The Institute for Cultural Partnerships

Volunteer Opportunities at Institute for Cultural Partnerships

The Institute for Cultural Partnerships welcomes volunteers in many of its programs. Please see below for specific opportunities, or call 238-1770 to talk to program officers regarding other volunteer needs that ICP may have at this time.

Institute for Cultural Partnerships Arts and Heritage Internship opportunity

The Institute for Cultural Partnerships (ICP) is a non-profit organization that facilitates opportunities for understanding among diverse cultures and communities. ICP work includes a variety of diversity initiatives including diversity training and education, job training for immigrants and refugees through the GAIN program (Greater Access to Independence for Newcomers), health initiatives and research including the development of the Family Heath History Tool, educational programming and arts residencies, as well as administering statewide arts and heritage programming in the folk and traditional arts. ICP administers the Folk and Traditional Arts grants for apprenticeships and fellowships on behalf of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and coordinates a statewide network of Folk Arts Support Centers. Through an internship in arts and heritage with ICP, applicants will have opportunities to learn in a dynamic and interdisciplinary setting. The internship program is designed to provide hands-on experience with a variety of projects and activities, as well as expose the intern to the rich diversity of Pennsylvania's traditional arts and artists.

Qualifications:

Knowledge of Word and Excel documents.
Attention to Details
Junior or Senior status in an undergraduate program related to arts, folklore, and/or cultural studies; graduate students in related program field; or recent graduate with BA or MA in related program field.
At least one fieldwork course or project must have been completed prior to an internship with ICP.
Knowledge of Pennsylvania regions and/or arts a plus

Requirements:

Internship requires one semester or summer commitment, with the option to complete two semesters.
Schedule is flexible, with a minimum requirement of 3 hours weekly during the semester or 4 hours weekly during the summer months. Interns will be required to submit their weekly schedules in advance for approval.

Archives:

ICP manages the statewide Pennsylvania Folklife Archives which includes hundreds of resources on the folk and traditional arts of the Commonwealth. Interns will assist ICP as it transitions its archive into the digital age by organizing these materials in preparation for digitization and public programming.

Cataloging 30 boxes of cassettes, conforming to ICP database model
Organizing 50+ loose cassettes, CDs, VHS, and DVD work samples, placing into archival boxes, and then cataloguing according to ICP models.
Verifying contents and indexes for archived and accessioned folk and traditional arts materials.
Only for advanced work: Working with ICP staff to create finding aides and accessioning cataloged materials.

Program administration: (Not all activities will be available at all times of the year, but here is a list of possible activities. Each program will be individually designed according to the candidate's interest and ability. All activities will be supervised by ICP staff.)

Create text and media (audio/video/photo) pages of traditional artists that can be uploaded on ICP website. This includes editing text and media for appropriateness.
Learn about fieldwork by assisting the Arts and Heritage Specialist conduct site visits with traditional artists statewide.
Learn about grant writing through assisting at technical assistance workshops conducted statewide, as well as in reading and providing comments on grants being written in the ICP office.
Assist in the planning and preparation for a grants panel. This includes panel book preparation and work sample preparation.
Assist with on-going arts residency programs happening in the public schools and/or community resource centers. This may include mentoring opportunities, as well as hands-on work in the arts with the students.