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STORY PIRATES FELLOWSHIPS

Please note: We will begin accepting candidates for the 2020-22 Fellowships in the spring of 2020.  We expect to only open applications for Artistic and Development positions. Please fill out the form below if you would like to be notified when applications go online.

The Story Pirates offer valuable training for emerging arts managers and arts education professionals through our fellowship program. Our goals are to generate a new class of powerful arts education advocates and to produce resourceful, dedicated, and reliable professionals who can navigate any arts environment, having had a wealth of hands-on experience in a vibrant, nationwide arts education organization.

We offer 4 two-year fellowships:

  • Artistic

  • Development

  • Education

  • Arts Administration

In Spring 2020, we will be seeking an Artistic and a Development fellows to work with our organization for two academic years. Fellowships run from September through June each season. Fellows are expected to devote 20 hours each week, with 3 days per week spent in the Story Pirates office and at Story Pirates programs.

Artistic Fellowship

Artistic Fellows work primarily with the Artistic Department, taking on creative, managerial, and administrative roles in the development of both media projects and live theatrical shows.  Artistic Fellows also receive mentorship, training, direct experience managing arts education programs, one-on-one meetings with company leaders, site visits to schools and venues, and access to special events.  While Fellows do not perform with the cast during the course of the fellowship, they work closely with directors and writers in the company and, by the end of the season, begin to take on leadership roles on artistic projects.

Development Fellowship

Development Fellows work in a fundraising capacity for Changemakers, the nonprofit arm of Story Pirates. Development Fellows will receive mentorship, training, direct experience booking and managing corporate volunteer programs, and will be integral in planning benefit events in New York and Los Angeles. (Some travel may be required.) The program will also include one-on-one meetings with company leaders, site visits to schools and venues, and access to special events. In addition, Development Fellows gain experience in grant research, fundraising strategy, forming and maintaining donor relationships, and data tracking. Arts Administration Fellowship

Arts Administration Fellows receive mentorship, training, and direct experience booking and managing arts education programs, one-on-one meetings with company leaders, site visits to schools and venues, and access to special events. These fellows are given the responsibility of managing educational programs and public bookings from start to finish, working directly with entertainment venues, parents, teachers, and school administrators in a diverse range of communities in and around New York City. Fellows work closely with Story Pirates producers on existing programs and, by the spring, have the opportunity to produce programs on their own.  During the second year, Fellows take on a substantial leadership role in program management, management of interns, and producing both Story Love events and school programs, as well as management with the national tour and new productions.

Education Fellowship

Education Fellows receive mentorship, training, direct experience booking and managing arts education programs, one-on-one meetings with company leaders, site visits to schools and venues, and access to special events. In addition, Education Fellows will assist in managing a large pool of teaching artists, including helping with the logistics of training, staffing, and maintaining program materials. There will also be opportunities to learn more about professional development and curriculum design, or to work alongside teaching artists in the classroom, depending upon interest and experience.  During the second year, Education Fellows take on a greater leadership role within the department, helping to implement new lesson plans and strategies and/or taking on larger, more creative projects.

STORY LOVE

While we wish we could perform each story we receive, we want to make sure there are no perceived winners and losers in creative writing. As such, we provide a positive, handwritten note of appreciation to every young author in return through a program we call Story Love. 

Story Pirates Fellows work together to lead the Story Love initiative by coordinating story delivery with schools, booking and managing volunteer events with partner organizations, supervising interns, and overseeing the process that ensures that every child receives their stories back with a personal message.

MENTORSHIP & TRAINING

A Story Pirates mentor guides each fellow through the year, giving support, feedback, and individual attention on a regular basis. Mentors take responsibility not only for the fellow's progress during the year but also for helping the fellow to work toward long-term career goals. Fellows will leave the program with extensive training in their chosen field as well as a robust understanding of how a non-profit, arts education, and media organization is run.

TRAINING

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

Fellows are given the responsibility of managing programs from start to finish, working directly with vendors, partners, clients, schools, artists, etc.. Fellows work closely with Story Pirates producers on existing programs and, by the spring, have the opportunity to produce programs on their own.

ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS

Fellows will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with every leader in the organization to discuss their fields and experiences, as well as the projects they are currently working on at Story Pirates. Fellows will also be invited to company forums, presentations, and seminars on special topics as they come up over the course of the year.

SITE VISITS

Fellows will visit schools and performance venues, first to gain an understanding of the programs, and eventually acting as full-fledged representatives of Story Pirates. This is a rare opportunity to witness the effect that a powerful arts education program can have on a school environment, or even on a general audience, and it will sometimes involve travel to other cities and towns in the area.

PAST FELLOWS

Since the Fellowship program began in 2012, Story Pirates fellows have graduated to take on major roles at arts organizations, education institutions, and a wide variety of not-for-profits.  Previous fellows hold positions that include the following:

  • Co-Director of JACK, a Brooklyn performance space that curates multidisciplinary works of emerging artists

  • Executive Director of the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to building the capacity of advocates, students, artists, organizations, and communities to use the arts as an integral part of their social change work

  • Youth Development Specialist at South Bronx Community Charter High School

  • Director of Administration and Co-Director of Admissions at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA)

  • Development Coordinator at Brooklyn Youth Chorus

COMPENSATION

Each first-year fellow receives a $200/week stipend.  Fellows in their second year will receive a $250/week stipend. In addition, fellows receive a monthly MetroCard to cover travel expenses.

REQUIREMENTS

Although the fellowship will not involve much direct work with children, we do prefer to work with people who are comfortable around kids. In addition:

Arts Administration Fellows:

  • Graduated from college or graduate school by fall 2019, or part-time student in 2019-20 and 2020-21

  • Some experience in arts administration, amateur or professional OR any kind of nonprofit management experience

  • Strong communication skills

  • Ability to work well in a collaborative environment

Education Fellows:

  • Graduated from college or graduate school by fall 2019, or part-time student in 2019-20 and 2020-21

  • A degree in education, AND/OR a strong focus on working with kids in either an academic or arts education setting.

  • Strong communication skills

  • Ability to work well in a collaborative environment

  • Not required but preferred: some experience in arts or education administration, amateur or professional OR any kind of nonprofit management experience

We strongly recommend that all potential fellows have a solid plan for housing in New York City before accepting a position, if they do not already live in the five boroughs. We fully understand that fellows often need to find additional employment to afford living in New York, and we do our best to build the fellow's schedule around other obligations.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are not yet available for the 2020-22 fellowships but please fill out the form below to receive an immediate notification when they become available.

The Story Pirates highly value diversity in all areas of our work, both public-facing and behind the scenes, and we invite applications from a diverse array of candidates.

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