The Communication and Marketing Administration Intern provides support to Indigo Arts Alliance through the creation, implementation and support of internal and external communication efforts. The selected interns are given projects that span across the organization, and grow transferable skills such as project management, copywriting, graphic design, and more. They play a valuable role by creating new ways and assisting in maintaining methods for our audiences to remain engaged through social media efforts, newsletters, and printed materials.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Assist Marketing and Communications Coordinator in streamlining internal/external communications software
- Assist in researching and setting up new communications
- Assist communications team in maintaining active social media presence for the organization with guidance from Executive Director (utilizing guidelines and branding elements provided).
- Assist in the design and creation of various printed materials
- Maintain and organize internal IAA Google Drive
- Assist in internal/external communication document creation (Information Templates, Studio Guidelines, Artist in Residence Handbook, etc)
- Sourcing, researching, and creating content to be used for our various social media platforms
- Maintaining the IAA content archives
- Assist in writing social media post copy, and keeping all communication tools consistent and up to date
Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled, or recently graduated from a college or university - Positive attitude and strong work ethic
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong technical skills in computer literacy
- Aptitude in digital/social media and all its platforms
- Good organization skills with attention to detail
- Ability to receive feedback and critique with humility, modesty, and respect - Exceptional attention to detail
- Desire to find creative solutions to all challenges and problems
- Personal qualities of kindness, integrity, credibility, and commitment to the mission - Art education or experience (painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking experience preferred but not required)
- Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow specific step-by-step instructions
Staffing
IAA is currently being led by co-founder and Chief Officer of Strategic Growth and Innovation, Marcia Minter; co-founder and Artist Director Daniel Minter, Executive Director Jordia Benjamin; Studio and Programs Coordinator, Ashley Page and Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Veronica Pounds. Indigo Arts Alliance is also supported by a robust community of partners, sponsors and funders.
Compensation and Hours
Spanning 135 hours, this internship accounts for 3 credits and has also been funded a total of $1500. For students of Maine College of Art, this stipend is administered by MECA and funded through the Crewe Foundation. For non-MECA students, funding for this internship is provided by The David Driskell Foundation, and will be administered by Indigo Arts Alliance. This internship is possible through the generous philanthropy of our community organizations to help foster and grow young brown and black artists that are emerging within their careers. While introducing young students to established, mid-career and budding POC artists in the local Portland community, and hosting space for talking about work from a different perspective, this opportunity allows for artists of all kinds to learn and grow. This internship is now available for recent graduates who graduated within a year of applying. The rate of compensation does not change with graduate status.
The Studio and Programming Administration Intern provides support to Indigo Arts Alliance by executing day to day tasks and representing Indigo in a positive manner to the community. Our interns play a valuable role in implementing our programming and utilizing skill sets such as program planning, event set up & breakdown, archive management, and more! They get hands-on learning in nonprofit management and are exposed to a wide range of artists, creative professionals, and project management tools that help fuel an exciting career in the arts. This position is available to currently enrolled students pursuing an undergraduate, or graduate degree as well as recent graduates who graduated within a year of the application period and offers a hybrid internship model (virtual and in-person), dependent on COVID-19 and CDC guidelines.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Research relevant studio facilities to better inform the IAA print/studio community workshop
- Regularly audit and populate studio supplies inventory documents
- Assist in researching and setting up new studio furniture/equipment
- Maintain the general organization and cleanliness of all Indigo Arts Alliance facilities
- Maintain and organize internal IAA Google Drive
- Assist in internal/external communication document creation (Information Templates, Studio Guidelines, Artist in Residence Handbook, etc)
Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled, or recently graduated from a college or university
- Positive attitude and strong work ethic
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong technical skills in computer literacy
- Aptitude in digital/social media and all its platforms
- Good organization skills with attention to detail
- Ability to receive feedback and critique with humility, modesty, and respect
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Desire to find creative solutions to all challenges and problems
- Personal qualities of kindness, integrity, credibility, and commitment to the mission
- Art education and/or experience (painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking experience preferred but not required)
- Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow specific step-by-step instructions
- Must be able to lift 50-75 lbs.
Staffing
IAA is currently being led by co-founder and Chief Officer of Strategic Growth and Innovation, Marcia Minter; co-founder and Artist Director Daniel Minter, Executive Director Jordia Benjamin; Studio and Programs Manager, Ashley Page and Communications Manager, Coco McCracken. Indigo Arts Alliance is also supported by a robust community of partners, sponsors and funders.
Compensation and Hours
Spanning 135 hours, this internship accounts for 3 credits and has also been funded a total of $1500. For students of Maine College of Art, this stipend is administered by MECA and funded through the Crewe Foundation. For non-MECA students, funding for this internship is provided by The David Driskell Foundation, and will be administered by Indigo Arts Alliance. This internship is possible through the generous philanthropy of our community organizations to help foster and grow young brown and black artists that are emerging within their careers. While introducing young students to established, mid-career and budding POC artists in the local Portland community, and hosting space for talking about work from a different perspective, this opportunity allows for artists of all kinds to learn and grow. This internship is now available for recent graduates who graduated within a year of applying. The rate of compensation does not change with graduate status.
The David C. Driskell Fellowship at Black Seed Studio
A foundational aspect of Indigo Arts Alliance’s mission is to amplify and empower Black and Brown artists who enrich our local community. The goal of the David C. Driskell Fellowship Program is to identify talented Maine based & Maine Rooted artists whose work is of excellent artistic merit and is open to all artistic career stages. That is why Indigo Arts Alliance is proud to offer rent free studio space to our community!
The IAA mission is both local and global. We are specifically working with “Black and Brown” artists. African descent refers to people from all African nations, African-American, Afro-Latin, and Caribbean. The geographic breadth of all the places where Africans were displaced as a result of the transatlantic slave trade. We describe “Brown” to include Native American, indigenous, Latinx, South and Southeast Asian, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim communities. This exciting opportunity will enable artists to engage in their practice in ways that they may not otherwise have the space and/or resources to. As artists and creative professionals ourselves, we understand the value and rarity of having dedicated studio space for an extended period of concentrated time.
Selected Fellows Receive:
- Rent free semi-private 500 sq foot studio facility, for up to three months
- $700 (unrestricted): Fellowship funding may be used to enhance any aspect of the artist’s life, such as overhead costs, the purchase of materials, and other living expenses. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines.
- Support from Indigo Arts Alliance staff and access to IAA community resources and services.
- Black Seed Studio Visits: IAA coordinates a mid-residency studio visit with the current Indigo Arts Alliance Mentorship Artist Residents and a selection of arts professionals. These can be virtual or in person depending on your comfort level.
Eligibility:
- Artists must be a descendent from any of the African nations, African-American, Afro-Latin, Caribbean, i.e., the communities inhabiting the geographic breadth of all the places where Africans were displaced as a result of the transatlantic slave trade, Native Americans, indigenous peoples, Latinx, South and Southeast Asian, the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim.
- Artists must be Maine based (i.e living/working full or part time in Maine) or Maine Rooted (i.e strong ties to Maine, and maintaining strong community networks to the state)
- Applicants must be 21+ at the time of the proposed residency.
- Artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply (Painting, sculpture, illustration, writing, dance, music, theater/performance, photography, fiber/textiles, etc).
- Applicants cannot be attending a full-time academic program at the time of the residency.
- Applicants must have the most up to date COVID-19 vaccination at least 3 months prior to the start of their proposed residency.
Jury Criteria:
Selection for this program will be based on artistic merit, creative integrity and community commitment. Artists working at every level, emerging through established, are equitably welcomed and reviewed.
- Artistic Merit: The artist presents a sustained commitment to their practice, risk-taking, and clear concepts and creative methodologies that advance artistic expression. This includes traditional studio practices, music/sound, creative writing to new forms that explore digital art mediums.
- Creative Integrity: The artist’s work demonstrates integrity and ethical use of material demonstrates responsible social and/or environmental practice, models new forms of creative action.
- Engagement with defined communities: There is a clear articulation of the role and relationship of the artist with the communities in which they are engaged. The artist engages in equitable creative practice which seeks to build social/structural/systemic equity.
Applicants are evaluated and selected based on their work, as evidenced in submitted materials and work samples. Consideration is given to accomplishments to date as well as promise for continued development and the potential impact the fellowship will have on the artist. The distinguished jury panel will also be asked to consider the wide range of media, aesthetic considerations, social engagement, relationship to defined community, and cultural traditions that might be influenced by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and geography.
We are currently accepting applications for the following residency periods:
Spring: May 12th - August 8th, 2025
Fall: Sept. 8th - December 5th, 2025
Winter: January 13th - April 7th, 2026
David C. Driskell Info Session & Q/A: Please use this time to learn about Indigo Arts Alliance, our residency programs, and ask any questions you might have about IAA's various programs and/or your application. You may sign up for either session using the links below!
Dates:
Tuesday, Jan. 28th at 12:30pm (Registration Link)
Friday, Feb. 28th at 10am (Registration Link)
If you have any additional questions or concerns about your application, please email us directly at ashley@indigoartsalliance.me