IDEAL Summer Internship

IDEAL: Internship for Diverse and Emerging Arts Leaders

The Internship for Diverse and Emerging Arts Leaders (IDEAL) program contributes to building an equitable future for arts leadership by providing opportunities to undergraduate students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in arts leadership. Each summer, five interns are placed in a paid eight-week internship at Arts Host organizations across Wake County and paired with a mentor from the community. During that time, interns participate in professional development and networking activities as well as build a cohort that will serve as a strong foundation for their growing careers. Selected Arts Host organizations are matched with an eager and passionate student intern, connect with a cohort of local arts organizations and community mentors, have access to a robust calendar of professional development and networking opportunities, and provide an immersive learning experience for their IDEAL intern. This program is fully funded by United Arts.

Stay tuned for more details about this year’s cohort!

The 2025 IDEAL summer internship program will run from June 2 through August 1 and includes:

$4,500 pre-tax stipend per intern
Work placement at an Arts Host organization in Wake County for 24 hours per week for 8 weeks
Additional professional development activities and networking opportunities
Individualized mentor pairing in interns’ arts-specific field of interest
A local cohort that will serve as a strong foundation for interns’ growing careers
Learn more about the IDEAL internship experience by watching the Information Video for Interns

IDEAL 2024 Recap

Want to know more about past IDEAL cohorts? Check out the IDEAL Alumni page!

If you have any additional questions or accessibility requests, please feel free to email Community Arts Coordinator, Kelly Schrader, at kschrader@unitedarts.org