Program Intern

Blue Mountain Center Internship

Blue Mountain Center (BMC) seeks enthusiastic, self-motivated, and community-oriented individuals for an internship during our 2026 Fall Season (positions currently available beginning of September through late-November). Interns must commit to a stay for at least two months.

Housed on occupied Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Land amidst 1,600 acres of Adirondack wilderness, Blue Mountain Center (BMC) was repurposed from a private 19th century golf course resort and family estate into a social justice-oriented artist residency and conference center in 1982. Today BMC offers a unique refuge to artists, activists, organizers and cultural workers who produce transformative work for their times. The impact of BMC’s resources and programming has supported the work of many artists and cultural workers, has catalyzed movements at crucial moments, and has granted necessary rest and rejuvenation to change makers in need of respite.

This year, our Residency season consists of 3 month-long residency sessions in the summer spanning medium and genre. Residents include but are not limited to: visual artists, fiction and non-fiction writers, poets, playwrights, filmmakers, composers, audio storytellers, and activists. Our Spring and Fall conference season is made up of larger weekend-length to week-long gatherings. BMC conferences typically include a mix of movement-building gatherings, cross-silo and issue-based discussions, and organizational retreats for rejuvenation and dialogue.

Running BMC requires a team of dedicated staff who align with our mission in their own way. As hosts, decision-makers, program shapers, cooks, innkeepers and groundskeepers, the BMC staff work interdependently to offer a nurturing and generative environment. We strive to integrate all aspects of the physical, emotional and mental labor of our work with our vision for a more liberated, creative, and caring world. Our hospitality approach prioritizes individual and collective well-being based on a shared spirit of responsiveness and generosity. We strive for an approach to hospitality that honors and integrates the essential contributions of all members of our community.

Interning at BMC is a great way for anyone interested in living and working within a social justice-oriented community to learn about the day-to-day operations of a residential non-profit supporting creative and socially engaged work. BMC interns are important members of the BMC community and are responsible for helping manage the smooth flow of our programming along with three other residential program staff. The work is varied and typically combines kitchen, garden, hosting, office administration, and light maintenance/grounds-keeping tasks. Special interests (i.e gardening, archival projects, social media, writing, artist support) can also be prioritized in an intern’s workload as time allows.

Prior experience is not necessary, but a background in the arts and/or activism, experience working in hospitality/ food service/gardening, a love of the outdoors, and administrative and basic computer skills are all assets. Qualified applicants are open and eager to learn how to thrive in a communal living environment. We do require that interns have a valid driver’s license and are comfortable driving to run errands and transport guests.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a letter of interest, resume, and two references (name and contact info) to bmc@bluemountaincenter.org. Please indicate approximately what dates you would be available for the internship (2 months minimum is required).

DEADLINE

The deadline for the fall position applications is July 20th. However, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For those who applied in the Spring of 2026, we have your information on file and will reach out if we'd like to conduct an interview.

BENEFITS

Our program intern is compensated at NYS minimum wage ($16.00 per hour) for 35-40 hours a week. A room in the Main House (private sink; shared bathroom), all meals and snacks, limited use of BMC cars and full use of laundry, boats etc. Interns are also encouraged to participate in the many social perks of living and working at BMC (resident presentations, discussions, bonfires, outdoor excursions, etc.)

A NOTE ON COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

This year, our program and operations continue to adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We are requiring that interns abide by our protocols, and require proof of full vaccination. We are happy to set up an informational call with serious applicants to share more information about how we are safely running BMC this year.

Our program intern is compensated at NYS minimum wage ($16.00 per hour) for 35-40 hours a week. A room in the Main House (private sink; shared bathroom), all meals and snacks, limited use of BMC cars and full use of laundry, boats etc. Interns are also encouraged to participate in the many social perks of living and working at BMC (resident presentations, discussions, bonfires, outdoor excursions, etc.)