Cultural & Creative Workforce Development Internships

Juan Posada, Northwest Folklife

I am a musician working at the Northwest Folklife Archives helping with digitization and community outreach work. This work excites me as I like old media formats and I can connect the work to my academic aspirations at the University of Washington as a major of Ethnomusicology.

I make music, on my computer and in my hands, and I have some stuff coming out under the name Yan Pol. I like finding new (to me, at least) music through Bandcamp and deep dives through particular labels.

Camryn Miyashiro, Northwest Folklife

I am a recent graduate from the University of Washington where I majored in Political Science with minors in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies and Labor Studies. I am the bassist for a local queer punk band, Gender Envy. Grassroots organizing and mutual aid is a passion of mine and I am excited to work with Northwest Folklife to intertwine my drive for community building with my love of music.

Desmond Platt, Blue Cone Studios

I enjoy the arts of editing, designing, and videography. A project that I am currently on is recording a music video for local artist Mika’il. I’ve worked with him for his first video on the year and we were very happy with the results. Seattle has welcomed me with open arms and allowed myself to tap into my creative mindset. FSS has provided me with things to use to get to where I want to be. With that being said I am also starting to record music as well. Kind of want to be a jack of all trades in a sense.

Jenna Merriam, Northwest Folklife

Jenna grew up in a home filled with music and creativity, sparking her lifelong passion for the arts. For years, she volunteered at local festivals, events, and radio stations to gain experience and immerse herself in the music scene. After primarily working in the fashion industry for some time, Jenna made the bold decision to follow her true calling and pursue a full-time career in live music. Last year, she participated in the BumberWorks program (via Bumbershoot), where she interned with one of the city's top event production companies and also supported The Crocodile's marketing department. She also worked as Back of House Manager for the 2024 Earshot Jazz Festival. Now, Jenna is beyond excited to be part of the NW Folklife team—a festival she's attended since childhood—and is eager to deepen her understanding of festival programming and event logistics. Jenna enjoys wearing many hats in the industry, including roles in Festival Operations, Artist Relations/Hospitality, Merchandising, Arts Administration, and Production.

Krista Orejudos, Seattle Center Cultural Programs Office

Krista is one of the Seattle Center Cultural Programs Interns who enjoys marketing and communications as well as program and production management. She is currently working on revamping Festal’s podcast for another season with new and exciting episodes that engage and interact with the community in Seattle. She has worked with Ground Zero Radio to interview BIPOC artists and community leaders, and she has been running her own podcast, Krista’s Curiosity since 2020. In her free time, she enjoys reading Asian American literature and graphic novels as well as bullet journaling.

Zion Thomas, Blue Cone Studios

Zion is a multidisciplinary creative from South Seattle, whose work centers on uplifting marginalized voices through radical optimism, healing, and resistance. His artistic practice spans photography, content creation, poetry, music, and yoga. In the past year, Zion became a certified yoga instructor in Thailand through a scholarship program with Black Boys Om, joined the Seattle Art Museum’s VX team and mentorship program, plus landed an internship with Blue Cone Studios, alongside an apprenticeship between Paradice Avenue Souf and Wing Luke Museum. He recently led and showcased his curatorial debut Hidden Gems for the Capitol Hill Art Walk, and has been named Guest Curator at The Fishbowl Gallery, facilitating an exhibit for June and July, titled “Healing our Roots”. His museum debut this May at Wing Luke Museum with Paradice Avenue Souf, is titled “Back Home: Utopia in Seattle”. Zion is also modeling in his first runway show this season. Recently landed milestone freelance photography gigs with Alliance Française of Seattle & Northwest Folklife, & is supporting the Seattle Art Museum‘s work at the Seattle Art Fair this July. He’s expanded his leadership with his arts & resilience podcast Triumph on Display, featuring guests such as Seattle Art Museum director and CEO Scott Stulen. The CCWD program has been instrumental in accelerating his creative journey and self belief.

Film Center Operations Internship
Through this internship, you will assist the Tasveer Film Center operationalize its vision for a year-round cinema and community arts space in Columbia City that amplifies the stories of the global majority, educates, and inspires change through film and storytelling. You will have the opportunity to learn the many dimensions of film exhibition, including digital programming and management, film scheduling, special events, promotion and marketing, patron relations, and facility management. READ THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION AND HOW TO APPLY HERE.

DUE DATE: Application review begins on November 24th, 2025. Position is open until filled. Do not hesitate to apply or reach out if you have concerns about skill level with the above listed responsibilities. There is a lot of room to make this internship your own and grow your skills. Please email internships@nwfolklife.org with any questions.

Performer Experience Internship This Intern should be an enthusiastic team member who’s inspired and passionate about learning the behind-the-scenes logistics of the largest community run festivals in the nation, as well as with nightlife venue partners. This personal and unique position allows you to interact with thousands of artists and culture bearers from across the Pacific Northwest to ensure all festival participants receive vital communications. Smooth festival operations depend on informed constituents – who is doing what, where to go, what to do, when to be at specified a location, and at what time. Additionally, this person will have the opportunity to work in stage production with our night life partner venues. This position is set in a fast-paced environment that will require proactivity on projects, excellent communication skills, and high energy and passion for the work. While this position will focus on engagement with performers and presenters, the intern will adopt additional roles and duties as assigned. READ THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION AND HOW TO APPLY HERE.

DUE DATE: Application review begins on November 24th, 2025. Position is open until filled. Do not hesitate to apply or reach out if you have concerns about skill level with the above listed responsibilities. There is a lot of room to make this internship your own and grow your skills. Please email internships@nwfolklife.org with any questions.