LA County Arts Internships: Opportunities for Aspiring Creatives

Los Angeles County offers a vibrant and diverse arts scene, providing numerous opportunities for students and recent graduates to gain valuable experience through internships. These internships, often supported by organizations like the L.A. County Department of Arts & Culture and the Getty Foundation, offer paid work experiences, mentorship, and professional development, empowering individuals to pursue their artistic dreams.

L.A. County Department of Arts & Culture Internship Program

The L.A. County Department of Arts & Culture plays a vital role in fostering the arts ecosystem of the region. Their Arts Internship Program aims to provide students facing structural barriers with paid work experiences, mentorship opportunities, and professional development in the arts. The program empowers self-identity and helps build valuable skills for the future.

Eligibility:

Currently enrolled undergraduate (2 or 4-year) and community college students.
Students who reside or attend college in Los Angeles County.
Recent graduates who completed their degree between May 1 - December 1, 2025 (for the 2025 program).
The Department encourages eligible students from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as disabled students, to apply.

Key Features:

Paid internships: Students receive compensation for their work. For example, in the past, students were paid $6,912 ($17.28/hour) for their 400-hour internships.
Mentorship: Interns are paired with experienced professionals in their field.
Professional Development: The program includes opportunities to develop valuable skills for a future career in the arts.

Important Considerations:

Students must clearly communicate any prior commitments to their organization during the interview process.
The program has a set schedule and runs from June-March.

Education Through Music-Los Angeles (ETM-LA) partners with the LA County Department of Arts and Culture to offer summer internships.

HERO Theatre Internships

HERO Theatre, a company dedicated to using art to bring forth social progress, offers internships in Artistic Producing and Community Outreach & Arts Education. These internships provide hands-on experience and mentorship in a dynamic and socially conscious environment.

Artistic Producing Internship:

Description: The Artistic Producing Intern will work approximately 15-20 hours per week from June 2025 through December 2025.
The intern will receive one-on-one mentorship with producers to learn what it takes to produce a play.
The intern will work on HERO Theatre’s 2025 season, specifically the pre-production workshops for one project and the rehearsals and full production of another.
Responsibilities: Interns will have opportunities to work directly with a variety of theatre artists including producers, playwrights, directors, designers, and actors, and will learn about casting, dramaturgy, producing workshops, and producing a full artistic production.

Community Outreach & Arts Education Internship:

Description: The Community Outreach & Arts Education Intern works approximately 15-20 hours per week from June 2025 through December 2025.
The intern will receive one-on-one mentorship from the Producing Artistic Director to support community engagement & arts education initiatives for HERO’s programming.
Responsibilities: Collaborating closely with the Artistic Producing Intern and resident teaching artists, the Community Outreach & Arts Education Intern will play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between theatre for social change & L.A.’s diverse communities. They will also gain the skills to become a teaching artist to underserved populations and learn to create their own curriculum. Part of this internship experience entails directly communicating one-on-one with HERO’s local L.A. partnerships in organizations such as Inner-City Arts, transitional shelters for women, & special interest community groups.
HERO Theatre seeks an individual who enjoys working with children and who believes in using their skills & artistry towards social progress.

Qualifications for Either Internship:

Applicants should care and have an understanding of social issues happening today because they are relevant to the company and our artistry.
A team player who understands that being a part of the team at HERO Theatre means to be in service to communities in need.
A self-starter, who enjoys working with a team, and who is enthusiastic about the work at hand.
Someone who can follow directions and follow through without having to be micro-managed.
Excellent written and oral communication skills and basic administrative and typing skills.
Some experience with Microsoft Office software preferred, particularly Word and Excel.
Spanish speakers are welcome, but not required.

The Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship (GMUI)

The Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship (GMUI) is a prestigious program that offers paid, full-time summer internships funded by the Getty Foundation. This program provides invaluable experience within established arts organizations.

Read also: Your Guide to Ocean County College

Key Features:

Paid, full-time summer internship.
Funded by the Getty Foundation.
Hosted by various arts organizations throughout Los Angeles County.
The Vincent Price Art Museum (VPAM) often hosts one to two GMUIs annually.

Other Internship Opportunities

Vincent Price Art Museum (VPAM) & Smithsonian Institute (SI) / National Gallery of Art (NGA) Internship: A full-time, five-week internship program for ELAC students, including a one-week intern orientation at VPAM and a month-long museum studies internship with the Smithsonian Institute (SI) or National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington D.C.
Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship Program: Provides specialized training in the curatorial field to students from historically underrepresented groups. The program is organized around two components: the Mellon Summer Academy and the Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship. Two students from the summer academy are selected to participate in this 2-year fellowship program.
The Arts Internship Program: A 2-year program that places students from ETA Partner Schools in paid internships at creative institutions and helps them prepare for life after high school. The program is designed to help students build the skills, training, and experience needed to achieve their goals. The program empowers youth of Los Angeles and Pasadena to pursue their dreams in the arts industry and beyond. Students are connected with mentors in various industries to gain insight about the creative economy and build their confidence. The program requires students to work roughly 12 hours per month during the school year (October - December and January - May) and 48 hours in the summer (June - July).

Preparing for College and Creative Careers

Many of these internship programs are designed to help students prepare for college and future careers in the arts. They provide opportunities to build skills, gain experience, and network with professionals in the field. The Arts Internship Program, for example, connects students with mentors in various industries to gain insight about the creative economy and build their confidence.

Behind-the-Scenes Experience

Internships offer a behind-the-scenes entrée into producing theatre. Interns may be involved in implementing a marketing plan, working alongside production and artistic personnel, coordinating earned income strategies, and interacting with a large audience and donors. They may also experience a diversity of tour locations throughout LA County.