Administrative Internship Program - 2025 Festival Season
Interested in a career in the arts? Want to learn about producing a world-class opera festival? Opera Theatre’s seasonal administrative internships offer hands-on experience collaborating to produce a world-class opera festival, as well as the opportunity to develop a wide variety of skills crucial in today’s arts and non-profit landscape.
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis is accepting applications for its Administrative Intern Program for the 2025 Festival Season, featuring Die Fledermaus, This House, Don Pasquale, and A Midnight Summer’s Dream.
Opera Theatre is known as a center for training young professionals in all aspects of opera, including arts administration. OTSL’s Administrative Internship Program offers direct, on-the-job experience for those interested in careers in arts administration and management. Past interns have gone on to enjoy careers at Opera Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the St. Louis Art Museum, the American Repertory Theater, San Diego Symphony, and other arts organizations across the country.
We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment and strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women, individuals with disabilities, and others who have been historically excluded to apply. We welcome and value the unique perspectives and experiences that all candidates bring to our team!
Description
Opera Theatre’s administrative internships offer hands-on experience collaborating to produce a world-class opera festival, as well as the opportunity to develop a wide variety of skills crucial in today’s arts and non-profit landscape. In addition to working on projects that are integral to the success of the Festival Season, interns are encouraged to learn from and about roles across the entire company, and are invited to attend additional lectures, recitals, rehearsals, and performances. The program also includes educational sessions specifically for the interns, designed to further the professional growth of the program participants.
We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment and strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women, individuals with disabilities, and others who have been historically excluded to apply. We welcome and value the unique perspectives and experiences that all candidates bring to our team!
INTERN POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
Artistic Administration Intern, Patron Services Intern, Events Intern, Digital Marketing Intern, Finance Intern, Graphic Design Intern, Press & Communications Intern, Social Media Intern, Production Intern
Click here for full descriptions of each interns’ role.
Guidelines
If interested, applicants can and are encouraged to apply for more than one position!
Applicants must be 18+ and authorized to work in the U.S. (some positions may have additional requirements as detailed)
All internships are paid hourly at the rate of $15.00 an hour, and overtime at 1.5x for any hours over 40 per week.
Dates and hours for each position vary, but most are from late April/early May – early July. Hours may include some nights and weekends (see individual position descriptions).
Limited shared housing available.
A basic familiarity with opera and classical music is a great help, however it is not required!
Note: While the majority of our interns are college students or recent college graduates, this is not required. Any qualified applicants will be considered!
APPLY:
Applicants will be required to submit:
Their contact information
2 references – names and contact information
Resume (as a PDF)
Brief personal statement, of no more than 250 words, that communicates why you are interested in the internship, and what unique skills and/or experience you will bring to the role.
Some positions ask for additional work samples or writing samples
Application and Selection Timeline:
Application Period: December 2024 – March 2025
Interviews and Selection: February – March 2025
About Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization known for innovative productions featuring outstanding young artists. The company offers a festival opera season each spring which attracts ticket buyers from zip codes throughout the metropolitan area, as well as visitors from nearly 50 states and multiple countries. As of 2024, OTSL has presented 41 world premieres, which may be the highest percentage of new work in the repertory of any American company. In addition to the spring Festival Season, OTSL operates year-round education and community programs serving nearly 17,000 local children and adults.
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has a year-round artistic and administrative staff of approximately 45, which grows to more than 500 during the Festival Season. Several hundred volunteer members of the Opera Theatre Guild provide support for all aspects of Opera Theatre’s work and advocate for the company throughout the greater St. Louis community. The company’s annual budget size is approximately $12 million; contributed revenue represents more than 50% of budget.
At Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, we value equity, diversity, and mutual respect. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, people with disabilities, and others who have been historically excluded to apply. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our community. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
OTSL will not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion or belief; national, social, or ethnic origin; age; sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression; physical, mental, or sensory disability; family or parental status; genetic information or characteristics; protected veteran status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. OTSL will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
If you need assistance or accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact (314) 963-4233 or tbennett@opera-stl.org.
