Marketing and Special Events Intern

The Company

With 20 historic buildings and a working farm and garden, Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA is open April through December for self-guided tours, demonstrations, talks, and programs ranging from concerts to goat yoga. The museum, open to the public since 1960, celebrates the history and legacy of the Shakers, a religious group that lived communally and sought to realize the perfection of heaven on earth by espousing values of equality and pacificism. The year 2024 marks the 250th anniversary of the Shakers’ arrival in America from their founding country of England; the year offers opportunities for reflection and celebration of the Shakers’ significant influence on American culture and design. To learn more about the Village, visit our website at hancockshakervillage.org.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an energetic and enthusiastic self-starter with exceptional interpersonal communication skills to work alongside our Director of Marketing and our Events Manager as our Marking and Special Events Intern.  The Marketing and Events Department is responsible for all aspects of marketing and publicity—print, web, social media, and public relations—and Special Events Management for Hancock Shaker Village. Examples of Special Events include concerts, dinners, and weddings. During your internship, you will gain extensive experience with a wide range of tasks in a fast-paced museum environment. This internship is ideally suited for students in the following fields: marketing, social media marketing, events management, and hospitality. 

For marketing, you will assist in the development of a seasonal email and social media editorial plan and calendar.  Partner to create weekly emails/newsletters and social media posts as well as reach out to local media outlets to promote key events throughout the season.  Follow-up with advertising partners to ensure all creative materials have been sent in the correct format and on schedule. For special events, you will serve as the primary assistant to the Events Manager for pre-event planning, event set-up, troubleshooting during events, and post-event clean-up and follow-up.

Desired Qualifications 

The Marketing and Special Events Intern must be exceptionally well-organized, have excellent communication skills in writing, in person, and on the phone; have demonstrated success in working in a fast-paced environment; be flexible and easy-going; be able to follow directions and also show initiative, as the situation requires; must be able to maintain composure and a sense of humor in high-pressure situations; enjoy multi-tasking (some of which includes sitting at a computer terminal and using spreadsheets); and must be able to lift at least 30 lbs. Prior experience working with the public is helpful but not required.  Experience with Instagram, Facebook, Constant Contact, WordPress, Canva and Excel is a plus. 

Compensation and Application Instructions

The internship is full time (35-40 hours/week) and may include weekend shifts. Weekly schedules will be determined in advance of arrival by the intern and their supervisor.  Interns receive a stipend of $2,500, paid in weekly installments of $250. Interns are also offered on-site housing in the shared intern apartment in one of our historic buildings. Interns must provide their own meals and transportation. Because of the distance from shopping and other amenities, access to a car during the internship is highly recommended for a better experience but is not required. 

Applicants should submit 1) a letter of interest explaining why the internship is a good fit for you, 2) a resume, and 3) the names and contact information for two professional or academic references.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but must be received no later than Friday, March 29, at 5 pm.