PR & Communications Specialist

Spoleto-Festival-US; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Complimentary access to performances

Not benefit-eligible

Job summary

Spoleto Festival USA, located in Charleston, SC, seeks an editor/PR professional for the 50th Anniversary Festival. You will support communications planning, media relations, and editorial development from November 2026 through June 2027, reporting to the Associate Director of Marketing & Communications.

This seasonal, full-time role requires strong writing, storytelling, and organizational skills. You will craft press materials, coordinate media activities, and help tell compelling stories

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and storytelling skills, and the ability to write for multiple audiences and communications channels.
• Interest or experience in media relations, including pitching stories and working with journalists.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and related communications and project-management tools.
• A positive, flexible, and collaborative attitude, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Interest in the performing arts, cultural programming, and the Charleston community is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support the Festival's public relations strategy for local, regional, and national media, with a focus on arts, culture, entertainment, and Charleston.
• Support press strategy, messaging, and target development based on Festival programming, announcements, organizational priorities, and the 50th Anniversary.
• Draft and proofread press releases, media advisories, pitches, bylines, performance briefs, talking points, and other materials for external and internal audiences.
• Identify and pitch compelling story opportunities tied to Festival artists, performances, productions, organizational initiatives, Festival history, and the Festival's role in Charleston and the broader arts community.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national media contacts.
• Coordinate media invitations, credentialing, and ticketing for Festival performances and events, and facilitate on-site interviews, press visits, press conferences, and news and video crews during the Festival.
• Monitor media coverage and maintain accurate and timely coverage reports.
• Manage pressroom materials, media assets, and other public relations resources.
• Support the development and execution of outward-facing communications that strengthen the Spoleto Festival USA brand and support seasonal, production-specific, organizational, and 50th Anniversary campaigns.
• Draft, edit, and proofread copy for the Festival's program book and related promotional materials, including marketing emails, leadership communications, and other audience-facing content.
• Develop evergreen and season-specific editorial content, including quotes, talking points, articles, short statements, artist and performance messaging, and other storytelling assets.
• Serve as project manager for select editorial and marketing collateral, including the Festival's annual Program Book, coordinating development, editing, proofreading, and delivery of commissioned content.
• Ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment with Festival messaging and brand standards across communications.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Proofreading

Storytelling

Media relations

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

MS Office

Collaboration

Interest in performing arts

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Description

Spoleto Festival USA is internationally recognized as America's premier performing arts festival. For 17 days and nights each spring, Spoleto Festival USA fills Charleston's historic theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces with performances in opera; theater; dance; and chamber, symphonic, choral, jazz, folk, and rock music. Spoleto Festival USA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

The Role

You'll serve as a key member of the Marketing team, working closely with and supporting the Associate Director of Marketing & Communications in the lead-up to and throughout the 2027 50th Anniversary Festival, running May 28 through June 13, 2027. Beginning in November 2026, you'll support communications planning, media relations, editorial development, and campaign execution leading into the Festival season.

You're an exceptional writer and communicator who can manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, build strong relationships with media and internal stakeholders, and identify opportunities to tell compelling stories about Spoleto's artists, performances, history, and impact. This role calls for strong editorial judgment, attention to detail, initiative, and the ability to work collaboratively with artistic, administrative, marketing, development, and external partners.

Position Type: Seasonal, full-time, salaried; not benefit-eligible

Location: Charleston, SC (on-site)

Department: Marketing

Reports to: Associate Director of Marketing & Communications

What You'll Do

• Support the Festival's public relations strategy for local, regional, and national media, with a focus on arts, culture, entertainment, and Charleston.
• Support press strategy, messaging, and target development based on Festival programming, announcements, organizational priorities, and the 50th Anniversary.
• Draft and proofread press releases, media advisories, pitches, bylines, performance briefs, talking points, and other materials for external and internal audiences.
• Identify and pitch compelling story opportunities tied to Festival artists, performances, productions, organizational initiatives, Festival history, and the Festival's role in Charleston and the broader arts community.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national media contacts.
• Coordinate media invitations, credentialing, and ticketing for Festival performances and events, and facilitate on-site interviews, press visits, press conferences, and news and video crews during the Festival.
• Monitor media coverage and maintain accurate and timely coverage reports.
• Manage pressroom materials, media assets, and other public relations resources.
• Support the development and execution of outward-facing communications that strengthen the Spoleto Festival USA brand and support seasonal, production-specific, organizational, and 50th Anniversary campaigns.
• Draft, edit, and proofread copy for the Festival's program book and related promotional materials, including marketing emails, leadership communications, and other audience-facing content.
• Develop evergreen and season-specific editorial content, including quotes, talking points, articles, short statements, artist and performance messaging, and other storytelling assets.
• Serve as project manager for select editorial and marketing collateral, including the Festival's annual Program Book, coordinating development, editing, proofreading, and delivery of commissioned content.
• Ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment with Festival messaging and brand standards across communications.

What You'll Bring

• 1–3 years of experience in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and storytelling skills, and the ability to write for multiple audiences and communications channels.
• Interest or experience in media relations, including pitching stories and working with journalists.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and related communications and project-management tools.
• A positive, flexible, and collaborative attitude, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Interest in the performing arts, cultural programming, and the Charleston community is a plus.

Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.; this employer participates in E-Verify.
• Must be able to pass a background check and hold a valid driver's license; you must be 21 or older, as this role may require driving a Festival-provided vehicle.
• Requires the ability to stoop, kneel, bend, stand for extended periods, climb stairs, reach overhead, and lift up to 50 lbs., including work in low-light, outdoor, and high-noise environments.
• Requires availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays, with on-call hours during the Festival period.
• On-site in Charleston, SC; role runs November 2026 through June 2027.

Compensation & Benefits

• This position pays $700 per week.
• Complimentary access for seasonal staff and a guest to select performances and events.
• This role is not benefit-eligible.

Spoleto Festival USA is an equal opportunity employer and committed to diversity in hiring. Spoleto Festival USA does not discriminate in employment on the basis of an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, hairstyles or hair texture, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, parental status, marital status, military status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Our greatest strength comes from our ability to come together as unique individuals — come as you are and bring the best version of yourself.

Uncertain if you fulfill every requirement? Don't let that deter you. We enthusiastically evaluate a wide spectrum of candidates and welcome you to apply. If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at [e-mail].