March 27, 2024

Call for Interns: Summer 2024

by Lamia Abukhadra | in Mizna News

Mizna seeks thoughtful candidates to apply for paid internship positions and assist with an array of compelling programming this summer. We will be hiring an intern to assist in general programs and administration. 

Interns will be part of a small and dynamic team with the opportunity to gain skills in nonprofit governance and engage with critical conversations pertaining to cultural production, equity, social justice, and contemporary film, art, literature, and more.

We are looking for an intern who has a strong interest in nonprofit programs and management, excels at communicating and organizing, and is dedicated to promoting SWANA cultural production in the Twin Cities and around the world. It is preferable that interns are locally based and will work in the office. 

Duties

• Administrative duties such as scanning, filing, etc. 
• Lead the pursuit of sponsorship and funding from local businesses and organizations for the 2024 Arab Film Festival through relationship building.
• Researching and assisting in journal distribution.
• Assist in grant proposal preparation.
• Organize and maintain office systems including donor databases.
• Coordinate interactions with donors and sponsors to cultivate increased contributions and grants, as well as maintaining files on donor history and correspondence.
• Assist in developing fundraising strategies/implementing fundraising campaigns.
• Assist with social media and web updates.
• Support staff as needed.

Preferred skills

• Strong interest in the nonprofit arts sector.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Knowledge of and passion for contemporary art, film and/or literature, especially in relation to the SWANA region.
• Experience or interest in fundraising or sponsorship.
• Self-motivated and resourceful.
• Strong facility with standard computer software.
• Ability to assist in multiple projects concurrently.

Dates: June 1–August 31, 2024 (some flexibility in dates). This position requires a time commitment of 8–20 hours per week.

Compensation:  $15 per hour, 8–20 hours per week.

Apply by April 19, 2024 at 11:59pm CT.

Applications must include the following:

• A cover letter detailing any previous experience in cultural work, non-profit work, or and/or knowledge of SWANA culture and arts, the skills you possess, and why you are interested in a Mizna summer internship. The cover letter should be no longer than two pages, double spaced.
• Indication of whether you live in the Twin Cities.
• A CV that is no longer than two pages.
• The name, position, and contact information of two professional references.
• Applications will NOT be accepted via email.

Applicants who have been selected to interview for this position will be contacted by email. All applicants will receive an email updating the status of their application once interviews have been completed.

Apply here

Additional Information

Internships will be performed mainly in our office in St. Paul. There will be occasional offsite projects and events to attend. This position is compensated hourly. The salary is $15 per hour at 8–20 hours per week, we will work with the intern to determine a weekly schedule that suits both parties. Mizna supports students working towards class credit in coordination with several Minnesota-based institutions, students are encouraged to use the internship for academic credit.

Interns can expect to commit to weekly meetings, individual check-ins, and regular administrative, outreach, and programming responsibilities.

We are seeking thoughtful candidates to assist with an array of compelling programming. Candidates should have knowledge of contemporary SWANA culture and arts and must be interested in promoting it in the Twin Cities and beyond.

Priority will be given to applicants located in the Twin Cities, but those located elsewhere will also be considered. Applications will NOT be accepted via email.

Email mizna@mizna.org with questions or concerns.

About Mizna

For twenty-five years, Mizna has been a woman-led contemporary arts organization. Since our founding, we have promoted experimental approaches to art, literature, and film; work which questions and expands both the forms and conceptual frameworks of Arab and SWANA culture.  We publish a bi-annual literary and art journal, Mizna, and Mizna Online, a digital platform for literary and multidisciplinary work critically reflecting on the urgent and current realities of the SWANA region and beyond. We produce the Twin Cities Arab Film Festival, the largest and longest-running SWANA-centered film festival in the Midwest. Additional programs include readings, film series, performances, public art commissions, and community events that have featured 1000+ local and transnational writers, filmmakers, and artists.