Career Programs

2023 – 2024 Apprentices

Program Mission

We are committed to training the next generation of creative, passionate arts professionals by building pathways to careers in the arts for candidates underrepresented in the field of arts administration.

Learn more about City Center’s history, mission, and programs here.

Ann Reinking Encores! Choreography Fellowship

The Ann Reinking Encores! Choreography Fellowship honors the celebrated choreographer, teacher, and mentor by supporting a unique dance professional every year. This season-long position offers the Fellow the opportunity to develop their choreographic and teaching careers at New York City Center. The Ann Reinking Encores! Choreography Fellowship will specifically support career pathways for women, non-binary artists, and artists of color underrepresented in the field, offering access to City Center’s musical theater season as well as the Education & Community Engagement Department and its programming.

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Directing Fellowship

The Encores! Directing Fellow will work closely with the Directors and Associate Directors of the Encores! Series every season. They will attend rehearsals and be present for production meetings throughout pre-production, rehearsal, and tech. The Fellow will provide note-taking support, may be asked to run lines with actors, or stand in for actors who are not present while blocking is being reviewed. The Fellow will gain an intimate look into how Directors synthesize dynamics between all creative departments and manage time within truncated rehearsal processes.

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Administrative Apprenticeships

Whether you are an early-career arts professional or beginning a career change, you can build your knowledge and experience in arts administration with an apprenticeship at City Center.

Receive on-the-job training and learn about the daily operations of a nonprofit performing arts center while working alongside experienced arts administrators.

Our nine-month program offers you plenty of hands-on learning opportunities in Dance Programming, Development, Education & Community Engagement, General Management, Marketing & Design, and Production Management.

The program runs from September to May and includes paid training. Apprentices are paid $15 per hour for 24 hours a week. Our hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm. Weekly schedules vary by department. Need-based scholarships are available.

Creative Apprenticeships

Immerse yourself in the fast-paced production process of our Encores! musical theater series and work alongside renowned artists and professionals through City Center’s creative apprenticeship program.

Through these programs, apprentices will:

Work directly with a department supervisor and colleagues
Build a professional network, engage in career planning and expand their understanding of nonprofit structure under the guidance of a designated Mentor from another department
Attend seminars with City Center staff and artists
Participate in a three-day paid training
Participate in City Center's staff initiatives, including anti-racism workshops, committees, and all-staff meetings
Attend rehearsals and performances, when possible
Complete a solo project in their area of focus
Deliver a final group presentation to City Center staff

Qualified program candidates will possess:

A compelling connection to the program’s mission and purpose
Current authorization to work in the US
A willingness to learn
Strong communication skills and attention to detail
The ability to take direction and work both independently and collaboratively
Comfort with computer work and phone use
Flexible availability that includes some nights and weekends
Some previous experience or education in the field for which you apply
Ability to carry 25 pounds

The Dance Programming Apprentice will assist the programming team with the implementation of New York City Center’s dance season, including the 20th Annual Fall for Dance Festival. This will include assistance in maintaining artistic planning materials, updating and organizing programming documents, providing research support, and assisting with artist services. This apprenticeship will allow for an in-depth dive into the ever-changing and diverse needs of the annual programming process of a large New York cultural institution and is an opportunity to creatively and resourcefully solve problems while navigating a complex web with a variety of stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be proactive, flexible, and detail-oriented. They should also have a passion for dance and an interest in learning more about the local, national, and international dance landscape.
The Development Apprentice will be involved in all aspects of City Center’s fundraising activities, including membership, special events, and institutional giving. Through this program, the apprentice will gain familiarity with donor acquisition and stewardship, event management, grant writing, and database maintenance—all while experiencing the day-to-day operations of a premier nonprofit performing arts organization. The Development Apprentice will also have opportunities to interact with members through events, performances, or via the Membership Hotline, so comfort with people in-person or on the phone is a must. Strong writing and editing skills are highly encouraged. This apprenticeship is an ideal fit for someone who is interested in gaining a fundamental understanding of nonprofit fundraising and who wants to develop strategy, craft compelling appeals, and organize data to build a case for support.
The Education & Community Engagement Apprentice will work directly with the Education & Community Engagement department staff, teaching artist roster, and City Center school and community partners. Through this program, the apprentice will gain insight into administering arts education programs in New York City schools and communities. They will assist with researching potential partners, coordinating workshops and residencies, and planning for professional development workshops and community nights. Additional responsibilities include assisting with the development of Behind the Curtain guides, analyzing program evaluations, and preparing event materials. The apprentice will also assist in communication with schools, communities, and teaching artists, so comfort with phone and email communication is a must. This apprenticeship is an ideal fit for someone who enjoys collaborative work and is passionate about arts education and access initiatives. They should also be interested in generating creative and responsive educational materials, and learning more about building and sustaining partnerships with NYC schools and community organizations.
The General Management Apprentice will work directly with the General Management office supporting City Center's theater and dance programming. The General Management team is comprised of a General Manager, Assistant General Manager, and Company Manager, who work closely with artistic programming and the production department to provide administrative and logistical support for all City Center produced productions. General and Company Management areas of work include season planning, budgeting, contracting, hiring, payroll processing, accounts payable, reviewing marketing materials, assembling Playbill content, travel, housing, ticketing, special events, and company care. The General Management Apprentice will have the opportunity to assist with all of these areas and gain hands-on experience while actively supporting the City Center season. This apprenticeship is an ideal fit for someone with an interest in performing arts management, ready to engage in detail-oriented projects for both current and future productions.
The Marketing & Design Apprentice plays an active role in the department, assisting in our mission to drive awareness and demand for City Center presentations; build and steward the City Center brand; cultivate a large and loyal following that reflects the diversity of the City of New York; and create engaging initiatives and content that help attract younger and more diverse audiences. The apprenticeship will introduce the individual to the wide range of disciplines within marketing and communications, focusing specifically on creative graphic design. Applicants require a strong familiarity and interest in Adobe Creative Cloud programs (especially Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop) in order to create and edit text, images, and layouts for our marketing collateral. In addition, the apprentice will assist with audience development and outreach, email creation and tracking, production and artist research, press communications and events, advertising, and survey development and execution. This apprenticeship is a great position for someone who is a self-starter, detail-oriented, and interested in the latest marketing and design trends. They should also be passionate about musical theater and/or dance.

A design work sample should be included with application materials.
The Production Management Apprentice will work directly with the Production Management team to oversee and support City Center productions and events in our mainstage theater. The apprentice will have the opportunity to experience all aspects of stage production, assist in the management of production and institutional scheduling, help coordinate physical needs for our mainstage theater and lobbies, and conduct general administrative duties within the Production Management department. The apprentice will also have ample opportunities to interact with top designers, stage managers, and Local One union stagehands, as well as access to production meetings and rehearsals. Candidates should expect to do a combination of office tasks and hands-on experience mounting large-scale productions and events. This apprenticeship is a great position for someone interested in the day-to-day operation of productions and collaborating across technical departments with a variety of people.

If you’d like to stay informed about City Center apprenticeship opportunities, please add your name to our email list.

Questions about the program? Email Education@NYCityCenter.org.