Communications Department Intern - Potomac, MD

Position · Communications Intern · Reports To · Communications Specialist · Term · June 1st to August 7th, 2026 · Work Schedule · The Communications Intern is expected to be on-site Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The intern should arrive in advance of 9:00 a.m. to be read ...

Job description

Position

Communications Intern

Reports To

Communications Specialist

Term

June 1st to August 7th, 2026

Work Schedule

The Communications Intern is expected to be on-site Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The intern should arrive in advance of 9:00 a.m. to be ready to begin work on time.

An Introduction to Glenstone Museum

Founded with the mission to seamlessly integrate art, architecture, and nature, Glenstone is a world-class contemporary art museum in Potomac, Maryland. Opened in 2006 and expanded in 2018, the museum welcomes visitors to a unique experience of indoor and outdoor spaces enveloped by 300 acres of organically maintained meadow and woodlands.

Admission is always free. The work culture at Glenstone is dynamic and team oriented. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we are proud to foster a workplace where associates feel valued, respected, and accepted. We leverage our collaborative and enriching culture to provide abundant opportunities for all associates to develop new skills, feel connected to our mission, and actively participate in advancing their careers.

Position Overview

The goal of the internship program at Glenstone is to cultivate the next generation of the workforce by exposing interns to various professional pathways in the museum world. In collaboration with their department, interns can expect to gain professional experience by supporting specific departmental initiatives and projects. Interns are encouraged to connect with fellow team members throughout the organization to gain knowledge and build lasting relationships.

The Communications Department at Glenstone is responsible for all official external communications and marketing efforts by the museum. Our three-person team manages all communications channels, including social media, website, and email. We plan, produce, edit, publish, and measure the performance of all museum content. We collaborate across departments regularly to capture and share the stories, programs, and opportunities available for visitors and associates across Glenstone. We are creative and active with ideas: we write, photograph, design graphics, and we capture, produce, and edit audio and video.

We also manage promotional and material needs for the visitor services team (Glenstone's visitor experience team, Café, Patio, and Bookstore), community engagement team, and more. We oversee the institutional main phone line, bimonthly newsletter, institutional or artist-related films, and other media. We also manage all media relations and serve as institutional spokespersons. As needed, we also plan and execute programming for the museum, collaborating widely to make every visit to Glenstone extra special.

The Communications intern will have the opportunity to support and produce work related to different aspects of the department over the course of the summer. This will include:

• Content Creation across all owned platforms (web, email, social): the intern will have the opportunity to plan, capture, create, edit, and publish Glenstone-approved content, balancing creativity with institutional voice and tone. This will include short and long-form opportunities, visual and written.
• Media Outreach: the intern will have the opportunity to develop a pitch idea, publication(s), and reporter(s) to pitch earned coverage of a Glenstone-approved effort.
• Marketing Materials: the intern will support the creation of materials for various Glenstone departments and audiences based on current needs. These may be print, digital, or both.
• Evaluation and Improvement: the intern will have the opportunity to learn about measurement and tracking of marketing and communications efforts and support the creation of report on a project or channel performance.

This intern role will be involved in the storytelling and documentation of a season at Glenstone and supporting the diverse and exciting needs of different departments and institutional initiatives. Working on these projects will provide the opportunity to collaborate across many departments within the organization, especially with Collections, Grounds, and Public Engagement.

Desired Attributes & Characteristics

The Communications Intern should have an interest in art, architecture, nature, sustainability, innovative technology, and/or other focus areas important to the museum. An ability to be flexible and adjust accordingly to new circumstances is critical for success in this role. Strong writing skills (without outside support) are a must. Multi-media and content creation skills are a plus.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce content or other deliverables for the communications department.
• Research, write, and/or edit a wide range of materials.
• Create visual content using institutional equipment
• Attendance at all-staff meetings.
• Attendance at all intern check-in meetings scheduled by the Learning & Development department.
• Creation and delivery of an all-staff presentation at the end of the internship.

Required Skills & Experience

• A self-starter, able to take direction, run with a task, ask good questions, and enhance a project.
• Willingness to collaborate with peers, associates, and work successfully both as an individual and as part of a team.
• Strong intercultural competence, communication, planning, and organizational skills.
• Ability to follow directions and guidance fully, always following rules and guidelines set forth by Glenstone and/or the department.
• Ability to actively and productively contribute as a member of the communications department for the full day, every day and for the full length of the internship.
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in all interactions with museum staff throughout their internships.
• Strong core computer skills including typing and familiarity with Microsoft programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Desire to learn and implement best practices, including those unique to Glenstone.
• Adaptability and adherence to Glenstone's core values.
• Ability to work outdoors in all temperatures and weather conditions.
• Reliable transportation to and from Potomac, MD.

Preferred Qualifications

• Genuine interest in art, architecture, and nature.
• Experience with Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Adobe Suite, CMS systems, Power BI

Application Materials

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Short essay (300–400 words)

Essay Prompt

With your understanding of Glenstone's mission and values, what kind of intern would be most useful to the department you are applying to? How do you align with that standard?

Salary & Benefits

As part of our compensation philosophy at Glenstone, all internships are paid. To promote collaboration and show appreciation to associates, Glenstone provides a weekly staff lunch, health and wellness reimbursement, and paid volunteer opportunities. Benefits include a 401(k)-retirement account with a matching contribution.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Wage: $21.18 per hour