Administrative intern

Closing date for applications: Sunday 28th September 2025 at 11.59pm

Salary: UK Living Wage or London Living Wage, depending on the successful candidate's location

Duration: 6 months

Working hours: 21 hours per week, with some evening / weekend work required.

Location: Dance Consortium has access to offices in London (primary base) and Birmingham. The successful applicant will be able to commit to at least 1 in-person day and 2 remote days per week.

Start date: Early November 2025

Looking to gain hands on experience of project and event coordination? Dive into the world of international contemporary dance, UK touring and audience / participant engagement with this 6-month traineeship.

Dance Consortium is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to tour the best contemporary dance from around the world to regional audiences and participants across the UK and Ireland. Founded in 2000 by the Chief Executives of major UK theatres, our touring programme provides a platform for diverse, culturally distinctive, original and iconic dance companies from across the globe, providing audiences with access to a range of international dance experiences that would not otherwise be available. A bespoke programme of engagement and audience development activity accompanies each tour, enhancing and deepening opportunities for engagement. Since 2000 Dance Consortium has delivered 55 Tours by 30 different companies performing to over 800,000 people.

The impact of Dance Consortium extends beyond its relationship with audiences and artists; it is a thriving network that actively contributes to the touring ecology, providing support and expertise on international dance and audience development to its members and the wider sector. Current membership comprises 24 theatres, including independent, local authority and Arts Council England (ACE) funded venues, alongside those which are more commercial.

Dance Consortium holds a special position in the dance ecology in that it is uniquely able to draw upon the knowledge and skills of the member venues and expertise, alongside connecting UK organisations and audiences to global artists and companies. The administrative intern will be supported to develop an understanding of touring international dance, building all-round knowledge of the ecology and of a range of engagement initiatives and activities, with access to senior figures across the sector and networking opportunities.

The placement will provide skills development and practical experience, both in an office context and on the ground in venues or on tour. Working within our small and experienced team, you will make a meaningful contribution to and impact on Dance Consortium’s practical and creative outputs, alongside your own professional development. The trainee will be supported by and work directly with Dance Consortium’s core team: Joe Bates (chief executive), Claire Morton (senior producer) & Megan Saunders (audiences & engagement manager). You will also benefit from working alongside key freelancers providing expertise in marketing, press, social media and tour management, making this an exciting opportunity for a hands-on and varied experience across departments / functions.

The administrative intern will have weekly in-person contact with the team, with remote support continuing throughout the week. There will also be the opportunity to attend performances, workshops and other events across our tour venues. As such, some evening / weekend work may be required but also to be discussed and agreed. Travel expenses beyond the town / city where the individual is based will be reimbursed, and travel/accommodation related to attending Dance Consortium events/touring will be provided.

What you will be doing

• Providing project management assistance, including bookings, scheduling and reporting & evaluation for UK tours and engagement activities
• Event support (e.g. travel, accommodation, catering, space booking, rsvp lists)
• Research (e.g. gathering information on tour locations and amenities)
• Data collection and reporting (including audience, participant and environmental data), assisting in strengthening the evaluation of our work
• Creation and administration of forms and surveys
• Providing social media support, including content capture and processing
• Assisting in the production digital assets and marketing of activities
• Attending meetings (members, technical, marketing), training events and away days (knowledge, skills sharing and networking)
• Attending tour venues and engagement activities as appropriate (to be agreed)

What you will learn

• Knowledge and experience of touring, gaining an insight into a variety of large-scale venues across the UK and Ireland (including commercial, independent, local authority and Arts Council England / Creative Scotland supported theatres)
• Access to performances, engagement activities, events broadening knowledge and experience in the dance sector
• Knowledge and experience in range of performing art forms including contemporary dance, circus and ballet Insight into learning, engagement and workforce development initiatives
• Induction into and support in utilising and maximising the efficiency of systems & processes (e.g. Microsoft 365 & AI).
• Data processes and analysis
• Insight into Arts Council England reporting requirements and systems
• Opportunity to travel across the UK
• Knowledge and understanding of policies and practical application including:
  • Justice Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; Safeguarding; Health & Safety; Environmental

What we are looking for

• Applicants aged 21 or above
• A genuine interest in learning about and developing skills in dance and touring
• Some project management / administration skills (this may be from previous employment, or from managing your own work or projects)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a good attention to detail
• Computer literate
• Ability to use own initiative, manage multiple tasks and a varied workload
• Personable and a natural collaborator and team-worker
• Flexible and adaptable approach, including being available for some weekend & evening commitments

The candidate will need to:

• Have some experience in dance and/or performing arts – this may be through formal education qualifications or through more informal routes or experience
• Uphold Dance Consortium’s values and key policies (Justice Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; Safeguarding; Health & Safety; Environmental)

To apply

• Log in to your Creative Access account or register today to apply for this opportunity
• Upload your CV and cover letter as one document (applications without a tailored cover letter will not be accepted)
• Once submitted, you can no longer amend your application, so proof-read carefully
• Do not contact the company directly
• Please email any queries about this role to Creative Access at this address: recruit@creativeaccess.org.uk

This opportunity is open to Black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates.

This role is part-funded by the Mo Siewcharran Memorial Fund which support internships for young talent from ethnicities that are under-represented in the theatre, publishing and music industries.