Public Programming & Public Space Intern

The Ukrainian Museum is accepting applications for a Public Programming & Public Space Intern for its landmark 50th Anniversary season. This is an unusual opportunity: hands-on, multi-partner, and genuinely consequential work at a small institution navigating an ambitious moment. The 2026–2027 season marks the Museum’s fiftieth year with a program that extends well beyond the gallery walls — into the street, the lobby, the sidewalk, and the facades of neighboring buildings. The intern will work directly with the Executive Director and programming team to help plan and execute Open Streets activations on Taras Shevchenko Place, large-scale outdoor projection event at Cooper Square, community partnerships, and the ongoing development of the Memory Collage. This role is well suited to a graduate student in arts administration, public art, urban studies, performance studies, or a related field who is energized by the logistical and relational complexity of producing public-facing programming — and who wants to see how a culturally specific, community-rooted institution operates at the intersection of art, neighborhood life, and civic engagement. 

The Museum’s flagship outdoor activation will take place on September 25 and 26, 20026. The intern will support logistics, artist coordination, partner communications, and on-the-ground production. The intern will assist with permitting, site coordination, and community outreach around both events and support the programming and activation of this new public space as it comes to life during the anniversary season.

Type: Paid internship + eligible for academic credit through the intern’s institution
Hours: Part-time, approximately 15–20 hours per week
Duration: Spring/Summer/Fall 2026 (aligned with the Museum’s 50th Anniversary season); exact dates flexible
Location: The Ukrainian Museum, 222 East 6th Street, New York, NY (East Village); field work and partner site visits required; some remote work possible
Reports To: Executive Director and Project Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES
Event Production & Open Streets Coordination

• Assist with planning and logistics for Open Streets activations on Cooper Square and Taras Shevchenko Place, including run-of-show development, vendor coordination, volunteer management, and on-site support.

• Support permit research and application processes (SAPO, NYPD sound permits, DOB, and others as required) in coordination with the Technical Manager and Executive Director.

• Assist with production logistics for large-scale outdoor projection events (Ukrainian Dreams), including technical coordination and neighborhood outreach.

• Contribute to event documentation: photography, video capture, attendance tracking, and post-event reporting.

Partnership Development & Community Outreach

• Support outreach and coordination with neighborhood partners including Cooper Union, NYU, Grace Church School, Cooper Square Committee, FAB NYC, and others. 

• Assist with communications to community organizations, local businesses, and residents in advance of outdoor programming.

• Help maintain a working contacts database of partners, vendors, artists, and community liaisons.

• Research potential new partnerships, grant opportunities, and peer institution models relevant to public space programming.

Lobby & Public Space Programming

• Assist with the programming and activation of the reimagined Museum lobby, including community activations and Memory Collage.

• Help coordinate artist and community events in the lobby and entrance area, and workshop study space in the Lower Level galleries

• Support signage, wayfinding, and interpretive materials for public-facing spaces.
Administrative & General Support

• Draft and edit program copy, event descriptions, and partner communications. 

• Assist with grant reporting documentation and narrative support related to public programming initiatives.

• Attend planning meetings and take notes; track action items and follow-up tasks. 

• Perform additional duties reasonably related to public programming and community engagement as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate is a graduate student in arts administration, public art, urban studies, performance studies, cultural management, or a related field. Prior experience producing or supporting public events — whether in a museum, festival, nonprofit, or community context — is strongly valued. We are looking for someone who is organized, proactive, and comfortable navigating the productive uncertainty of producing work in public space.

Required

• Graduate student currently enrolled in, or recently completing, an MA or MFA in arts administration, public art, urban studies, performance studies, or a related field. 

• Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to track multiple moving pieces across events and partnerships.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable drafting correspondence and program copy.

• Comfort working in public-facing, community settings; willingness to be present on-site during evening and weekend events.

• Genuine interest in public space, community-engaged programming, and the intersection of cultural institutions and neighborhood life.

• Ability to lift at least 25 lbs and assist with event setup and breakdown.

Preferred

• Prior experience in event production, public programming, or community outreach in a cultural institution or nonprofit context.

• Familiarity with NYC permitting processes (SAPO, NYPD sound permits, etc.) or willingness to learn.

• Interest in Ukrainian culture, history, or the East Village arts community.

• Ukrainian or other Slavic language skills are a plus but not required.

• Experience with documentation tools: photography, video, or digital storytelling.

HOW TO APPLY
Please submit the following materials to Daria Bajko, Administrative Director, at info@ukrainianmuseum.org:
• Cover letter describing your background, relevant experience, and interest in public programming and this internship specifically
• CV or résumé
• Two professional or academic references
Subject line: “Public Programming Internship — [Your Name]”
Application Deadline: Rolling; early applications encouraged
The Museum will work with the intern’s institution to facilitate academic credit where applicable.