Community Engagement Internship

City of Burlington, Vermont•405 Pine Street, VT

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Spend your summer connecting art and community through a flexible, 9 hour/week internship with Burlington City Arts. You’ll be on the front lines at the BCA Center gallery and out at BCA events and festivals, talking with visitors, hearing their perspectives, and gathering feedback through a short, interactive survey. Hours will include at least one day a week staffing the BCA Center gallery on Church Street, interacting with visitors, as well as time spent at BCA's Summer in the City concerts, events, and festivals. Ability to attend evening and weekend events preferable. This role is perfect for someone who is curious about how communities engage with art and wants real-world experience in public-facing work. You’ll build communication skills, gain insight into arts programming, and contribute directly to shaping future BCA initiatives—all while being part of Burlington’s vibrant creative scene. Learning Outcomes: Develop effective public communication and interpersonal skills through daily interactions with gallery visitors and event attendees. Gain experience conducting community engagement and audience feedback collection using interactive surveys. Build confidence in professional, public-facing environments, including galleries, concerts, festivals, and community events. Strengthen active listening and observational skills by hearing diverse visitor perspectives about art and events. Gain practical experience supporting and representing a local arts organization in a community setting.

Requirements

Ability to actively support City diversity, equity, and cultural competency efforts within stated job responsibilities and work effectively across diverse cultures and constituencies.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as evidenced by ongoing trainings and professional development.
Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to interact comfortably with diverse audiences in a friendly and professional manner.
Dependable, organized, and able to work independently when needed.
Positive attitude and willingness to learn in a collaborative environment.
Ability to attend occasional evening and weekend concerts, festivals, and events.
Comfortable standing, walking, and engaging with visitors for extended periods.
To complete this unpaid internship, you must be a current student in a college or university and will be an active student during the duration of the internship.

Nice To Haves

Experience with customer service, events, or volunteer work is helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

Conduct short interactive surveys to gather community feedback and visitor perspectives about art and events.
Communicate professionally with diverse audiences and represent BCA in public-facing settings.
Help collect and relay audience insights to inform future BCA programming and community initiatives.
Interact with visitors at the BCA Center gallery and create a welcoming, engaging environment.