Employment
Employment vacancy announcements are posted here when available. Find more opportunities on the Smithsonian’s Office Human Resources website. See positions open at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
We are currently accepting applications for the following:
Gift Officer, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage seeks a gift officer to lead advancement efforts. This position will execute a fundraising program focused on high-capacity giving to the Center; build and manage a new portfolio of prospective donors, including individual, corporate, and foundation donors; and cultivate productive relationships and execute strategies for engagement. This is a Grade 13 Trust Fund position based in Washington, D.C.
The application deadline is November 25, 2025. See trustcareers.si.edu for more details and to apply.
We are filling the following seasonal positions for the 2026 Folklife Festival. To apply:
- Read the Festival Job Openings document, which outlines start and end dates, pay grades where applicable, and position descriptions.
- Download the Sample Résumé (PDF or Word). To expedite the hiring process, applicants must follow this format.
- Fill out the online application form. Your résumé and any supplemental materials can be attached in the form.
For certain contract positions, the online application form serves only as an indication of interest. Applicants will need to respond to a forthcoming request for quote. If you have questions, please email FestivalJobs@si.edu.
The original application deadline has passed, but we will continue to accept applications.
Administrative Staff
Financial Administrative Assistant
Concessions & Marketplace Staff
Concessions Coordinator
Marketplace Coordinator
Marketplace Assistant
Marketplace Site Manager
Communications & Documentation Staff
Editor/Writer
Lead Photographer
Photo Editor
Videographer
Audio Documentation Assistant
Digital Asset Management Assistant
Design Staff
Graphic Designer
Graphic Design Assistant
Participant Staff
Participant Coordinator
Participant Assistant
Housing Assistant
Transportation Coordinator
Transportation Assistant
Production Staff
Production Assistant
Festival Services Assistant
Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainability Assistant
Livestreaming Coordinator
Stage Managers
Sound Crew
FOH Venue Managers
Program Staff
Program Coordinator
Program Assistant
Foodways Assistant
Garden Coordinator
Community Engagement Coordinator
Technical Staff
Administrative Technical Assistant
Supply Coordinator
Supply Assistant
Lead Carpenter
Assistant Carpenter
Electrician
Scenic Painter
Site Coordinator
Exhibit Workers
Technical Contract Staff
Volunteer & Visitor Services Staff
Accessibility Coordinator
Accessibility Assistant
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer Assistant
Visitor Services Assistant
Internships
We welcome interns for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival year-round, although the bulk of the work is in the summer. In the fall, winter, and spring, interns assist with research and planning for the upcoming Festival’s programs—best suited for students in anthropology, ethnomusicology, library science, and museum and language studies as related to the program.
In the summer, we also seek interns to work on event production, technical crew, the Festival Marketplace, social media, web production, graphic design, foodways, curatorial team, the Festival Blog, public relations, accessibility, participant and volunteer coordination, video production, documentation, and administration.
Summer interns are expected to work through all days of the Festival, including weekends and federal holidays. You should be comfortable working outdoors in high heat and humidity, in a fast-paced environment among large crowds of people.
Internships are open to undergraduate, graduate, and upper-level high-school students, as well as non-students. Interns are expected to work for at least sixteen hours per week for a duration of two to four months. Beginning in summer 2026, we offer stipends to full-time interns of at least $700/week. Transportation and housing compensation for interns is not available. Students in relevant fields may be able to arrange course credit through their college or university.
How to Apply
To apply, visit SOLAA and create an account. After selecting Internship, specify the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (please indicate the name of the specific internship in your essay). You will be required to upload supporting materials such as an essay, résumé, transcript, and letters of recommendation. Selected applicants will need to undergo a background check.
The submission deadline for summer internships is March 1. There are no deadlines for getting applications in for the rest of the year. The completed application should be submitted at least six weeks before the start of the internship.
If you have questions, please contact intern coordinator Arlene Reiniger at ReinigerA@si.edu.
More internships at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
