B-HIP - Berkshire Hills Internship Program

The Berkshire Hills Internship Program (B-HIP) is an intensive arts management internship program that combines hands-on work experience with classes taught by arts administration faculty, TalkBacks with the area's leading arts professionals, and the chance to fully participate in cultural events throughout Berkshire County.  B-HIP offers educational and career advancement opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere! 

The Berkshires are a vital part of the cultural corridor between New York City and southern Vermont.  With over sixty cultural venues in the county, from Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow, and the Clark Art Institute, to Barrington Stage Company, Ferrin Gallery, and MASS MoCA, they range from classic to cutting edge.

B-HIP is a college course / internship program that runs each summer.  Students can earn 12 undergraduate credits through Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts or graduate credits through their own university.  The course may also be taken on a non-credit basis, instead, earning a certificate of completion.

Students are placed at  full-time upper-level internships tailored to their interests and skill sets. They have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in development, marketing, film editing, arts education, programming and more.  

B-HIP interns attend a weekly  class, which gives them an opportunity to absorb and evaluate all they have learned on-site and on location. The mixture of theory and practice come together in a class designed for reflection and analysis.   

Interns also attend bi-weekly  TalkBacks. These sessions give interns the opportunity to meet, network with and learn from top-level arts management professionals in the Berkshires.  The guest speakers give back-stage tours of their institutions and offer candid "talk-back" information not generally available to students. 

From behind the curtain to the front row, weekly cultural outings give interns a chance to experience all of the forms of art that the Berkshires have to offer.  Outings range from private, curator-led tours at notable art museums to indie films screenings.

MCLA's tuition rates are generally lower than those of comparable institutions (see application form for details); these same fees apply to the credit a B-HIP intern earns.

Scholarships and tuition reductions are available on a limited basis for students and non-students applicants. Interns receive a $100 weekly stipend and are provided with accommodations in North Adams.

If you wish to apply for Summer 2012 you can start your application process now. 

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B-HIP 2012 will run from Tuesday, May 29 through Friday, August 17, 2012

HOW TO APPLY:

a. Download the application here
b. Send the application package to the address below.

Your application package should contain the following items:

1. A Fully Completed, Signed, and Dated Application: fill out the application completely, and answer all essay questions.

2. Resume and 2 Letters of Recommendation: in addition to your resume, you should also include two letters of recommendation. The letters of recommendation should come from people who you have worked with in some capacity. Teachers, academic advisors, former supervisors, and members of organizations you've volunteered or worked for make great references.  These letters should be from different people than those listed as references in the body of your application. *Letters of recommendation must be sealed with reference's signature over the seal.  This letter can be mailed directly from reference to the B-HIP office (address below).

Submitting your Application:

Send all required materials to
Valeria.Federici@mcla.edu

Indicate B-HIP APPLICANT: [Your Name] in the subject of the email.

If you wish to send your application via mail instead, please use the address below

B-HIP
Berkshire Cultural Resource Center
51 Main Street
North Adams, MA 01247
USA

Deadline MARCH 1, 2012.
B-HIP welcomes international applicants! Deadline for international applicants ONLY is February 1, 2012.

FOR MORE INFORMATION please do not hesitate to contact

Valeria Federici
Program Coordinator
Valeria.Federici@mcla.edu
(001) 413 663 5253     
Office hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm (EST)
Thank you!