Internships

SCHENECTADY, NY
DOWNTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Urban Initiatives Group and Schenectady Light Opera Company (www.sloctheater.org) are currently offering full and part-time internship opportunities working at our new performing arts center located in downtown Schenectady.
In 2010, Schenectady Light Opera Company acquired three historic buildings in order to create a new performing arts center in the Capital Region of upstate New York. In addition to being an integral part of Schenectady’s growing downtown arts and entertainment district, this nonprofit Theater Company is utilizing the new facility to expand its services to the community. These services include concerts, community events, workshops, programs for children and families, and growing partnerships with local colleges.

The development of the performing arts center is achieving a number of important objectives, including arts development, downtown revitalization, economic growth, historic preservation and community education. The buildings will be integrated into an innovative multi-venue facility that will include a modern 300 seat theater, 15,000 square foot Education Building, set construction facility, and a variety of other training and performance spaces suitable for special events and conferences.

The campus-like setting will become a permanent home for a number of arts and educational organizations. The Education Building has already been renovated for Northeast Ballet Company and Schoharie River Center, two nonprofit organizations educating children from throughout the Capital Region. Each phase of the capital campaign will raise $1.2 million to fund a total project cost of $3.6 million. The campaign recently surpassed the $1 million mark in Phase One of the Capital Campaign. The completed Performing Arts Center will be a national model for urban arts development & historic preservation.

The development of the Arts Center offers students work experience in the following areas:

• Theater Management
• Fundraising & Grant Writing
• Event Planning & Management
• Theatrical Production
• Urban Design & Planning
• Marketing & Communications
• Urban Economic Development
• IT & Database Management
• Economic Development
• Web Site Design

Students work closely with experienced urban professionals, architects, and grant writers. Internships at the Downtown Performing Arts Center are appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students studying a wide range of disciplines, including Business, Urban Planning, Communications, Marketing, Theater, Fine Arts, Economics, Architecture, Computer Science, Liberal Arts, or related fields. Successful candidates will be individuals able to work independently as well as part of a team, with the ability to communicate effectively and work in a fast-paced professional environment.

Both full and part-time internships are available, with schedules customized for each student. Internships do not provide financial compensation, but students gain valuable work experience, building their resumes, using project work for portfolio development, and receiving a letter of recommendation and reference upon completion of the internship.

Accepting Applications for Fall 2011 and Spring 2012
Contact: John Samatulski -Urban Initiatives Group
427 Franklin Street, Schenectady, NY 12305
Phone: 518.527.9757
Email: