🌲 Stern Grove Festival Internship Program
Making live music accesible for all!

Organizational Profile:

Founded in 1938, Stern Grove Festival is an admission-free summer performing arts festival in San Francisco. Now entering its 89th season, the Festival draws over 100,000 people during its ten-week series of world class performances in the outdoor setting of Sigmund Stern Grove. Past seasons have included performing artists from around the world, including The Flaming Lips, Bob Moses, Chaka Khan, San Francisco Symphony, Kool & the Gang, Los Lobos, Smokey Robinson, Ziggy Marley, Carlos Santana, Allen Stone, and Diana Ross.

Internship Description:

Interns will support key areas of the Festival’s operations, programming, and outreach. This is a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a mission-driven team, gain valuable professional skills, and immerse yourself in the behind-the-scenes world of live events, festival production, and non profit organization. 

What You'll Gain:

• Real-world experience in a nationally recognized music festival
• Mentorship from industry professionals
• Behind-the-scenes access to event production and creative development
• School credit (if applicable)
• A chance to be part of a mission-driven organization making a cultural impact in San Francisco

Reporting Relationships:

The intern will report to the Director of Business adminstration and work with various managers of the festival. 

General Duties:

• Assist with planning and on-site execution of Sunday concerts
• Attend weekly check-ins with staff mentor(s)
• Contribute to team meetings and collaborative projects
• Assist with media content capture, editing, or archiving
• Provide hospitality, production, or communication support on-site
• Engage with vendors, staff, and the public in a professional manner
• Complete a final reflection project or presentation at the end of internship
• More duties to be discussed based on school program requirements. 

Experience and Skills Required:

• Strong interest in live events, music, arts, nonprofit work, or media
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
• Reliable, flexible, and enthusiastic attitude
• Weekend availability required for event days (Sundays)
• Must be at least 18 years old and authorized to work or intern in the U.S.
• **** Bonus if you have experience in photography, video editing, marketing, or production!

Physical Requirements:

• Able to lift/carry 50lbs
• Able to experience periods of extended standing, employees must be able to remain on their feet in a stationary position.
• Able to walk and climb considerable distances including on the hillside during the course of a work day.
• Grasp, lift, carry, push and pull heavy objects such as barricades, fencing, and carts.
• Stooping, crouching and kneeling is needed to place signage throughout the Grove
• Listening and ability to speak is required. In a typical work day the employee will be interacting with large groups of people and they must have the ability to hear and clearly express their ideas with spoken words. 

Work Environment / Physical Demands:

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Occasionally sound levels may exceed 100 db. All efforts will be made to protect employee’s hearing. 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the incumbent in this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills. 

Locations:

SGFA Office
Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, San Francisco
Work from Home: Video conferences as needed
 

Availability and Commitment:

Preference is that you are available every Sundays: May 17, 2026 - August 16, 2026
*except Memorial Day Weekend
Schedule can be flexible depending on intern availability
Up to 10 hours onsite venue work from June - August

Working arrangement, hours per week, and compensation to be finalized in the offer letter.

Compensation:

Can be discussed based on availability and school requirements. 

Email:

If you have any questions, please email hr@sterngrove.org

EEO Statement:

SGFA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.  In addition to federal law requirements, SGFA complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation and training.  SGFA expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.