We are looking for a Digital Communications Intern to join us and play a crucial role in supporting the delivery of our activity. You will be involved in supporting the development and delivery of a digital communications strategy designed to enable us to engage as many people as possible in the work that we do.
Please note that this opportunity has been created through funding from the Creative Employment Programme. This means there are certain criteria you must meet in order to be eligible to apply for a Creative Employment Programme funded internship. At the time of applying you must be aged 18 to 24 years old and you must be registered as unemployed with Jobcentre Plus. These eligibility criteria have been approved by the Department of Work and Pensions.
Super Slow Way is part of Creative People and Places, a national arts programme funded by Arts Council England to test out new and experimental approaches to arts and cultural activity and to build audiences and participants in areas currently shown to have low levels of engagement. This exciting and innovative £2 million arts programme is being shaped by the people of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn and Pendle collaborating with local, national and international artists and arts organisations. Our role is to try out new ways of enabling more people to get involved in arts activity and working with artists; and to support artists and arts organisations who put people and communities at the heart of their practice to try out new approaches. Above all, we are here to make art happen and in making art happen, transform lives and places.
The programme takes its name from a poem by Ian McMillan that tells the story of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the original‘Super Highway’ of the Industrial Revolution that transformed Pennine Lancashire, bringing with it hundreds of mills and thousands of homes and placing it right at the epicentre of British commerce and culture. Two hundred years on the canal has been transformed into a ‘Super Slow Way’, a place of tranquillity where time has slowed down, nature has taken over and we can take some valuable time out. At the same time, fibre optic cables that now run under the canal towpath are once more connecting this area to the rest of the world and reinventing the canal as a new ‘Information Superhighway.’It is these three themes inspired by the canal; manufacturing past and present, the natural environment and the digital world, that are the focus for the programme.
As our Digital Communications Intern you will play a key role in positioning and raising the profile of Super Slow Way through exploring creative ways of enriching our website and populating social media platforms with activity and critical debate about the range of arts and cultural activities happening across the Super Slow Way area. As part of this remit you will play a key role in developing a team of Super Slow Way ‘Cultural Bloggers’ who will work with our partner arts and cultural organisations to further animate social media platforms and create increased awareness of activities and events happening across the area.
The ideal candidate will be hands on, imaginative and have a keen interest in social media and how digital tools can develop audiences and participation in the arts. On completion of the internship you will be able to demonstrate how you’ve developed strong working relationships with a range of individuals and organisations, enhanced your communications and marketing skills, and developed an understanding of the local arts and cultural infrastructure. Mentoring support will be provided to support your next steps on completion of the internship.
Whilst we have high expectations for the post we welcome applications from people with the capacity to grow into the role.
You will:
The key competencies the post holder is required to demonstrate are:
Skills
Knowledge
Experience
Location: Super Slow Way’s base is in Rose Grove, Burnley, although the role is likely to involve some travel around Pennine Lancashire.
Management: Reporting to the Communications & Marketing Manager.
Contract period: 12 month fixed term contract
Salary: £7.85 per hour
Working Hours: 37.5hrs per week. Due to the nature of the programme, some flexibility in terms of working hours may be required and this may include occasional evening and weekend working. A system of Time off in Lieu applies for additional hours worked.
Employer: The Digital Communications Intern will be employed by the Canal and River Trust on behalf of Super Slow Way.
This paid internship has been created as part of the Creative Employment Programme. The Creative Employment Programme is an Arts Council England fund to support the creation of traineeships, formal apprenticeship and paid internship opportunities in England for unemployed young people wishing to pursue a career in the arts and cultural sector. You can find out more by clicking here
How to apply: If you wish to apply for this position please contact Rachel Holden (Rachel.holden@lancashire.gov.uk) and quote the following LMS reference: 8356044.