Internship Program
Intern with the Puppet Festival!
The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Internship Program seeks enthusiastic, forward thinking, detail oriented, and teachable interns eager to join a growing and highly reputable organization. The program provides opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students, and emerging puppeteers to learn the inner workings of the festival and its annual programs. Interns will work with administrative, programming, and production staff on various projects according to their assigned area. No prior puppetry experience is required. See session dates and available positions below.
The deadline to apply is two months before the session start date.
Internship Details
Hours
Schedule determined by intern and supervisor. Hours range from 5 hours/week to 20 hours/week depending on department and session needs. See specifics below in descriptions.
Compensation
All interns receive either a stipend – or – academic credit through their educational institution. International students on F1 visas will need to be paid through their educational institution.
Housing
The Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival is unable to offer housing for interns. Please know that if you are applying to this program you are responsible for your own accommodations.
Year-Round Intern Positions
Studio Intern
The Studio Intern will gain valuable insight into the work of puppeteer/craftspeople and the skills necessary to engineer and fabricate puppet designs for the stage. They will have the opportunity to interact with festival staff and artists and assist them in creating a welcoming space in Studio 433 that is the hub of the festival’s education and design programs. In addition, they will be able to network within the larger Chicago and international puppetry community.
During the Winter Festival session, a Studio Intern will work out of our studio space and work directly with our Studio Coordinator. They will transform and set-up spaces for the festival including but not limited to our Puppet Hub, cafe, and exhibits.
Once the festival begins (January), these interns will be part of the team that works on anything that comes up for the festival i.e. workshop preparation, puppet repairs, etc. They will also have the opportunity to work backstage at the late night puppet cabaret.
The deadline to apply is two months before the session start date.
Studio Sessions
WINTER / FESTIVAL
Dates: Early January – Early February
(5 weeks – 100 hours)
Compensation: $830* for 100 hours, 10-30 hours per week
SPRING
Dates: Early of February – Early May
(14 weeks – 140 hours)
Compensation: $1160* for 140 hours, 10 hours per week
SUMMER
Dates: Mid May – Early August
(14 weeks – 140 hours)
Compensation: $1160* for 140 hours, 10 hours per week
FALL
Dates: End of August – Early December
(14 weeks – 140 hours)
Compensation: $1160* for 140 hours, 10 hours per week
Marketing Intern
The Marketing Intern will play an integral role in the voice and branding of the company. Support across key areas including social media, newsletters and
e-blasts, graphic design, video editing, and audience building will be the primary focus of the internship.
Interns receive one-on-one support through regularly scheduled check-ins with the marketing team. They also have the opportunity to engage firsthand with festival supporters and followers through social media marketing.
The deadline to apply is two months before the session start date.
Marketing Intern Sessions
WINTER FESTIVAL
Dates: Early January – Early February
(4.5 weeks – 90 hours)
Compensation: $750* for 90 hours, up to 20 hours per week
SUMMER
Dates: Late June – Late August
(10 weeks – 60 hours)
Compensation: $500* for 60 hours, 6 hours per week
FALL
Dates: Early September – Mid December
(13 weeks – 80 hours)
Compensation: $660* for 80 hours, 6 hours per week
Engagement Intern
The Engagement Intern focuses on events and fundraising. They also support The Living Room Tour front of house, learn Spektrix (our ticketing system), track individual information/database management and analytics.
During the festival, they also act as leads for volunteers, front of house, box office and merchandise sales.
The deadline to apply is two months before the session start date.
Sessions
WINTER FESTIVAL
Dates: Early January – Early February
(4.5 weeks – 90 hours)
Compensation: $750* for 90 hours, up to 20 hours per week
SUMMER
Dates: Late June – Late August
(10 weeks – 60 hours)
Compensation: $500* for 60 hours, 6 hours per week
FALL
Dates: Early September – Mid December
(13 weeks – 80 hours)
Compensation: $660* for 80 hours, 6 hours per week
Curatorial Intern
The Curatorial Intern will be supporting the new Curatorial Advisory Committee and the Artistic Director in making assessments of artists and companies active in the field.
The Festival’s goal is to create a sustainable institutional programming pipeline, and the intern will provide the backbone of this process by maintaining our internal database of puppet theater works and artists from around the world.
Additional tasks may include email correspondence, providing support for processing submitted materials, researching existing companies and artists, and other work supporting the selection process. They will work directly with the Festival’s staff and Artistic Director and gain a vast knowledge of the current puppet theater landscape.
The deadline to apply is two months before the session start date.
Sessions
SESSION 1
Dates: Mid April – Mid October
(27 working weeks – 135 hours)
Compensation: $1120* for 135 hours, 5 hours per week
SESSION 2
Dates: Mid October – Mid April
(22 working weeks – 110 hours)
Compensation: $910* for 110 hours, 5 hours per week