Approximately three months (semester or summer)
10-20 hours/week (depending on specific tasks and projects)
Based in Montreal, KlezKanada is one of the world’s leading Jewish cultural institutions. With a focus on klezmer music and Yiddish culture, KlezKanada teaches, nurtures, and presents the best of Jewish traditional arts and culture. In addition to concerts, workshops, and other events throughout the year in Montreal, KlezKanada’s flagship program is an annual summer retreat at a camp in the Laurentian mountains, an immersive residential festival for students, artists, families, and more, attended by a diverse array people from all over the world.
KlezKanada is seeking motivated interns to help with the promotion and operations of our activities and programs, to grow our audiences and visibility, and to assist with the organization’s day-to-day administration.
This an excellent opportunity for a creative and resourceful student exploring a career in arts and cultural management or in the non-profit sector. Interns will have a chance to help build a growing cultural organization and contribute to a dynamic and diverse artistic community. It is an ideal position for students in music or any field of the arts and humanities.
Responsibilities will be determined based on the intern’s profile of skills, strengths, and interests and ongoing projects and organizational needs at KlezKanada. Some tasks may include:
- Help craft and curate KlezKanada’s artistic programs at its summer retreat and other cultural and educational activities in Montreal
- Fashion and implement promotional strategies for KlezKanada’s programs, including its renowned Youth Scholarship Program and McGill Academic Seminar
- Maintain, cultivate, and grow KlezKanada’s strong, diverse, and geographically widespread community through curated social media, monthly newsletters, and other electronic communications
- Assist in the design and creation of innovative fundraising strategy and campaigns; prepare and send out appeal letters, grant reports, and other fundraising documents.
- Craft press releases, create a network of media and organizational contacts, create and maintain press package.
- Update, maintain, and help revitalize KlezKanada’s web presence at klezkanada.org
- Create or oversee promotional materials when necessary (including: copy, translation, graphic design, production)
- Assist with daily bookkeeping, budgeting, and database management
- Assist with preparing documents for Board meetings and other events
- Liaise with vendors, venues, and artists for events, concerts, workshops, and other events
- Coordinate volunteers and other logistics for events
- Respond to incoming calls, emails, and other communications
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this position will have:
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to multitask, work well autonomously and as part of a small team, and think creatively
- Excellent interpersonal skills to work with and interact with KlezKanada’s very diverse community of attendees, artists, supporters, vendors, volunteers, and others
- Strong writing and editing skills with a keen eye for detail and an ability to write for different audiences
- Strong computer skills, especially with regards to social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and Google’s G-Suite of office applications
- Proficiency in French and English (written and spoken); other languages (e.g. Yiddish, Russian, Hebrew, Spanish) are an asset, but not required
- Previous professional experience in a non-profit or arts management environment
- A sense of humour and spirit of resourcefulness
- A love for arts and music and an interest in Jewish culture and the Yiddish language
KlezKanada strongly encourages applications from talented and hard-working candidates who may not possess every skill listed above, but have a strong interest in our work and the further cultivation of Montreal’s vibrant cultural scene. KlezKanada is eager to provide opportunities in mentorship and professional development and build new skills on the job that will lead to careers in the non-profit and arts & culture sectors.
KlezKanada and it’s community highly value diversity and equity. As such we strongly encourage applications from qualified candidates from any religious, ethnic, linguistic, or cultural background, and of any gender identity or sexual orientation.
Please note that this position is an internship without paid compensation, but academic credit may be received for this opportunity. Interns selected to serve during the summer months will work behind the scenes at KlezKanada’s renowned summer festival and receive full room and board during that time.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and CV to Sebastian Schulman, Executive Director, at sebastian.schulman@klezkanada.org