Historic Asolo Theater: Technical Theater & Arts Administration Intern (PAID Fall 2021 SMAH Internship)

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY: This paid internship position is a part of the Fall 2021 Sarasota-Manatee Arts & Humanities (SMAH) Internship Program, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant and private donors to New College of Florida. Thus, this internship has certain expectations per the funding and program requirements.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the State Art Museum of Florida and administered by Florida State University. The Ringling features a historic mansion, art museum, circus museum, historic theater, conservation center, arboretum, and reference library situated on 66 acres of bayfront property in Sarasota. The Ringling serves as the legacy of John and Mable Ringling--a place of art, architecture, and circus in an environment that inspires, educates, and entertains. It is a center of art and culture that engages the local, state, and global communities and is accessible to and inclusive of all.

Studying with dedicated professionals in a hands-on learning environment, this internship will focus on the Technical Theater and Arts Administration within the Performing Arts. The Intern will train with the production manager of the Historic Asolo Theater on:

- Sound, Lighting, Video, Set, Basic Rigging, Props and Stage Management & Planning. 

- Technical and administrative production aspects of the not-for-profit performance community.

- Assist the Production Manager of the Theater with the coordination of operations and performances.

- Assist with organizing technical and production equipment and programming needs for the performance season, including organizing technical requests and the production calendar. 

- Opportunity to review technical riders and sit in on artist planning meetings to determine technical production needs. 

- Participate in theater maintenance and safety training

- Learn about requirements and membership in the associated technical and artist unions (IATSE, et al).  

- Attend team meetings, acquire basic budget and grant vocabulary, and accompany program design planning with curatorial staff.  

- At the conclusion of the internship, the intern may be invited to present on Technical Theater to local Booker High School and Manatee School of the Arts to student; providing them with an overview of technical theater. 

The program will improve communication, organizational and conceptual skills, and provide a mentoring experience for emerging professionals.

The intern will gain valuable hands-on experience within a professional theater environment, which will prepare them for collegiate theater programs and competitive professional work opportunities in the local market, or in regional and national fields. This experience will help students decide if technical work is the career path they would like to follow and provide an excellent springboard for professional networking. Many of the technical elements apply to other industries, and this basic knowledge helps expand social, mental and physical discipline for problem solving, project planning, team building and communication, which are essentials in professional arts careers. 

By the end of the internship, the intern will be knowledgeable in the basics of technical theater arts and production fundamentals of the performing arts. This includes:

- Practical experience, with direct mentorship from technical and curatorial staff of the museum's Art of Performance team. 

- Knowledge of outdoor and indoor stage environment

- How to program a basic sound and lighting board, as well as run a projector, run video software on a variety of programs, and focus lighting instruments.

- Opportunity to work with professional artists, cultivating important relationships and widening knowledge of a range of performance disciplines.  

- Learn Arts Administration basics including lead time planning and budget considerations.

- Acquire trade skills and become comfortable in a theater environment focused on contemporary multi-disciplinary performance.  

- Exposure to a museum environment 

- Gain expanded perspectives and access to large arts institutions systems and opportunities.

- Practice technical theater craft and learn new technical applications. 

1. Must be 18 years of age 

2. Interest in Performing Arts. As a beginner internship, previous knowledge or experience is welcome, but not required.

3. Ability to work onsite for 160 Hours during the internship semester.

Internship working location will be the Historic Asolo Theater at The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art located at 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243.

Travel will be required but not supported. The Ringling is accessible for New College students by bike, bus, or personal vehicle. 

The Ringling is an Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled & Veteran Action employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. As such, we are always seeking individuals dedicated to innovation and excellence. A successful candidate will work effectively, respectfully, and collaboratively in a diverse, multicultural, and inclusive setting. We especially encourage applications by individuals from underrepresented groups, with a demonstrated commitment to a culturally and intellectually diverse workplace.