Southern Exposure's Internship Opportunities

Southern Exposure’s internship program is a vital part of the organization’s operating structure. The goal of the internship program is to provide opportunities for training within a non-profit artists organization. The internship program allows participants to assume professional-level responsibilities, receive training and guidance from gallery professionals, and understand how a non-profit gallery functions. We view the program as an extension of our education outreach services that help to expand and diversify community interaction. Interns should be interested in working in a nonprofit arts environment, possess strong communication skills, and have Macintosh computer skills.

All internships are unpaid and require a minimum of eight hours per week and approximately a six-month commitment. Shorter summer internships are also available. For initial contact, please submit a cover letter and resume to programs@soex.org, or call Southern Exposure at 415-863-2141 for more information.

Archive Intern
The archive assistant internship is ideal for someone who is interested in learning about preserving Southern Exposure’s history, learning about the alternative arts space movement, and conducting archival research. The archive assistant will work with the executive director to secure archival documents, catalog items in the archive, and eventually make accessible to the public the organization’s rich 30-year history. The position involves securing in-kind donations of materials and supplies to create the archive, performing organizational research, and organizing papers and photographic documentation. The candidate must possess excellent organization, research, and FileMaker skills. SoEx seeks candidates who can commit six to eight hours a week for at least a one-year period.

Artists in Education (AIE) and Outreach Intern
The AIE assistant works under the supervision of the AIE Program Manager to help with coordination and administration of AIE programs, publications, and exhibitions. Additionally, the AIE assistant will work to help create an archive of all past AIE programs. The assistant also helps design and implement community outreach strategies, research community organizations and other previously untapped community members, creates outreach materials, and tracks outreach efforts. The assistant will help to Identify and target community groups, schools and neighborhoods that would be interested in upcoming educational programs, exhibitions and events through publicity and promotion, active invitation, providing lectures, and organizing gallery visits.

Southern Exposure seeks an AIE assistant with an interest and knowledge in arts education, curriculum development, project development, public programming and outreach.

Auction Intern
The auction intern works closely with the associate director and fundraising committee on all aspects of the Annual Fundraiser and Auction. The intern will learn how to organize a major event from beginning to end. Responsibilities may include seeking business donations/sponsorship, coordinating auction artists, creating and maintaining excel spreadsheets to track all donations and communications, catalog production, event production and entertainment, installation, coordinating volunteers, decoration design, publicity and marketing, webpage preparation and maintenance, and membership tracking. Some evening hours will be required for committee meetings, with additional hours the week of the event. Southern Exposure seeks a candidate who can commit eight-ten hours a week for at least a six-month period. Skills needed for this position are an outgoing personality, attention to detail, eagerness in making connections in the community, creative thinker, problem solver, and proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Filemaker Pro.

Communications Intern
The communications intern is interested in press relations, outreach, and audience development. Under the supervision of the associate director, the intern researches artists and programs, writes and edits copy for published materials (press releases, announcements, postcards, etc.), maintains press contact information, creates press kits, maintains the press database, distributes publicity materials, and compiles press clips. The intern will also prepare appropriate images for publicity, press contacts, and outreach materials.

Skills needed for this position are proficient writing, attention to detail, eagerness in making connections in the community, well-organized, able to complete projects independently, good writing/English skills, a working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and FileMaker Pro.

Curatorial Intern
Under the supervision of the executive director and gallery and program manager, the curatorial assistant receives, organizes, and prepares artist submissions for curatorial committee review. The curatorial assistant also attends and takes minutes at monthly curatorial meetings. The assistant will also prepare artist contacts, and communicate with artists about their proposals by mail and phone. Due to high demand for this position, previous Southern Exposure interns are usually promoted to this position because they have an intimate knowledge of the organization's mission, structure, and administrative/computer system. This position requires a one-year commitment.

Skills needed for this position are an attention to detail, ability to follow through with long-term projects, working within a committee structure, and knowledge of contemporary artistic practices.

Designer in Residence
Visually underlining our emphasis on creative graphics, Southern Exposure commissions emerging designers to produce unique announcements for exhibitions and events. Designers in residence work with the gallery and program manager to design print materials for exhibitions and events. This position is filled on a project by project basis.

General / Administrative Intern
The general administrative assistant works with all staff members to support various project-based tasks. This includes grant research, assisting with installations, mailings, distribution, soliciting donations and volunteers, and other duties related to the administration of a nonprofit arts organization. Southern Exposure seeks a general administrative assistant that is self-motivated and flexible.

Grantwriting/Fundraising Intern
The Grantwriting/Fundraising assistant works with the executive director in all aspects fundraising through grants and donor relations. The intern will be an active participant in researching and completing a variety of grants from private foundations to government sources. The intern will help conduct research, update the grant calendar, organize grant files, and assemble support materials for grant applications. The intern will also write, edit and assemble a variety of grant materials on deadline, including narrative, budgets, and other application materials. Additionally, the intern will assist with fundraising through individual donor relations and will provide assistance with special events, correspondences, and related work.

Skills needed for this position are an attention to detail, ability to work independently on individual projects for collaborative review. Ability to understanding forms and directions, good with working with deadlines, summarizing questions, able to assess needs and solutions. Computer literate with Filemaker skills. Good writing/English skills. Southern Exposure seeks a candidate who can commit six to eight hours a week for at least a six-month period.

Installation Intern
The installation assistant is interested in installing artwork, designing exhibitions, and facility maintenance. Under the supervision of the program and gallery manager, executive director, and curatorial committee, the installation assistant works directly with Southern Exposure artists to install and strike their shows, create and install signage, and maintain the gallery's appearance. This intern will assist with the inventory and organization of all gallery materials and supplies, including the maintenance, labeling, purchase and in-kind donations of tools, paint, technical equipment, pedestals, tables, etc.

Membership Intern
The membership intern works closely with the associate director in maintaining memberships, individual donor files, and fundraising projects for the organization. Responsibilities include helping to maintain the membership database, formatting correspondence to prospective donors, managing membership renewals, writing and editing letters, and coordinating the design and production of materials. The intern will research membership opportunities to improve Southern Exposure’s membership program, as well as to research and promote the membership program to the public at local events. Southern Exposure seeks a candidate who can commit six to eight hours a week for at least a six-month period.

Skills needed for this position include an attention to detail, well-organized, able to complete projects independently, desire to make connections in the community, good writing/English skills, proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and FileMaker Pro.

Mission Voices Summer (MVS) Intern
Mission Voices Summer is an eight-week summer arts program that gives young people in the Mission District the opportunity to exercise leadership skills and participate in their community by exploring relevant social and personal issues through visual and performing arts. The MVS assistant will work with the Artists in Education Program Manager to help with coordination, administration and final installation of the program. The assistant will also help with publicity, in-kind donations, outreach and support for the final event of the program.

SoEx seeks an AIE assistant with an interest in community arts and organizations, working with youth, and event planning. Bi-lingual a plus.

Photo Intern
The photo assistant works with the program and gallery manager and Artists in Education and outreach manager to document Southern Exposure’s exhibitions, education programs. events, and projects. SoEx seeks assistants with exceptional photography experience.Experience or working knowledge photographing in daylight, tungsten, and cross-illuminated environments. Subject matter includes gallery installation shots, artwork details, publicity images, and crowd/personality images during events and receptions. Responsibilities include labeling slides, digital images and photographs with current exhibition information for press purposes and archives. The photo intern must have their own 35mm and digital camera.