Seattle Opera x TeenTix Internship Applications Open Now!

TeenTix and the Seattle Opera are collaborating to host a new internship position in Winter 2022. This five-week internship will take place at the Seattle Opera, January 24–February 25 (with some flexibility). The work schedule is approximately 15 hours a week.

TEENTIX INTERNSHIP AT SEATTLE OPERA

Are you a storyteller who wants to work in the arts or for a nonprofit someday? Are you passionate about making the arts a space where more young people and People of Color feel seen and represented? Or—are you an artist who wants to learn about how to market your work? The TeenTix Internship at Seattle Opera is the ideal opportunity for you!

Currently, Seattle Opera’s marketing and communications department spends a lot of time trying to provide context about old works for our adult audiences. How should we be telling these stories today, in 2021? What kind of context would attract young people to attending an opera? Bring your ideas to a major arts organization while gaining real-world experience. With supervision from both TeenTix and Seattle Opera staff, the intern will serve as a youth adviser for Seattle Opera’s marketing efforts, and help the company inspire more youth to attend Seattle Opera events and performances.

Interns will focus on communications surrounding the opera Blue, and gain experience in supporting the success of a production through social media copy, email copy, press releases, blog articles, interviews, and more. Blue is an award winning opera about contemporary African American life, love and loss, church, sisterhood, and most importantly, family. The story follows a Black family in the joy of the birth of their son, and later in the grief of his death at the hands of a police officer. This story contains difficult, complex, and emotionally nuanced themes that the intern will learn to navigate and present from a communications perspective.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

- Teens interested in the arts—music and opera experience are not required.

- Applicants should be 17-20.

- People of Color are strongly encouraged to apply.

COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY

Seattle Opera is committed to dismantling historic barriers of oppression, and to fostering racial equity. Through ongoing learning and evaluation of our work, by centering communities of color, and by building authentic partnerships, Seattle Opera believes we can transform our art form, and our world.

TeenTix is an anti-racist organization that is actively working to identify, name, and correct institutionalized racism and constructs of white supremacy within our own organization, and to help our partnered arts and culture organizations do the same. Our programs work to uplift marginalized voices in arts leadership and arts journalism, and to increase access to art.

COMPENSATION

The TeenTix Internship at Seattle Opera is a paid internship ($16.69 an hour; approximately 15 hours a week).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Must have proof of vaccination for COVID-19 and wear a mask at all times while onsite

- Basic understanding and ability to use major social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok)

- A desire to be part of an arts or nonprofit organization.

- Interest in some performing art (opera, music, dance, theater etc.).

- A passion for racial equity and social justice.

- Demonstrated writing skill and passion.

- A willingness to show up, contribute to team meetings, and let your voice be heard!

NOT REQUIRED, BUT WOULD BE AWESOME!

- Previous experience with TeenTix, Seattle Opera, or classical music helpful, but not required

- A desire to work in the arts or for an arts organization or nonprofit organization in the future.

- Youth leadership experience of any kind.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Each day, interns will either come to the Seattle Center campus (305 Harrison St. Seattle, WA 98109)—where both Seattle Opera and TeenTix are headquartered—or work remotely. The majority of the internship will be spent at Seattle Opera, with weekly check-ins with TeenTix staff. Interns will work with a dedicated staff person at both organizations. At Seattle Opera, interns will focus on the actual assignments and responsibilities of the internship. At TeenTix, interns will spend time with mentors to focus on personal growth and reflection, and how the experience plays into the intern’s big-picture goals.

Interns must be available for 15 hours of work, Monday-Friday. The intern and managers will work together to set official work hours and schedule. Interns must attend social media meetings via zoom or in person as needed, as well as a staging rehearsal and a dress rehearsal of Blue (both rehearsals may take place outside of business hours and later in the evening)

The intern’s time will be divided among three main areas:

SERVING AS A YOUTH ADVISER (30 %)

The intern will work with managers to critically examine the upcoming Seattle Opera production of Blue, then help create a social media strategy to support, promote, and inform the performance for younger audiences. Additionally, with guidance and supervision, the intern will develop ideas and/or a strategy for attracting teens to the following production of The Marriage of Figaro, and be in charge of leading a teen focus group to generate ideas.

WRITING AND SOCIAL MEDIA (60 %)

With guidance and supervision, the intern will write:

- Social media posts and content.

- Articles or interviews for the Seattle Opera blog.

- Press releases

- Support materials for opera productions, educational programs, blogs, and news events (including written, audio, photographic, and video content).

- A first-person blog post, topic of their choice related to Blue

- Additionally, the intern will attend social media meetings with the Seattle Opera marketing department, where they will learn to brainstorm and pitch social media content.

LEARNING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (10 %):

The internship will include one-on-one mentorship from Seattle Opera and TeenTix staff, plus opportunities to learn more about the art of opera and get a behind-the-scenes look at an opera company. The intern will choose 2-3 Seattle Opera staff whose careers align with their interests, to do informational interviews with them about their work and career path.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please email the following materials to mariko@teentix.org by November 29, 2021:

A one-page cover letter explaining:

• Why you’re interested in this internship.

• The skills or past experience you bring.

• How this experience will help you achieve future goals.

Two writing samples:

• One academic (a high school or college essay).

• One creative (could be something creative you wrote for school, a short story, a review of a recent arts event you attended, or something entirely different of your choosing!).

When you submit your materials, please include in the body of your email message:

• One professional or academic reference (name, title, phone and email)

• A link to social media post that you loved

• Explain in a couple sentences why it was effective.

If you need assistance filling out this application, please contact TeenTix at mariko@teentix.org.

INTERVIEW

An interview over Zoom in December 2021 is necessary.

Prior to the interview, applicants should check out the Seattle Opera Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and blog. Be ready to discuss your ideas for content on these platforms that would attract a teen audience. (Or if it can’t be used for teens, why?).