photographs of summer student internships

Arts Leadership Fellowship

About the Experience

The Nancy Savage Skinner ’79 Arts Leadership Fellowship is a funded summer experience that pairs internship experiences with an explorative fellowship that connects students with careers and the landscape of leadership in the arts. 

Made possible through the coordination of resources from the Nancy Savage Skinner ‘79 Fund for Experiential and Integrative Learning in the Creative, Performing, and Liberal Arts and the Center for Career Development including their Crusader Internship Fund, the overall experience places Holy Cross students in arts and culture organizations, nurtures their growth as emerging professionals, and challenges them through a consultancy-inspired research project integrating arts leadership strategies. 

Experiential Learning Goals include:
  • Exposing students to professional development experiences that might include organizational development, artistic leadership, and/or business skills learned in an arts organization context (e.g. project management, budget planning, strategy, communication, etc);
  • Offering an in-depth introduction to career pathways in the arts;
  • Helping students identify and activate connections between their liberal arts education and future work in and/or in support of the arts;
  • Exploring strategic contemporary arts leadership concepts; and
  • Infusing the regional arts ecosystem with the talents of passionate, curious, dedicated Holy Cross students.

Throughout the summer, the cohort of Fellows will meet regularly with the Nancy Savage Skinner ‘79 Director of the Prior Performing Arts Center, Jeffrey de Caen, to discuss their experiences, explore contemporary Arts Leadership philosophies, engage in enlightening site visits (when possible), and meet guest leadership professionals from a diversity of arts organizations.

Read about the activities of the inaugural 2024 cohort in Holy Cross Magazine.

Arts Internship Prerequisite

Arts internships must be pursued through the Center for Career Development to take advantage of their structure that engages you, the host institution, and your internship supervisor directly. You can use their Handshake service, looking up Internships, and search for opportunities within any arts discipline or organization you prefer. Some local examples include:

Worcester

Boston

In order to take advantage of any of the fellowship in-person site visits, you will want to acquire an internship in the New England area and be able to join the group directly or by meeting up at The Prior to be shuttled.

If the summer internship is unpaid, rising juniors and seniors can apply for Crusader Internship Funding for financial support. More information about the Crusader Internship Fund and the link to apply can be found on Ignite or in Handshake (navigate to Career Center / Resources / Crusader Internship Fund).

Please contact careers@holycross.edu with additional questions.

Fellowship Application

After acquiring a summer arts internship through the Center for Career Development, fill out the 2026 Application which will ask you for contact information as well as cover letter and current resume.

The Application Deadline is Friday, April 3, 2026.

Complete Your Application

FAQs

What is arts leadership?

“Arts Leadership” refers to the ways leaders in arts organizations define their institutions, envision pathways, and implement strategies to fulfill targeted missions.

This guiding activity can be in support of performing arts centers, individual theaters, galleries or museums, performing arts or multidisciplinary ensembles & companies, or educational arts entities, to name but a few examples.

How do I apply?

After acquiring an internship appointment through the Center for Career Development, fill out the 2026 Application including a submission of a cover letter and current resume.

When are fellowship applications due? When will decisions be issued?

2026 Fellowship applications are due by Friday, April 3, 2026. Students whose applications advance will be contacted for interviews. Fellowship acceptances will be issued by mid- to late-April.

Who is eligible to apply? Do I need previous experience in the arts?

All College of Holy Cross rising juniors and rising seniors are eligible to apply. Applicants are not required to have previous academic or professional experience in the arts, but do need to have obtained an arts-affiliated internship through the Office of Career Development or on their own. They should also be able to make a clear case for their interest in and readiness for a summer immersed in an arts leadership fellowship.

Is this internship full-time?

Yes. All internships should be full-time. (In order to take advantage of any in-person site visits, you will want to have an internship in the New England area and be able to join the group directly or by meeting up at The Prior to be shuttled.)

What does the fellowship entail?

The Fellowship will run in parallel to your summer’s full-time internship. In order to take advantage of any in-person site visits, you will want to have an internship in the New England area and be able to join the group directly or by meeting up at The Prior to be shuttled.

Preparation Reading (May)

  • A selected pre-reading will be assigned to provide context for the sessions that will follow throughout the summer.  
  • An introduction of the cohort-assigned research project.

Fellowship Sessions (May-August)

  • Regular Zoom cohort meeting sessions will provide opportunities to discuss Arts Leadership topics introduced in the pre-read and be paired with open discussions with arts leaders who will be guests to the sessions. 
  • While a final session schedule will be determined with the selected members, a tentative meeting rhythm might look like this:
    • May 29, 2026
    • June 12, 2026
    • June 26, 2026
    • July 26, 2026
    • July 24, 2026
    • August 7, 2026

Research Project (August)

  • A cohort-assigned research project will be undertaken and delivered by the end of the month. A presentation meeting/lunch will conclude the fellowship.
How are internships compensated?

In partnership with the Holy Cross Center for Career Development Crusader Internship Fund program, funding for otherwise unpaid internships consists of a standardized stipend award of $3500 for a full-time internship. Students who need to relocate for their internship are eligible to receive $500 of further funding, as are students who need to commute for their internship. Students who demonstrate financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office will also be eligible for an additional $1,000 award. The maximum award will be $5,500 for those that qualify.

The first half of the internship stipend will be disbursed towards the end of the spring semester and the second half of the stipend will be disbursed to you upon completion of your midpoint evaluation.

This award is meant to provide financial assistance only, increasing access to internships that students may not otherwise be able to accept.

What about housing?

Students are responsible for securing their own housing. Resources for summer housing are available through the Center for Career Development Handshake portal.

Still Have Questions?

Email Jeffrey de Caen, Director of The Prior Performing Arts Center (jdecaen@holycross.edu), with “Arts Leadership Fellowship Question” in the subject line.