Internship Takeaway
Small Can Be Better
"A small team can be more fulfilling than chasing opportunities at large organizations. The dynamic allowed for stronger connections and a more comfortable, collaborative environment." - Tracy Wang (`25)
Mastering Ability
"I was often surprised by my ability to break down seemingly insurmountable projects into manageable tasks, ultimately leading to their successful completion."
- Randi Miles (`22)
Build Relationships
"It's important to build relationships across all departments. It creates a sense of trust and collaboration that made even high-stress moments smoother."
- Grace Palmer (`26)
Take Initiative
"Don't be afraid to ask for specific projects that interest you or to take initiative. Your supervisor will appreciate it.." - Liza Hersh
Be Organized
"Things move fast! I had to learn to be very organized and how to prioritize competing tasks effectively." - Kinsey Powell
Meet Top Talent
"The opportunity to meet world class musicians and see how a successful arts organization operates was fantastic." - Wei-Mei (Dolly) Huang
Recent Internship Sites
Alvin Ailey American Ballet Theatre
Atlantic Theater Company
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Flushing Town Hall
Japan Society
Jujamcyn Theaters
Korean Cultural Center
Lincoln Center
Manhattan Theatre Club
Metropolitan Opera Association
New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)
New York Philharmonic
Oregon Symphony
Paul Taylor Company
Pentacle
Signature Theatre Company
The Public Theater
My Experience
Individual Giving Intern,
Advancement, Guggenheim New York
Any unexpected but useful lessons from your experience?
As an intern, shadowing, observing, and listening is just as important for your professional growth as doing.
Key takeaways from your internship?
Arts fundraising is a people-centric team sport. As such, the most you can learn is from your supervisors, coworkers, leadership, and donors. They constitute a wealth of knowledge!!
How the internship shaped your career path?
Interning at the Guggenheim was prepared me for a Development Associate position at the New York Philharmonic. I learned the ins and outs of donor cultivation, prospect research, and budget management. I was also exposed to the team culture that make this work possible. I honed my communication skills; received excellent and continuous feedback from my coworkers; and gained the assurance that this was the right career path for me.
A favorite memory from the internship?
Providing support for various donor events at contemporary galleries in Chelsea, collection visits, and NYC landmarks! Also walking past Sonia Delaunay and Marc Chagall paintings each week.
General Management & Producing Intern, Broadway Asia
Any unexpected but useful lessons from the experience?
I learned to follow opportunities as they come, even if it’s not what I planned for. I didn’t plan to accept a full-time job offer halfway through my internship and 6 months before graduation, but I am so happy I did because it gave me the chance to work on some exciting projects, such as The Jonathan Larson Project, which was my first off-Broadway commercial production.
Key takeaways from your internship?
Not be afraid to speak up and put myself out there. From day one, I was very vocal with my coworkers and supervisors about what skills I wanted to learn and projects I wanted to work on. By doing that, I made the most out of my internship experience and developed skills that ultimately translated into career opportunities.
How the internship shaped your career path?
My internship BECAME my career. Now I’m working at Broadway Asia as the Executive Assistant to the President and General Management Assistant. The internship showed me that working in the field of general management and producing is exactly where I want to be. Use your internship to figure out if it is the right choice for you, and if it’s not, then move on to next opportunity knowing you’re just one step closer to finding the perfect job.
A favorite memory from the internship?
A few days into my internship, we started rehearsals for the musical World’s Greatest Lover. I got the opportunity to sit in the room with the cast and award-winning creative team as they worked through all the new material, and I remember thinking in that moment—I finally made it.
Internship Substitution
Students with a total of 2-4 years of full-time paid work experience in arts administration (accrued after the conferral of the undergraduate degree) can apply to substitute one or both of the required internships for a suitable elective course(s). Contact Academic Advisor Ashlyn O'Boyle (ao2369@nyu.edu) for more information.