortable by type of opportunity.
Most arts internships are unpaid, but unpaid internships that meet certain qualifications are eligible for one (1) elective credit. If you are interested in an external internship and would like help applying, schedule an appointment!
For Hosts
If you are interested in hosting an NEC student for an internship, we suggest you post your opportunity to the Bridge Opportunity Board. The most successful job descriptions include: a list of desired learning outcomes for the student, projected work responsibilities, and an outline of where, how, and with who a student will work.
NEC understands that often the nature of new or small-budget nonprofit organizations and the ability for remote work means some organizations do not have brick-and-mortar offices; however, NEC does require that at least 50% of working hours are supervised in person, and that all supervised hours are completed at a non-residential location (ie, at the organization’s offices, at NEC, at a coffee shop). As an internship is meant to be a learning experience, an intern’s job description must not be responsibilities that a host organization would otherwise pay an employee to do. Once an internship is agreed upon, both intern and host must sign a contract including job description details and qualifying the intern as a volunteer.
During the internship, interns must log their hours on the provided schedule and their supervisor must sign off. Both supervisor and intern must also complete mid-semester and final evaluations, to be provided by NEC’s EM Dept. Questions? Email Ryan Mewhorter.
Federal Internship Guidelines from the US Department of Labor