Public Programs Intern - Spring 2027 (Part-Time)

About the role

Working at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens offers the opportunity to work for one of the most beautiful places in Nashville. Formerly the home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, Cheekwood now serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum with period rooms and art galleries. The Public Programs internship is for university undergraduate students seeking experience developing and overseeing educational events for the public at a nonprofit museum and botanical garden. The intern works closely with education and public programs staff to implement a variety of activations for all audiences, such as workshops, performances, and seasonal and multi‑cultural festivals. In collaboration with the Public Programs team, the intern will conceptualize and execute a final project that merges their learning goals with the needs of the Public Programs department. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is the 3rd‑highest‑attended destination in Nashville, welcoming 400,000 visitors annually. Cheekwood hosts an exciting portfolio of programming throughout the year that includes live musical performances, community outreach and local partnerships, field trips for students and families, and four multicultural festivals (Holi Celebration, Black Arts Bash, Japanese Moon Viewing, El Dia de los Muertos). Additionally, Cheekwood hosts the signature seasonal festivals: Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest, and Holiday LIGHTS.

Responsibilities

• Conduct a semester‑long project focused on personal interests, learning goals and departmental needs.
• Assist in the preparation and implementation of Cheekwood in Bloom programming.
• Assist in the preparation and implementation of additional public programs, such as Holi and the Great Spring Art Hop.
• Attend departmental planning meetings as they align with intern’s schedule.
• Opportunity to meaningfully interact with Cheekwood staff from different museum departments, such as Marketing, Visitor Services, Curatorial and Development.

Requirements

• Experience or demonstrated interest in one or more of the following areas is preferred: event planning and production, visitor experience, art education, event promotion and marketing, music business, non‑profit management, museum studies, education.

Qualifications

• Junior or Senior at the undergraduate level.
• Area of study: Arts or Humanities, Communication, Education, Marketing.

Skills

• Enthusiastic about educational program development and event planning.
• Enjoys working with audiences of all ages.
• Adaptable, responsible, collaborative, proactive, detail‑oriented.
• Able to follow directions without supervision.

Benefits

• Cheekwood membership: unlimited admission during regular Garden hours, limited free tickets to special events, discounts on classes, ticketed events, and Gift Shop purchases.
• Reciprocal admission to more than 300 gardens through the American Horticultural Society.
• Free general admission to various local cultural, historical, and art institutions via the employee admission program.

Schedule

15 hours per week for 12 weeks; internship runs from January 25, 2027 – April 30, 2027 (part‑time).