Accessible Arts is encouraging applications for Ripple: Disability and Culturally Diverse Internship Program.

This valuable program is a partnership between Accessible Arts, Diversity Arts Australia, and a range of arts and cultural organisations across NSW and the ACT.

Now in its second year, this exciting program provides a unique professional internship opportunity for up to eight people with disability or who are d/Deaf who also identify as culturally and linguistically diverse. This includes those who identify as people of colour, Black people, and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

The interns will be supported with access and diversity training and then undertake work experience with leading arts organisations over a twelve-week period. Each participating arts organisation and the selected interns will be in a position to embrace two-way learning which benefits and improves access to arts, culture and community events for people with disability from under-represented culturally diverse backgrounds.

What does the Paid Internship include?

Ripple: Disability and Culturally Diverse Internship Program includes training (customised disability and cultural diversity awareness workshops as well as small business start-up workshops), ongoing creative sector networking support and work experience at a matched host organisation.

We will be selecting eight applicants who identify as both a person with disability or who is d/Deaf as well as culturally and linguistically diverse. This is an exciting opportunity to gain valuable insights into the kinds of organisations and work available in the arts and cultural sector, whilst forming connections as emerging creative sector workers.

The selected interns will be paid $30 per hour plus 10.5% superannuation, for a total of 20 weeks. You will be paid for all training and work experience hours.

Participating Organisations

The internships will take place at a range of leading arts and cultural institution as listed below. The internships can be carried out entirely in person, or a combination of in person and online. The breakdown of online and in person hours will vary depending on the requirements of each arts organisation.

The National Portrait Gallery
The Art Gallery of New South Wales
UTP (formally Urban Theatre Projects)
APRA AMCOS
4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art
Lismore Regional Gallery

What areas will the interns work in?

The internships will be in a variety of creative and technical areas depending on the arts and cultural organisation each intern is placed within. Areas include marketing, curating, production, front of house, arts administration, public programs, writing, producing, and editing within music, visual arts, theatre and publishing. A work program will be developed based on the skills and interests of each participant, alongside the opportunities and requirements of the organisation.

The successful applicants will be able to choose up to 3 preferences of which arts organisations they would like to work with. While we will endeavour to accommodate preferences, all placements will at the discretion of the participating arts organisations.

Access Requirements

All interns will be provided with assistance prior to starting and during their internship, matched to their individual access requirements.

Internship Dates

The internships will run from 4 August to 12 December 2023. This will include:

• Friday 4 August to Friday 1 September:
  Specialised access and diversity training with Accessible Arts and Diversity Arts Australia. This includes online and in-person training sessions plus plenty of peer support discussion time.
  (15 hours per week x 4 weeks)

• Monday 4 September to Friday 24 November:
  Internship placement
  (15 hours per week x 12 weeks)

• Tuesday 28 November to Monday 11 December:
  Specialised business training and peer support discussion time.
  (Up to 30 hours per week including paid travel time to attend Graduation Ceremony in Sydney)

• 12 December:
  Graduation Ceremony

Who is eligible to apply?

Any NSW or ACT-based person over the age of 18 who identifies as both a person with disability or who is d/Deaf as well as culturally and linguistically diverse who has been actively engaged in or seeking career opportunities in the arts and cultural sector is encouraged to apply.

Applications are warmly encouraged from people with all levels of previous experience, including those new to the workforce.

• Person with disability includes anyone with sensory or physical conditions, learning disability, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions or who is neurodivergent.
• Culturally and linguistically diverse includes those who identify as people of colour, Black people, and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Selection Criteria

• Must identify as both a person with disability or who is d/Deaf as well as culturally and linguistically diverse, including those who identify as people of colour, Black people, and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
• Must be available during the above-mentioned dates
• Interest and enthusiasm as an emerging cultural or creative sector worker
• Interested in disability, neurodiversity and racial justice discourse
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently
• Competency in Microsoft Office applications
• Nurturing some form of creative/arts/crafts practice (desirable but not essential)

Apply Now

Click here to apply online.

Alternatively, you can submit your application via an Accessible PDF Application Form or you can send through a Video (MP4) or Audio file to the Project Manager, Eugenie Lee, via email at elee@aarts.net.au

Preview the application form here.

Applications close Monday 5 June 2023 at midnight.

The selected interns will be notified early July 2023. Please note, all successful applicants will be asked to complete both a Police Check and a Working with Children Check. The financial costs associated with these checks will be reimbursed by Accessible Arts.

If you have any enquiries, please email the Project Manager, Eugenie Lee, on elee@aarts.net.au or phone (02) 9251 6499.

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

ENDS

Image description: A group photo from the 2022 Disability and Culturally Diverse Internship Graduation Ceremony, featuring graduating interns, staff from Accessible Arts and Diversity Arts Australia and the ceremony keynote speaker. Photo by Dieter Knierim.