Northwest Folklife, in collaboration with the Office of Economic Development and the Office of Arts and Culture, has developed an internship program that provides paid internships for Seattle’s young creatives. The Cultural and Creative Workforce Development Program (CCWD) provides opportunities to develop skills and connections within the Creative Industries and cultural sector.
About the Cultural and Creative Workforce Development Program (CCWD):
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Internships are typically 6 months long and are designed to give young people hands-on training in various creative fields
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Interns typically work 10-15 hours per week, totaling 40-60 hours per month. Most of this time is spent at their internship sites, with 2-5 hours each month dedicated to CCWD program activities.
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Internships are generally open to individuals aged 16-26 years, based in Seattle and surrounding communities (some positions may have more specific age requirements)
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Our approach is collaborative and community driven. Partners and sites are prioritized by their grounding in community development as well as their commitment to building a more equitable cultural and creative ecosystem
The program aims to:
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Offer experience and mentorship in a wide range of cultural and creative jobs
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Develop creative assets
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Build peer and professional networks
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Imagine and shape the Creative Industries, cultural ecosystem, and evolving economy
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Celebrate creativity and culture as essential to thriving communities
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Highlight the passion and initiative of young creatives
Meet Our Current Interns!
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.
If there are internships posted, please view the full descriptions for application instructions. If you are interested in careers focused on cultural or creative work and would like to be notified when internship opportunities are posted, please send an introductory statement (1-2 paragraphs). Please email all content to internships@nwfolklife.org.
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Describe your interest in this type of work
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You can list any programs that you have participated in that you feel are relevant.
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You may include a sample of your original creative content (optional)
