Special Events Intern

Messiah University; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Transportation reimbursement

Job summary

Washington Performing Arts is offering a Spring 2027 Special Events Intern role in Washington, DC. The hybrid, part-time internship provides hands-on support to the Special Productions & Initiatives team, including donor relations, event planning, and hosting responsibilities.

The intern will assist with private recitals, galas, auctions, and communications, while gaining exposure to nonprofit fundraising and arts administration.

Qualifications

• 18 years of age or older at the time of applying.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Based in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
• Completion of a background check required.
• Availability for a 25 hours per week hybrid schedule.

Responsibilities

• Special Events Support: assist with event planning, execution, and follow-up including private recitals, receptions, and donor events such as the annual gala.
• Gala Support: prepare day-of materials and coordinate with vendors.
• Auction Support: solicit and track donated items; create auction signs.
• General Internship Responsibilities: participate in professional development meetings, support staff at main stage performances, and related duties.

Skills

Communication skills

Event production

Administrative experience

Fundraising interest

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Virtual meeting platforms

Job description

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Position Title: Special Events Intern - Spring 2027

GENERAL INFORMATION

Department: Advancement

Position Summary:The Washington Performing Arts (WashPA) Spring 2027 Mars Arts DC Internship is a hybrid, part-time position that willprovide administrative assistance and logistical support to the Special Productions & Initiatives Department.

Application Period: This position will be accepting applications from Monday, October 26, 2026 to Monday, November 9,2026.

Internship Stipend:$2600 plus up to $400 in transportation reimbursement for commute expenses(parking/public transportation) to 1400 K Street NW, Washington DC 20005 and WPA events.

Internship Dates:Monday, January 11, 2027, to Friday, April 2, 2027

One of the most established and honored performing arts institutions in America, Washington Performing Arts has engaged for more than half a century with artists, audiences, students, and civic life. The city is truly our stage: for decades, in venues ranging from concert halls and clubs to public parks, we have presented a tremendous range of artists and art forms, from the most distinguished symphony orchestras to both renowned and emerging artists in classical music, gospel music, jazz, culturally specific genres, dance, and more.

Washington Performing Arts deeply values its partnerships with local organizations and other arts institutions. Through events online and in myriad performance venues and neighborhoods, we engage international visiting artists in community programs and introduce local artists to wider audiences. We place a premium on establishing artists as a continuing presence in the lives of both young people and adults through residencies and education programs. Our achievements have been recognized with a National Medal of Arts and with four Mayor’s Arts Awards from the DC Government. We have now embarked upon our second half-century, ever inspired by the motto of our founder, Patrick Hayes: “Everybody in, nobody out.”

This internship provides valuable exposure to Advancement initiatives in the nonprofit sector, as well as practical skills that are transferable to careers in arts administration, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement.

Working closely with WPA's Advancement Team, the intern will begin by learning the basics of Washington Performing Arts advancement initiatives, supporting donor relations, and special event planning and hosting.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Special Events Support
  • Assist with event planning, execution, and follow-up including private recitals, receptions, and donor events such as the annual gala
  • Create informational materials for events and draft correspondences (print and electronic)
  • Field guest inquiries and RSVPs
  • Participate in brainstorming sessions on theme and programmatic elements of events
  • Assist with mailings (invitations, thank you’s, etc.)
  • Create timeline, staff instructions, and other day-of contact materials
  • Serve as an on-site lead giving assistance before, during, and after the events
  • Update activities and RSVPS in Tessitura, the organization’s Customer Relationship Management system
• Gala Support
  • Work with Manager of Special Events on day of event materials including program, directional signs, food and drink information, etc.
  • Communication (written and oral) with vendors and venue leading up the event
  • Attend at least one Gala Committee meeting
  • Provide on-site assistance to Manager of Special Events for day of the event, Saturday, March 13, 2027 (attendance required)
• Auction Support
• Solicit and track donated items
• Assist in communication for pick-up/delivery of donated items
• Create auction signs for day of event
• Assist with donation acknowledgements
• General Internship Responsibilities
• Participate in a variety of internship professional development meetings including resume building, conversations with industry professionals, and networking opportunities
• Support staff at main stage performance events throughout the spring
• Additional responsibilities as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• 18 years of age or older at the time of applying;
• High School Diploma;
• Legally authorized to work in the United States;
• Based in the Washington, D.C. metro area;
• Completion of a background check required

Preferred Skills/Qualifications

• Experience in producing small and/or large scale events
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills
• Ability to set priorities and meet deadlines
• Prior experience in an administrative setting preferred
• Interest in the performing arts and/or nonprofit fundraising
• Technological Proficiency: Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, virtual meeting platforms
• Ability to maintain data privacy and uphold security best practices when handling sensitive donor information

Specific Conditions of Work

• 25 hours per week hybrid (Tuesdays and Thursdays in the office) work environment with office space for in-person work. The schedule will be flexed according to the event schedule. Night and weekend availability will be requested with notice. If you are enrolled in a degree program that requires a full-time internship, please indicate that on your application and we will try to accommodate your request. Please note, the stipend amount cannot be adjusted.
• Laptop will be provided for the duration of internship
• Must have reliable transportation and internet connection for remote work
• Internship hours are flexible within the 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM timeframe and can be tailored to meet the needs of the Advancement Department and the applicant

Organizational Values

In keeping with our mission and guiding principles, we seek, represent, and welcome a multiplicity of voices in everything we do from programmatic content to the composition of our board and staff. Accordingly, we seek to build a team that reflects - and meets the needs of - the community we are part of and serve. While we have made important progress, we continue to pursue that goal through intentional, focused learning and action. Hiring a workforce that embodies and reflects these values is but one component - we strive to make Washington Performing Arts ever more inclusive, and true to our founder’s ethos of “everybody in, nobody out.” We aspire to make every employee feel welcome and motivated to do their best work. We know that we work better together in service of Washington Performing Arts' mission, because of our differences, not despite them.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Washington Performing Arts subscribes to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. In addition, the District of Columbia adds protection for marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, or political affiliation. Washington Performing Arts’ employment decisions are made based on the needs of the organization and qualifications of the applicants and employees.