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School of Communication & Journalism
Auburn Parks & Rec

Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center 

City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department 

Internship 

The mission of the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center (JDCAC): 

To inspire and enrich our community by offering exceptional classes, performances, visual arts exhibits and special events. 

The JDCAC meets its mission by presenting programs in visual, literary and performing arts in the Auburn area. 

About 

The JDCAC offers many opportunities in the Auburn area to experience the visual and performing arts, entertain innovative ideas, develop new talent and experience everything cultural our community has to offer. There are classes and workshops for all ages, art exhibits in our gallery, community theatre performances, art education programs and special events held throughout the year that bring our cultural community together. 

In addition to supporting local artists and performers, the JDCAC has developed a strong culture of collaboration, partnering with the Auburn Arts Association, Auburn Area Community Theatre, Auburn Community Orchestra, Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art and other organizations by providing fundraising assistance, studio and meeting space, exhibition opportunities, technical support and publicity. 

JDCAC is a facility under the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department and works under the supervision of the department head/director. The office consists of the cultural arts administrator, recreation leaders, public relations interns and volunteers. All interns work under the supervision of the cultural arts administrator. Together, the cultural arts administrator and interns work to support the JDCAC’s mission in a variety of duties including, but not limited to: 

JDCAC Programming and Special Events

Assist with community arts programming, art education programs, exhibitions and special events. 

Assist with partnering non-profit organizations, the Auburn Arts Association (AAA), Auburn Community Orchestra and Auburn Area Community Theatre. 

JDCAC Publicity

Generate content, design, draft, edit and publish publicity items for JDCAC special events, programs and projects. These items include, but are not limited to, press releases, feature articles, posters, handouts, brochures, newsletters, exhibition invitations and social media and web content. 

Assist the AAA with publicity, social media sites and website content. 

Auburn CityFest and SummerNight Downtown Art Walk

Assist with all event publicity and marketing. Coordinate arts & crafts and fine arts vendors, recruit volunteers, and assist with festival activities and entertainment. 

Other Department Support Serve as photographer for JDCAC programs and events. Assist art education specialist with ceramics programs and exhibitions and art education programs. Assist other divisions of the department with their events, programs, and projects as necessary. 

Hours 

Typical office hours are 15-20 hours/week fall, spring and summer semesters. In the weeks leading up to CityFest and the SummerNight Downtown Art Walk, hours may be 25 - 30 hours/week. Some periodic weekends are required as necessary for community events. A schedule of weekend events and expected work hours will be provided at the beginning of the semester. 

Contact 

For more information, please contact Sara Hand Custer, Cultural Arts Administrator, at scuster@auburnalabama.org or call (334) 501-2947.