Climate Museum Summer 2023 Internships – Museum Studies

About the job

The Climate Museum is seeking college or graduate student interns to join our team of climate ambassadors for the summer of 2023. The Museum’s mission is to inspire action on the climate crisis with programming across the arts and sciences that deepens understanding, builds connections, and advances just solutions.

Since the start of its public programming in late 2017, the Museum has created an activist, cultural approach to community engagement with climate, recognizing that most Americans are worried about the climate crisis but are unsure how to take meaningful action. The Museum’s free, accessible exhibitions, art installations, public and youth programs, advocacy tools, and more have broadened the climate movement, introducing an interdisciplinary approach to climate with an emphasis on community, justice, equity, and inclusion. Programs are presented at the Climate Museum Pop-Up in Soho, on Governors Island, in galleries and public spaces citywide. The Museum is currently scaling out to a permanent, year-round presence in New York City. Additional information is available at climatemuseum.org.

This internship presents the opportunity to play a generative role in a fast-paced, evolving organization. Interns will carry out tasks in an intellectually vibrant and supportive environment within a culture centered around respect and inclusion.

These internships are unpaid, with an option for college credit if your school allows it. Some colleges offer stipends for nonprofit internships. We are able to work with you and your internship office to submit all relevant documentation if you are receiving a stipend.

Interns will work with the Museum team at their office in Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan and in-person presence is required.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting immediately with a final deadline of Sunday, April 9 at 11:59pm. Summer internships will begin in May depending on the applicant’s spring semester end date.

Internship description:

The Museum is offering four intern tracks: General Intern, Development/Fundraising, Social Media/PR, and Digital Design. Interns will largely focus on the following tasks with additional responsibilities that will vary depending on the immediate needs of the Climate Museum.

General Intern:

Assist with summer public programs, youth programs, and events.
Assist with the organization and research of our upcoming exhibition (focused on climate and inequality).
Research topics related to program development and the Museum mission.
Conduct research and support outreach to education, community, and nonprofit groups to build new audiences for programs.
Participate in curatorial and public programs team meetings.

Development/Fundraising:

Support the execution of development and fundraising tasks, including stewardship of current and prospective donors by conducting donor prospect research, background research, and philanthropic trends research.
Assist with preparation of fundraising materials including but not limited to applications, agendas, notes and summaries.
Join Development team meetings.
Support administrative processes, including utilization of Salesforce CRM (no prior experience required).

Digital Design:

Create graphics using the Climate Museum’s visual identity for program materials, social media, digital & print marketing.
Manage website updates.
Assist with digital communications.
Attend weekly social media team meetings to participate in integrated communications planning, including social media, website, etc.

Social Media/PR:

Write and post social media content on a daily basis based on the Museum’s daily social media calendar.
Generate creative content ideas and create captions, videos, etc. with the aim of boosting engagement on all social platforms.
Monitor the Museum’s social media engagement (Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok), analytics, and media coverage.
Attend weekly social media team meetings.
Create social media kits to promote Museum events.
Research influencers and relevant social media accounts.
Monitor climate news.
Attend PR weekly meetings with the Museum and its PR agencies to learn about integrated communications plans, including press releases, blog posts, and story ideas to pitch to journalists and bloggers.

Qualifications:

All interns:

Ability to volunteer (unpaid) for approximately 15-20 hours/week. Occasional weekend days or evenings will be required. *Students who have an interest in an expanded schedule should indicate their availability in their cover letters.
College (rising sophomores and above) and graduate students only.
Self-starter able to work in-person in Manhattan within the hours of 10am – 6pm EST. If hired, the candidate must provide proof that they have been fully vaccinated and have received boosters, in accordance with CDC and other applicable government guidelines, against the COVID-19 (or SARS-CoV-2) virus, subject to any accommodation or other exceptions required by law. In addition, and subject to changing public health conditions, masks will be required of both Museum team members and visitors at events that do not include food and drink, subject to any accommodation or other exemptions required by law.
Demonstrated passion for climate issues, social justice, and/or museums.
Exceptional research and writing skills and generally strong academic qualifications.
Enterprising and ambitious mindset balanced with outstanding adaptability, collaborative skills, and ability to work independently.
Ability to interact with Museum visitors at public programs in an ambassadorial role.
Proficiency in Google Drive preferred, as well as the ability to learn new software.
Ability to maintain a flexible and positive attitude in a fast-paced environment. Inclined to kindness and humor under pressure.
If hired, interns are requested to bring their own laptops to the office, if they have one, or to request technology access accommodations.

Development/fundraising intern additional skills:

A keen interest in development, fundraising, or community engagement preferred.
Experience with Salesforce CRM preferred but not required.

Digital Design additional skills:

Graphic design skills with Adobe platforms — InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator (skills with at least one are required).
Experience with SquareSpace (preferred, not required).
Experience using HTML and CSS (preferred, not required).
Attention to detail.

Social Media/PR intern additional skills:

Experience managing social media accounts and producing high-quality content.
Attention to detail.

To apply:

Submit your resume and cover letter through https://theclimatemuseum.submittable.com/submit. In your letter, please note your preferred internship track, as well as your available start and end dates. If you are applying for the Digital Design track, please provide two work samples. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the internship will begin in May and end in August. Start and end dates are flexible depending on the applicant’s spring and fall semester dates.

The Climate Museum highly values diversity and views the climate crisis as, among other things, a multilateral, social justice crisis. Our aspiration is for our team to represent NYC both demographically and through a multitude of experiences and viewpoints. The Climate Museum is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Applicants may request a reasonable accommodation for interviews and to satisfy the essential functions of the job.