General Arts Administration Internship

LexArts General Arts Administration Internship Program 
 

About LexArts 

LexArts promotes quality arts experiences for the benefit of people in Central Kentucky through funding, advocacy, technical assistance, communication, and programming initiatives. Through its annual Fund for the Arts, LexArts has raised millions of dollars in support of local arts. In turn, LexArts underwrites the operating expenses for a variety of partner organizations and offers affordable exhibition and performance space for eligible organizations, public arts programming, and competitive grants for community outreach projects.  

Overview 

LexArts offers cohort-based General Arts Administration Internships in the spring, summer, and fall. Each session includes 2–3 interns selected to participate as a cohort. 

This program provides interns with broad, hands-on experience in nonprofit arts administration through a rotational, cross-department structure. 

Time Commitment 

Interns complete up to 150 total hours, aligning with common university internship credit requirements. Candidates should be able to commit 10-15 hours per week for a full semester or summer session (allowing for holidays, doctor visits, etc.). Days/times are flexible with intern’s schedule. At this time, we do not offer remote internships and interns are expected to be able to work in person at the LexArts offices at ArtsPlace.  

Rotational Internship Model 

Interns participate in a weekly rotation across LexArts departments, gaining exposure to the organization’s core areas of work. Rotations are structured to balance learning objectives with organizational needs and may vary slightly by term. 

Departments may include: 

Arts & Health 

Communications & Marketing 

Community Arts & Education 

Development & Fundraising 

Finance & Operations 

Grant Writing & Research 

Public Art & Gallery Management 

During each rotation, interns: 

Receive a brief orientation to the department’s programs and priorities 

Complete meaningful, department-specific tasks and projects 

Work with a designated staff point person for guidance and support 

Cross-Department Task Bank 

To ensure consistent and meaningful work throughout the internship, LexArts maintains a shared list of cross-department intern tasks. This task bank allows interns to support additional projects when a department’s workload is lighter during a given rotation. 

Tasks may include: 

Research and data organization 

Grant research and draft writing 

Event preparation and documentation 

Communications and content support 

Database and administrative assistance 

Program documentation and evaluation 

Public art inventory and archival support 

Supervision & Support 

Interns are supported through a shared supervision model: 

The Internship Coordinator oversees onboarding, scheduling, rotations, and university communication 

Department staff provide week-to-week guidance during rotations 

Interns participate in brief, regular check-ins to support progress and learning 

Learning Outcomes 

By completing the General Arts Administration Internship, interns will: 

Gain practical experience across multiple areas of nonprofit arts administration 

Develop an understanding of how departments collaborate within a community-focused arts organization 

Build professional skills in communication, organization, and time management 

Create resume-ready documentation of their work and contributions 

Expand professional networks within the Lexington arts community 

Internship Outcomes & Documentation 

Interns track their hours throughout the term. In addition to recording hours, interns document weekly tasks and accomplishments. 

At the conclusion of the internship, each intern compiles a final resume-ready or course-required summary of their completed work based on this documentation.  

Compensation & Academic Credit 

Interns receive a $1000 stipend upon successful completion of the internship. Academic credit may be available for students enrolled at a college or university. 

How to Apply 

LexArts accepts applications for General Arts Administration Internships on a rolling, annual basis for each session. 

Application Deadlines: 

Summer Internship Application Deadline: April 15 

Fall Internship Application Deadline: July 15 

Spring Internship Application Deadline: November 15 

Applicants should submit the required materials through the online application form: https://form.jotform.com/lexarts/internshipapplication 

Selected applicants will be contacted following the application deadline to schedule interviews. 

Questions may be directed to: 

Arden Barnes 
Special Programs Manager, LexArts 
abarnes@lexarts.org