Government Affairs Intern

Government Affairs Intern

Reports to:         Public Policy Manager                                         

Team:                 Government Affairs

FLSA Status:       Hourly, Non-Exempt                             

Employment Type:              Student/Intern  

Session:              Summer                                                         

Location:            Hybrid (DC In-Office)

Pay Rate:            Hourly based on DC minimum living wage $17.95 per hour until June 30, 2026. Increased to $18.40 per hour effective July 1, 2026. This internship is intended for educational benefit, and we support receiving school credit for participation.

How to Apply:   Click here to apply.

Application Deadline: The application portal will close at 3:00 pm ET March 31st

Who We Are

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) strengthens the arts from the ground up – supporting advocacy that empowers communities, develops arts leadership, and produces field-informed research. We shape national arts policy to reflect the realities and aspirations of artists, organizations, businesses, and communities nationwide. We champion the arts as a unifying and essential force in American life.

About the Government Affairs Team

The Government Affairs team is a fast-paced team focused on advancing the interest of arts and arts education at the federal, state, and local levels. This is achieved through education and advocacy of elected officials, key decision makers, state and local arts agencies, arts organizations, artists, and the public at large. 

The Government Affairs team is a three-person team comprised of a senior director of advocacy and partnerships, a director of public policy, and a manager of public policy. We are ready to support a summer intern who has a desire to learn more about arts advocacy, government and the legislative process, and how non-profit organizations operate.

About the Position 

The Government Affairs Intern will work at a professional level with the AFTA staff, in tandem with the Government Affairs team, to learn about and uplift the mission and activities of AFTA. The Intern will contribute significantly to the arts and culture field. The keys to success for this position are attention to detail, adaptability, and a strong sense of ownership of one’s work. 

This position will engage with various projects and have tangible opportunities to contribute to a variety of arts and culture and arts education advocacy and policy work. A major opportunity is to attend our annual conference (AFTACON June 2nd – 5th) and work across teams to learn more about the arts and culture field and support advocacy and policy related initiatives.

This internship encourages the exploration of the local cultural institutions in Washington, DC, offering a flexible schedule with hours that might fluctuate above and below our standard 37.50-hour work week. 

The desired outcome of this internship is to understand how arts and culture positively affect society, how advocacy can bring about positive legislative change, and who one person can make a difference. 

Key responsibilities

Helping prepare the teams’ programing for the second half of the year, through support of the arts and arts education policy initiatives and endeavors:

• Update existing team resource documents, conduct original research on policy impacts, and support webinars.
• Assist in the preparation of materials and planning for Congressional visits, which might include DC based Legislative Fly-In based on congressional calendar and advocacy needs.
• Accompany team to congressional offices to lobby on arts and advocacy issues.
• Use data and research reports to write briefs, Member of Congress profiles, and other team documents.
• Engage with State and District Captains to advance shared goals and learn more about their organizations.
• Support partnership and policy initiatives across teams to move organizational goals and objectives forward.
• Provide administrative and research support across various projects.

Experience and Skills That Matter Most

Candidates are encouraged to apply, even if they do not possess all the experience and skills listed: 

• A commitment to advancing the AFTA mission, with a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and a passion for arts, public policy, and non-profit advocacy.
• A desire to understand arts advocacy, government and the legislative process, government affairs work, and how non-profit organizations operate.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with experience in research and policy writing.
• Eagerness to ask questions and understand the program and process.
• An independent self-starter with the ability to anticipate needs and next steps.
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More About the Internship

Eligibility:

• High school graduates, current college students, mid-career professionals, and those looking to transition to a new career field in the arts and culture ecosystem.
• Must be eligible to work in and reside within the United States 
• Located in the Washington, DC area; available to work between 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET and commit to a 12-week program.
• Be able to attend in-person the AFTACON annual conference in Albuquerque, NM, June 2 – 5th.  Travel and lodging will be paid for by AFTA.

Program Duration:

• The program is scheduled to run for a 12-week period. We anticipate the program to begin the second half of May and conclude mid-August.
• Depending on the needs of the team and intern, there is the potential for your program to start before June 1st and end before or after August 31st, based on start date.

Work hours and office:

• We have a 7.50-hour day, for a total of 37.50-hour work week. However, there is flexibility based on personal needs.
• Our core business hours are 10:00 am to 4:00 pm ET, Monday through Friday.
• In-person dress code is business casual.