Internships at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts
Philosophy, Guidelines and Protocols
The Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, Inc. (JMCA) is a not-for-profit arts center with a commitment to arts-based learning at every level of our work. With a 350-seat theatre, an active onsite afterschool and holiday camp for young people, and in-school arts-based learning partnerships with 10 Bay Area schools, we have attracted talented people seeking internship opportunities in administration, education, theatre management, technical support and house management. Our education mission embraces internships as an integral part of our work, and moreover, we find that interns are critical to our ability to accomplish our ambitious objectives within our limited resources. This document is intended to provide guidelines to help us create the highest quality experience for qualified interns and to enhance our professional capacity to provide quality programs for the communities we serve.
Definitions: Internships are reciprocal relationships. They are intended to be of equal benefit to the intern and to the organization. Interns are distinguished from other volunteers in that their commitment is more clearly defined. They work for at least eight hours a week for a minimum period of time (usually not less than 12 weeks, unless by arrangement with their supervisor) and on a relatively regular schedule. Most interns work in exchange for professional experience; some can earn college credit. All should have clearly defined goals for what they can offer, and what they intend to gain from their commitment to the JMCA and for the use of the resources of the JMCA to support these goals.
Qualified interns bring some experience and skills with them that will permit them to grow in their assignments. Advance skills are always welcome, but candidates might also have basic computer, organizational, or other office skills for admin interns; research skills for admin or education interns; classroom practice or coursework in child development for education interns; organizational and people skills for front-of-house interns; a facility and comfort with basic tools for tech interns. Our programs are not large enough to support raw apprentices in any category.
Procedures for application and placement: All applicants must be interviewed and evaluated for placement by the Executive Director (for admin or ed interns), Director of Artistic Learning (for ed interns) or the Producing Manager (for tech/facility interns). Final placement in an internship in any position is at the discretion of the Executive Director.
Evaluative interviews should include discussion and clarification of the candidate's goals, hours and duration of the internship, likely limitations, and previous experience of the candidate. Following a successful interview, the candidate's references will be checked and a meeting with the Executive Director scheduled, if the interview was conducted by someone else.
Prior to placement, a memorandum of understanding will be signed by the Intern and his/her immediate supervisor to clarify the goals and responsibilities of the internship on both sides (the intern and the JMCA).
Special considerations: Ed interns interested in working the Lincoln Center Institute model practiced by the JMCA are required to attend a training in Berkeley either in April or June each year before they can be placed in a classroom.
Ed interns wishing to work in our onsite afterschool programs must pass a security check to ensure their legal status to work with children and sign an agreement to observe JMCA guidelines for the safety of children. Also, ed interns in our summer camp must attend an orientation in late May or early June.
Tech interns need to be prepared to climb ladders and follow strict safety protocols for their own protection and the protection of their peers and the audiences.
General Intern Responsibilities: Interns have the same obligation as employees to act in the best interest of the JMCA, including abiding by both implicit and explicit dress codes, even though our dress codes are generally informal, when on JMCA business.
Interns will be trained in and are required to observe the protocols for security, timely communication, supervisory approvals, and professional respect that employees, contractors, board members and teaching artists observe.
Interns are invited to participate in meetings, workshops, training opportunities and other JMCA activities outside their assignments, with pre-approval from their supervisors and the leaders of these activities.
Initial work assignments are negotiated to the mutual benefit of the intern and the mentor, and include an expectation that the intern will accept all assignments within the agreement.
Mentors are responsible for ensuring proper training in JMCA protocols and interns are encouraged to seek assistance from any JMCA staff member. Interns are also expected to recognize their limits when speaking of or for the JMCA, and to refer issues to the appropriate staff.