Frequently Asked Questions

What is the LA County Arts Internship Program?

The LA County Arts Internship Program supports and strengthens the cultural sector of LA County by providing access to high-quality opportunities for college students of all backgrounds to gain experience, understanding, and transferable skills relevant to careers in the arts, the creative economy, and engagement in public life.

For a better sense of the program and the experience of interns, please read the Arts Internship Program Final Reports which can be found by clicking the "About" button in the grey bar towards the top of this page. 

How does the program work?

The Department of Arts and Culture provides grants to nonprofit performing, presenting, literary, arts education, film and television organizations to host college students for 400 hours of paid work. Starting in 2020, social justice and social service organizations with arts programming can also participate.

Because of coronavirus, the program timeline has been extended to more of a year round format. The first batch of positions will be posted on our website on April 1, 2024 and we will continue to post jobs on the 1st Monday of each month through July 2024. All 400 hours of the internship must be competed by March 1, 2025.

Each participating host organization determines the exact start date and end date of the internship, as well as the work schedule. Many internships will be a mixture of on-site and remote work, but some internships may be fully remote or fully on-site. Interns can work a maximum of 40 hours per week and a minimum of 15 hours per week.  In addition to working at their host organizations, students participate in peer group activities coordinated by the Department of Arts and Culture, which will be a mixture of in person and virtual events taking place once or twice a month.

In 2024, 228 positions will be available for students throughout LA County. 

What if I go back to school in the fall? Or if I have another part time job?

Our organizations know that students who are applying may have other jobs or be going back to the school in the fall. Many of our organizations will be flexible with your schedule, but please be open and honest about these commitments when you are interviewing. Supervisors can only plan for what they know; so if you can work 40 hours a week during July and August but when you go back to school in September you will need to drop that to 20 hours a week, please let them know as soon as possible! All interns must complete their 400 hours by March 1, 2025 and there will be no exceptions. Any hours an intern has not worked after March 1, 2025 will be forefit and unused grant funds will need to be returned to our department.

What about the visual arts?

Internships in museums and visual arts organizations are provided every summer through the Getty Foundation’s Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program.

Are these positions paid?

Yes. All students will be paid $6,912 ($17.28/hour) for their 400-hour long internships. Please note: students are selected and paid directly by their host organizations, not by the Department of Arts and Culture and payroll taxes will apply.

So students have to be in college to participate? Are there any other eligibility requirements?

Yes, for example, students must either live in or attend college in Los Angeles County. Please review the student eligibility section of our website (found above) in full.

I participated in the program last year. Can I participate again?

No, students are only eligible to participate in the program once, even if they still meet all other eligibility requirements.

Can I work more than one internship at a time?

While we appreciate the enthusiasm, interns may only work one internship at a time. Again, interns may only participate in the program once.

I’m not majoring in the arts. Is this program right for me?

This program is meant to develop transferrable skills applicable to arts careers as well as the broader creative economy. Students are not required to have prior background or experience in the arts—in fact, many students have participated as non-arts majors! However, each organization creates its own job description, so it is important to read each description to find positions that may be suited to your skills and interests.

The internships run from July to March, but I’m planning a vacation in August. Can I still participate?

Due to the nature of the program, students must clearly communicate any prior commitments to their organization while they are in the interview process. Interns and organizations must come to agreements about all schedule changes and conflicts before the intern begins their work.

I’m in high school/graduate school/graduated last year and looking for my next step/in the middle of a career change and I want an internship. What should I do?

At this time, the LA County Arts Internship Program is only open to eligible community college and undergraduate students. We recommend the Arts for LA Jobs Forum for other internship or job opportunities that may work for you.

How do I apply?

Check our application page on the first Monday in April for the first batch of available positions, then keep visiting on the first monday of each month as new positions will continue to be posted through July. When you see something you like, apply directly to the organizations that interest you. We recommend applying early and applying to more than one organization.

Do you have any tips for applying?

• Prepare your cover letter and resume in advance so that you can begin to tailor your materials as soon as the positions are posted.
• Do NOT submit the same cover letter and resume to each organization.
• Make sure your materials are error free.
• Have them reviewed by a friend or professor beforehand.
• Do your research about the organizations that interest you so that you can make the best case for why you’re a good candidate.
• And be sure to read this helpful blog post by an Arts Internship Program alumn that is full of other good things to consider!

I still have questions! What should I do?

Please send an email to internship@arts.lacounty.gov and a member of our team will get back to you.