Press & Marketing Internship
Background
Founded in 1901 to ‘bring great art to the people of the East End’ the
Whitechapel Gallery was the first public space to show some of the great
names of British 20th Century Art, including Hepworth, Hockney and
Gilbert & George, as well as premiering great international modernists
such as Picasso, Pollock and Rothko.
Global in scope and reputation it has in recent years shown definitive
surveys of artists such as Sophie Calle, Peter Doig, Isa Genzken, Paul
McCarthy, Gerhard Richter, Cy Twombly, Jeff Wall and Franz West; as well
as important theme shows such as The Short History of Performance,
Back to Black and Faces in the Crowd.
The Gallery’s dynamic lectures and debates programmes are
complimented by film, music and poetry events. Renowned for its
pioneering work in arts education and training, the Whitechapel Gallery is
also a publishing house.
Its distinctive gallery spaces, auditorium and studios house temporary
exhibitions devoted to modern and contemporary art, new commissions
and collection and archive displays.
Role
The Communications Department consists of the Head of
Communications, Media Relations Manager, Communications Officer,
Design & Production Officer and Communications Trainee, The team is
supported by 2 interns.
This is a great opportunity to gain thorough and practical experience of
media relations, marketing, press and publicity within the busy
Communications Department. Additionally, there will be an opportunity
to gain an understanding of the running of the Gallery by attending
Internship description
…….
departmental and staff meetings.
Duties and responsibilities
Press Campaigns
There will be opportunities to help brainstorm ideas and observe the
methods used by the Communications team to create a press strategy.
Additional research on new press contacts are often part of this process
and this responsibility is shared between the Communications Officer and
Communications Intern.
Audience Development
The Communications Department are consistently looking at ways to
reach new audiences and tailor the distribution of their marketing
materials for each exhibition. The internship will often involve the project
management of this research.
General Research
There will be various projects involving more general research throughout
the internship, in the past this has ranged from documenting signage and
accreditation in other museums/galleries to researching arts course
leaders in Universities throughout London.
First Thursdays
The Whitechapel Gallery organises Time Out First Thursdays, a monthly
initiative where the galleries of East London stay open until 9pm on the
first Thursday of each month. The Press and Marketing Intern primary
project is to lease with East End galleries in the organisation of First
Thursdays. This involves ensuring submission deadlines are met,
maintaining the First Thursdays website and Facebook page, managing
print supplies and delivery and arranging the First Thursdays bus tours
and tour guides.
General administrative support, specifically:

Online Listings - an update of forthcoming events and exhibitions

Press Cuttings - Copying and filling of press cuttings

On Records - Collating information for and printing reports on
exhibitions

Press Packs - Collating information for and printing press packs

Data Updates - Assisting Communications department in their own
data updates using Excel documents and the Raiser’s Edge database.

Assisting with marketing materials distribution in the gallery and in
local venues.

In-house signage
Other details

Internship Coordinator: Senior Administrator

Supervisor: Communications Officer

Hours: 10am – 6pm, with an hour for lunch. Three days a week.

Duration: Three months, with the possibility of an extension of up to
a further three months

Expenses: Up to £10 per day for travel and lunch (with receipts)

Benefits (subject to availability): Discount at the Whitechapel
Café/Bar, discount at the Gallery bookshop and a card which offers
free entry to a number of London museums and galleries
Closing date: Midday Wednesday 19 October 2011
Interview date: Week commencing 24 October 2011