21st Century Artist Internship

The ever-changing landscape of the performing arts world requires new skill sets of the 21st Century performing artist. Artists must be adept at connecting with communities and potential audiences in innovative and unexpected ways. They must be able to speak dynamically about their work, share their creative processes, provide interactive experiences for novice audience members, and transmit themselves and their artistry through a number of media platforms. They must appreciate and embrace the necessity for entrepreneurialism and audience engagement strategies that go beyond pure performance.

The School of Music,Theatre & Dance EXCEL Lab and UMS created the 21st Century Artist Internship program to address these needs. Chosen through a rigorous application and interview process, selected students will intern for 5 to 7 weeks during the summer, between June and August 2025, with a professional dance, theater, or music ensemble that UMS plans to present on its upcoming season or with which it has a long-standing relationship. (UMS presents ensembles from all over the world, and so students will likely be assigned to intern in major metropolitan or international locations. Students will only be assigned to international locations if they have a valid passport.)

The scope and dates of the internship will be negotiated by UMS, the company/ensemble and the student prior to their acceptance of the position. Interns can expect to know their placement by or before April 30, 2025. As the placement process is complex, please note that, while the student’s professional interests will be considered in the matching of interns with ensemble, UMS cannot guarantee the applicant’s first choice of performing arts discipline. This is a highly competitive internship; we ask that all finalists hold a 5-7 week window for placement during the months of June to August.

Upon return to campus, interns will participate in a debrief meeting with UMS staff to assess their experience, learning goals, and determine a plan for their responsibilities while the company/ensemble they interned with is presented in Ann Arbor. Students are also expected to enroll for credit in ARTSADMN 491/591 and complete a final paper on their experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Summer 2025

During their internship, each student will research and prepare contextualizing materials about the company/ensemble with which they are placed for use during their 2025-2026 presentation as part of the UMS season. These materials are dependent on the needs of the company in relation to their UMS visit and will require the intern to serve as a liaison between the organizations to ensure effective communication. (Projects may include, but are not limited to: an on-camera interview with creative staff from the company/ensemble, documenting the internship experience through video and photographs, creating social media content, or writing a UMS blog post about the internship experience.) 21st Century Artist interns are expected to check in regularly with their UMS supervisor, as agreed upon during the onboarding process.

Fall 2025-Winter 2026

Upon returning to campus, the student will enroll in ARTSADMN 491/591 (one-credit independent study) during the semester in which their assigned company is visiting the U-M campus (Fall 2025 or Winter 2026). The intern will serve as the U-M and UMS ambassador of the company/ensemble. Please note that each company/ensemble will have its own unique needs and strategies, so duties may vary between interns, but responsibilities will be identified, agreed to and clarified during supervisor meetings.

General Responsibilities (experiences may vary; this list represents a range of possibilities):

• Collaborate on creating and leading residency activities with the UMS Learning & Engagement Department and ensemble/company in anticipation of their presentation in Ann Arbor
• Attend and support learning and engagement activities with the company/ensemble during their stay in Ann Arbor
• Advocate for and promote student attendance at performances by company/ensemble
• Assist UMS in hosting the company/ensemble while they are onsite in Ann Arbor
• Support the UMS Marketing & Communications Department to promote the performance
• Meet with university classes, UMS Board of Directors, community stakeholders, and UMS or University staff to speak about their experience and promote the internship program
• Additional duties as assigned

Ideal candidates possess the following:

• Demonstrated enthusiasm and interest in community-based work, artistic collaboration, and creating meaningful connections between artists and audiences
• Willingness to work independently and comfortability in asking for direction when needed
• Curiosity and openness to learning new skills
• Flexibility and adaptability in fluid and fast-paced environments
• Critical thinking skills and comfortability in sharing ideas
• Ability to set and meet deadlines
• Fluency in utilizing Google suite applications (docs, sheets, forms); familiarity with social media
• Readiness to travel and a valid passport (for international opportunities)

Internship Timeline (April 2025-2026)

• Phase 1 (Summer 2024)
  • April 2025: Company/Ensemble Placements
  • May 2025: UMS Onboarding & Orientation
  • June – August 2025: Internship with Company/Ensemble
    • 5-7 week full-time commitment (in US/International location as assigned)
    • 2 Summer check-in meetings with UMS supervisor
• Phase 2 (2025-2026)
  • UMS Presentation Support & Coursework
    • September 2025: Summer Debrief Meeting & Planning Session
    • F25/W26: Required enrollment in ARTSADMN 491/591
    • TBD: Company/Ensemble Presentation in Ann Arbor as assigned
• Phase 3 (2025-2026)
  • Assessment & Reporting: Submission of final paper, completion of exit survey, final debrief meeting.

Application Timeline

• Applications open: December 9, 2024
• Application deadline: Friday, January 31, 2025 (11:59 ET)
• Finalist Interviews: early March 2025 (TBD)
  • Successful finalists will be notified and invited to schedule their interview by late February 2025.

Compensation

• The summer internship stipend is $6,000 USD within the United States ($7,000 USD for international travel.) 
  • The stipend will be disbursed in installments, with $5,500 for US travel and $6,500 for international travel disbursed once placements have been confirmed in March 2025). The final $500 installment will be disbursed at the completion of the assigned company/ensemble’s UMS presentation during the 2025-26 academic year.
  • The stipend is intended to cover travel, housing, and meal expenses. Any additional expenses will need to be covered by the intern.
  • Stipends are processed as financial aid awards and are intended to offset the cost of travel, housing, and living expenses during the summer portion of the internship. Before awarding, the SMTD Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will be notified to make sure eligibility requirements are met.
  • Students are responsible for organizing and securing their own travel and housing arrangements for the entire internship.
  • Note: SMTD students awarded funding for internships must follow guidelines for University of Michigan Related Travel (UMRT) in order for awards to be issued. To prepare for travel, please refer to the U-M Global Engagement website for resources on travel safety and wellness.

Questions? Contact 21stcentury@umich.edu.