The Scottish Arts Council, in partnership with Scotland’s two audience development agencies has launched Scotland’s first Audience Development Internship Programme, providing budding audience development professionals with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in the sector.

The programme provides two paid, entry level work placements which offer structured training and mentoring opportunities in all areas of audience development, including sales analysis, audience profiling, market research and events.

The internship programme has been developed in partnership with the audience development agencies Glasgow Grows Audiences and The Audience Business in Edinburgh to help increase the skills base in this area and enhance the marketing resources available to Scottish arts organisations which play a key role in increasing participation in the arts.

The successful applicants will initially be based at one of the audience development agencies in Edinburgh or Glasgow, then subsequently within an arts organisation to provide them with an overview of the functions of a not for profit arts organisation.

The year long internship will not only benefit the individual by providing the necessary skills and work experience needed to progress a career in audience development, but will also benefit the organisations participating in the programme by providing an injection of fresh energy, ideas and talent.

Fiona Sturgeon, Head of Audience & Organisational Development at the Scottish Arts Council said: ‘The Scottish Arts Council has run extremely successful trainee schemes through our Education and Equalities Departments currently and in the past. We’re delighted to turn our focus to audience development. Many early careers in the arts (mine included) can be a triumph of luck over design. We wanted to provide more structured opportunities at entry-level, which we hope will be beneficial to both the individuals and the organisations involved. ‘

Applications are sought from creative, numerate candidates who are passionate about developing audiences for the arts and are keen to develop their skills and knowledge in this area. The closing date for applications is 17 August 2007.