Internships
Fostering Tomorrow’s Arts Leaders
Internships, one of Elsewhere’s CoLab Education Programs, support emerging leaders through professional, creative, hands-on non-profit management experience. Each year 12 interns are selected to live and work within the museum for 3 months during spring, summer, and fall sessions (4 interns at a time). Interns work with a small impactful team, participating in a collective work environment with directors, staff, residents, and participants. Each intern is paired with a supervisor of a core department (Communications, Operations, House, Programs) to assist with museum events, design, marketing, community outreach, administration, services, and facilities.
Our internship is great for recent post-undergraduate aged applicants dedicated to creative culture, social engagement, and arts administration. Ideal candidates are solution oriented, helpful visionaries, and adaptable challenge seekers who are excited about problem-solving, both structural and systematic. Afterwards, interns leave with an understanding of the inner-workings of an experimental arts organization and skills required to leverage a life in the arts.
Each session strives to create a dynamic ensemble who helps run the museum, deliver programs, connect with audiences, participates in the experience of communal living, and dedicates their time and effort to see Elsewhere succeed and grow. There is a long history of exceptional interns who have left their mark going on to work at other impressive institutions, design agencies, nonprofit, and community organizations. Elsewhere is an unparalleled site for creative inquiry, join in the experiment of building new futures from old things!
For 2021, Elsewhere is offering a scholarship to one black, female high school student from the Triad, who is committed to pursuing an administrative career within Arts. See POSITIONS for details.
Elsewhere does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, gender identity, ability, sexual orientation, expression or parents/guardians with children. Elsewhere shares a radically expansive understanding of creative practice and identity. We strive for a diverse representation of voices, life experiences, views, and interests to reflect the collaborative community we have and wish to serve. To decolonize systemic structures of institutional oppression, we encourage queer creatives of color to apply. If there are accessibility needs or questions, please contact internship@goelsewhere.org.
Elsewhere’s environment is highly stimulating, conceptual, and social. The Museum hosts an incredible density of materials and continuous public activity. Composed by layers of artworks and objects, there are no white walls, blank spaces, or separate studios. Everything is interpreted contextually and in situ. Residents respond to a collection of artworks and materials to make visible their conceptual, material, and social visions. Projects engage Elsewhere’s Museum as a platform for creative, performative, research-based, and curatorial experimentation. The century-old inventory of objects form a natural resource, archive, and set of incredible things, available for thoughtful and site-specific transformation.
The Museum is a public space and home. Residents live on the 2nd floor, which includes the artist-built boarding house and other installation works. The kitchen is centrally featured in the museum’s most public 1st floor, and exhibits Elsewhere’s organized, cooperative, living practices to visitors. Studios include a wood and textile workshop, tech lab, storefront theater, vintage wardrobe, garden, and public kitchen inside the 150-year-old building. Additionally Elsewhere has access to 3D printing, laser cutting, CnC router, welding and ceramic tools through membership with a neighboring makerspace.Elsewhere is situated in Downtown Greensboro, NC, a revitalizing mid-size, southern city. Greensboro is notable for its historical and social legacy of textile industry and civil rights, and there is creative, critical work happening here. The city boasts 5 universities and a rich arts community that includes contemporary theater, visual arts, dance, and music. A new Experiential School offers community-centered elementary education and utilizes downtown (and Elsewhere) as its campus. A large system of parks, trailways, greenways, and lakes support active engagement with nature and connect communities to downtown. Greensboro is located within an hour of other thriving art, education, and social-engaged communities, including Winston-Salem, Durham, Chapel-Hill, and Raleigh.
Elsewhere is an anchor within the south end of the downtown. We share our block with a contemporary art project space, piano restorer, sneaker store, barber shop, , cat café, numerous restaurants, bars, historic neighborhoods, activist churches, small businesses, and an expanding community of entrepreneurs. Nearby is a new performing arts center, the International Civil Rights Museum, a dynamic city park, and a citywide campus for nursing education.
We are also in proximity to food deserts and gentrifying neighborhoods. We partner with social and justice organizations, neighborhood associations, public schools, non-profits, universities, and city departments. Elsewhere shares space with the local chapter of #BlackLivesMatter (Gate City), IgniteNC, NCCJ, and is a site for community building, social organizing, and direct action. As a post-industrial, southern city with progressive roots, Greensboro citizens are actively invested in fostering social, economic, and racial equity- these concerns have always been part of the city’s fabric.For more on Elsewhere’s history, please visit our Story page.
DEPARTMENTS
Each session an intern is paired with the Operations, House, Programs or Communications Departments. The Manager of that department serves as their guide and mentor for the duration and, as an artist-run organization, we take a creative approach in all we do.
Internship projects are based on the needs of the week, upcoming events, programs, and the individual’s goals. Interns can list up to 3 positions by order of preference in the online application. Descriptions below encompass whole departmental responsibilities, these are not individual intern descriptions! Roles will be defined once the internship begins based on skills, interests, organizational needs, and goals.
OPERATIONS
Department Responsibilities
Finances | Accounting, payments, fund management, budgets, donations.
Grants | Scheduling, preparation, reporting, filing.
Development | Membership, contacts, outreach.
Admin | Non-profit correspondence, tool management, contracts, policy, meeting support.
Suggested Skills
Interest in non-profit management, clerical administrative work, and organizational functioning.
A self-motivated, detail-oriented, organized worker is able to multitask and effectively manage time.
Basic understanding of Google Docs, Sheets, and Calendars. Knowledge of other operational management tools a +.
Comfortable interacting with the public and working with people of all backgrounds.
Has a valid driver’s license (car a +).
HOUSE
Department Responsibilities
Facilities | Code compliance, utilities, maintenance, grounds, contractors, and outside vendors.
Housekeeping | Museum, residency, events, collection materials, communal cleans/general chores, back of house cavities + goods.
Studio | Tools, equipment, material access, safety, and training.
Systems | Creative design, curation and problem-solving for an efficient live/work environment.
Hospitality | Comfort inventory (food, bar, supplies), food + drink production, kitchen maintenance, head cook and coordinator for inventive meals.
Suggested Skills
Interest in services (cooking, cleaning, gardening) for collective live/work environments.
Building preservation and renovation, with a willingness to learn and think on your feet.
Experience with building, maintenance, grounds, homesteading, and organizing a +.
Personable, creative problem solver who is team oriented and comfortable motivating and providing instructions.
Can lift 50 lbs, climb up and down stairs, and work on their feet for long hours.
Basic understanding of Google Docs, Sheets, and Calendars. Knowledge of other operational management tools a +.
Comfortable interacting with the public and working with people of all backgrounds.
Has a valid driver’s license (car a +)
COMMUNICATIONS
Department Responsibilities
Promotion | Visual content, marketing, distribution, contacts, grant/donor acknowledgment.
Website & Social Media | Curate, maintain, report analytics, strategize and respond.
Design | Print & online materials with consistent branding across all platforms.
Audio Visual Documentation | Document, edit, archive and retrieve media files as well as manage tech equipment.
Suggested Skills
Self-motivated, organized, detail-oriented worker able to multi-task and effectively manage time.
Great visual eye and copy editor.
Knowledge of AV technologies and post-production (Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere, and FCPX) as well as graphic design skills (InDesign, Illustrator) a +.
Interest in advertising, PR, and marketing for print and online.
Basic understanding of Google Docs, Sheets, and Calendars. Knowledge of other operational management tools a +.
Comfortable interacting with the public and working with people of all backgrounds.
Has a valid driver’s license (car a +).
PROGRAMS
Department Responsibilities
Production | Planning, preparation, coordination, facilitation, install and set-up/break-down for events and projects.
Engagement | Museum curation, info, signage, and legibility (opener/closer). Docent, tour guide and front desk greeter. The main point of contact and orientation for all participants.
Outreach | Local liaison and community connector. Represents and networks for Elsewhere at off-site events.
Admin | Content, applications, schedules, participant communication, archiving, and system design + maintenance.
Suggested Skills
Self-motivated, organized, detail-oriented worker, able to multi-task and effectively manage time.
Comfortable communicating, motivating, instructing, hosting, working with, and leading groups, people, and audiences of all backgrounds and ages effectively through a variety of educational experiences.
Customer service; personable, patient and helpful, especially with artists and patrons.
Building skills, material knowledge.
Interest in curation, interior architecture, or museum displays with a design sensibility for infographics a +.
Not afraid of technology (projectors, mics, sound systems).
Comfortable with running errands related to the public program and resident needs.
Can lift 50 lbs, climb up and down stairs, and work on their feet for long hours.
Basic understanding of Google Docs, Sheets, and Calendars. Knowledge of other operational management tools a +.
Comfortable interacting with publics and working with people of all backgrounds.
Has a valid driver’s license (car a +).
THE ABOVEGROUND RAILROAD SCHOLARSHIP
Initiated in 2018 by artist, writer, and entrepreneur Jessica Gaynelle Moss, in partnership with Elsewhere, The ABOVEGROUND RAILROAD Scholarship prepares the next generation of young black female arts administrators with an opportunity to develop a unique skill set, building upon their existing interests, that prepares them with a successful launching pad for a career in the arts industry. Through a community nomination process, this scholarship is offered annually to one black, female high school student from the Triad, who is committed to pursuing an administrative career within Arts. Winners will be selected based on their need, ability and commitment to giving back to their community.
Eligible applicants are required to indicate so on the internship application and must answer an additional question relevant to their eligibility. Applicants must be willing to commit to the full 4-week session.
This special internship is TBD 2021. For more information, please see The ABOVEGROUND RAILROAD Scholarship page.
As an intern, you receive:
ROOM + BOARD (ON-SITE)
Subsidized room & board (see “FEES” tab).
A cozy private bed nook in a shared boarding dormitory. See residential spaces here.
Access to the fully equipped Kitchen Commons. See kitchen here
Locally sourced vegetarian ingredients purchased and shopped for weekly through Elsewhere’s Food Co-op.
Organized community lunches 5 days/week and do-it-yourself provisions 24 hours/7 days a week.
EQUIPMENT + MATERIALS ACCESS
Museum tools, equipment, and workshops (carpentry, textiles, printing, paper, food, digital media). See Elsewhere’s list of equipment here.
3D printers, laser cutters, CnC router, ceramics and welding facilities through Elsewheres membership with The Forge, a neighboring makerspace.
PRODUCTION SUPPORT
Public engagement and programming opportunities (a talk, final exhibition) including the presentation of work. See an example of an intern event here.
Documentation, promotion, press, and social media support. See examples here.
Presentation of your work archived online and on-site. See examples of artist projects here.
COMMUNITY ACCESS
A collaborative work environment to experiment and learn with emerging creatives.
Participation in E.T.C. (Elsewhere Tenured Collaborators), our international network of alumni artists. See past artists here.
Elsewhere Membership. See benefits here.
For Your Consideration:
While still a rustic environment, Elsewhere had recent renovations inclusive of HVAC, safety egress and evacuation systems (fire monitoring, alarms, sprinklers, exits), as well as ADA accessibility on the 1st floor.
All participants cook 1 day/wk, clean collectively after shared meals, join a weekly 30-min house meeting followed by a collective hr-long clean of common areas.
We only allow trained service animals with official paperwork & cannot make policy exceptions for pets.
There is no on-site access to laundry.
All bathrooms are single-stall and gender neutral.
All team members, including off-site and on-site interns, work during Elsewhere’s office hours (Tues- Sat, 10 am-5 pm) and share weekly responsibilities such as collective cooking (1 hr/wk), cleaning after shared meals (15 min/day), house meetings (30 min/wk), Power Hour, a collective clean of common areas (1 hr/wk), and a regular weekly Museum front desk shift.
ON-SITE vs. OFF-SITE
On-site interns must contribute 30 hrs/wk in exchange for subsidized Room & Board. Off-site interns commute and must commit a minimum of 18 hrs/wk at a minimum of 3 months to participate in the program. There are no fees for off-site interns, but they must contribute $50/wk to participate in Food Co-op (optional, see “ACCOMMODATIONS” tab).
All team members, including off-site and on-site interns, work during Elsewhere’s office hours (Tues- Sat, 10 am-5 pm) and share weekly responsibilities such as collective cooking (1 hr/wk), cleaning after shared meals (15 min/day), house meeting (30 min/wk) and Power Hour, a collective clean of common areas (1 hr/wk) as well as a regular weekly Museum front desk shift.
FEES
The on-site Internship is partially subsidized but does have a nominal cost. On-site interns pay $50/wk (normal cost is $140/wk for room & board) which goes towards board (see “ACCOMMODATIONS” tab).
We are no longer accepting applications for 2020.
Please review all tabs on this webpage to ensure our program is the best fit for your needs.
SESSIONS
2021 Internships are available for 13-16 week long sessions. All interns, off-site & on-site, must begin at the start date indicated with on-site interns required to attend until the end.
SPRING | TBD
SUMMER | TBD
FALL | TBD (with a Thanksgiving vacation Nov. 24-26)
PROCESS
SELECTIONS: Elsewhere staff review applications to ensure completion and eligibility. Submissions are then reviewed by individual Elsewhere Department heads to ensure applicants receive proper placement. Top candidates receive an interview that informs selections for the final 4 interns per session. We take great care in this process to ensure committed, talented, diverse, and engaged interns are chosen, and that all applications get adequate attention.
NOTIFICATION: All applicants will be informed of their status by December 2019. If you have not heard from us by this date, please contact internship@goelsewhere.org.
FINALISTS: Finalists sign a contract and if accepted for the On-site Internship pay a non-refundable deposit of $250 within a month of acceptance. This contract and/or deposit, paid online, act as confirmation and are required to secure your spot. The deposit will go towards your On-site Internship fee with the remainder due 3 months before arrival.