Assistant Festival Coordinator & Social Media/Marketing Intern

Dance; New York (NY); On-site; USD 22,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

WHITE WAVE seeks an energetic, organized Assistant Festival Coordinator & Social Media/Marketing Intern to support festival planning, promotion, and year‑round programming.

You will collaborate with the Artistic Director, publicist, artists, and production staff to gain hands‑on experience in arts administration, festival production, social media, digital marketing, PR, fundraising, and audience development.

Qualifications

• Organized, responsible, and enthusiastic with strong writing and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with social media, digital marketing, arts administration, or nonprofit organizations preferred.
• Familiarity with Canva/Adobe tools, email marketing, Google Workspace, and basic promo assets.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planning and day-to-day administration of WHITE WAVE festivals and events.
• Coordinate artist information, schedules, materials, and production documents.
• Support fundraising events and Gala Committee activities to boost donations.
• Develop social media campaigns and create content for Instagram, Facebook, and Stories/Reels.
• Draft press releases, newsletters, and promotional materials for review.
• Assist with website updates, ticket links, and program information.

Skills

Social media

Marketing

Arts administration

Event production

Copywriting

Interpersonal skills

Tools

Canva

Adobe Creative Suite

Google Workspace

Email marketing platforms

Website management

Photography

Video editing

Job description

Assistant Festival Coordinator & Social Media/Marketing Intern!

WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company (WW) is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1988 and dedicated to expanding the boundaries of contemporary dance through performance, artist development, festivals, education, and community engagement. WHITE WAVE provides opportunities for emerging and established dancers and choreographers to create, rehearse, perform, connect with audiences, and build professional relationships through artistic exchange and collaboration.

In 2001, WHITE WAVE founded the DUMBO Dance Festival (DDF) in response to the dance community’s need for professionally produced performance opportunities accessible to independent choreographers and companies. Over its history, WHITE WAVE’s festivals have presented more than 3,800 choreographers/dance companies and 26,500 performers, reaching more than 92,000 audience members.

Position Overview

WHITE WAVE seeks an energetic, organized, and creative Assistant Festival Coordinator & Social Media/Marketing Intern to support the planning, promotion, and implementation of our festivals and year-round programming.

Working closely with the Artistic Director, Festival Coordinator team, publicist, participating artists, production staff, photographers, and videographers, the intern will gain hands‑on experience in arts administration, festival production, social media, digital marketing, public relations, fundraising, and audience development.

This position is ideal for someone interested in arts administration and marketing who enjoys both creative communications and the behind-the-scenes work required to produce major performing arts events.

Responsibilities

Festival Coordination & Administration

• Assist with planning and day-to-day administration of WHITE WAVE festivals and special events.
• Communicate program, scheduling, promotional, and technical information to participating artists.
• Organize artist materials, contact information, schedules, production documents, and festival records.
• Assist the Artistic Director and Festival Coordinator team with correspondence and administrative projects.
• Support fundraising events and work with the Gala Committee to help maximize attendance, donations, and community engagement.

Social Media & Digital Marketing

• Help develop and implement social media campaigns promoting WHITE WAVE performances, festivals, open calls, artists, fundraising initiatives, and special events.
• Create engaging content for Instagram, Facebook, and other digital platforms, including posts, Stories, Reels, artist spotlights, countdowns, and behind-the-scenes content.
• Maintain a consistent posting schedule and help manage WHITE WAVE’s social media calendar.
• Write compelling captions and promotional copy consistent with WHITE WAVE’s artistic identity and voice.
• Coordinate with participating artists to collect photos, videos, biographies, social handles, and other promotional materials.
• Assist with basic graphic design and preparation of digital promotional assets.
• Encourage participating artists and partners to cross‑promote festival content and expand audience reach.
• Monitor social media engagement and help track growth, reach, and campaign performance.
• Identify creative opportunities to increase ticket sales, applications, donations, and awareness of WHITE WAVE programs.

Marketing, PR & Audience Development

• Draft press releases, performance listings, artist announcements, newsletters, and other materials for review by WHITE WAVE and its publicist.
• Assist with the creation and distribution of posters, postcards, programs, digital advertisements, and other promotional materials.
• Prepare and distribute email campaigns and e-blasts.
• Assist with website updates, including festival schedules, artist information, ticket links, and announcements.
• Maintain and expand media, community, presenter, and audience outreach lists.
• Support targeted outreach to dance organizations, universities, cultural organizations, community partners, and potential audiences.
• Assist with strategies to maximize ticket sales, festival applications, fundraising, and audience engagement.

Festival Production & Implementation

• Assist during technical rehearsals and performances.
• Support front‑of‑house and Box Office operations, including ticketing and receipt tracking.
• Help coordinate participating artists, production personnel, volunteers, photographers, and videographers.
• Ensure clear communication regarding performance documentation and artist materials.
• Assist with audience surveys, artist feedback, attendance records, social media analytics, and other data used for festival evaluation.
• Help manage volunteers and production support staff during festival performances.

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who is organized, responsible, enthusiastic, creative, and comfortable communicating with artists and the public. Strong writing and interpersonal skills are important.

Experience or interest in social media, digital marketing, arts administration, dance, performing arts, event production, communications, or nonprofit organizations is strongly preferred. Familiarity with Instagram, Facebook, Canva/Adobe tools, email marketing platforms, Google Workspace, website management, photography, or short‑form video editing is a plus.

The ideal candidate can work independently while also collaborating closely with a small, fast‑paced arts organization and is comfortable managing multiple deadlines during festival periods.