A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.
As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.
What we offer
Agency Description
The Department of Planning and Development works in collaboration with communities to promote, plan, preserve, and develop successful neighborhoods for all. Reaching these goals requires city agencies to work together with residents, businesses, developers, advocates, funders, and each other. Planning and Development has a team of agencies that do just that. Our agencies include:
Philadelphia Art Commission
Philadelphia City Planning Commission
Division of Development Services
Division of Housing and Community Development
Philadelphia Historical Commission
Zoning Board of Adjustment
We also partner with the PHDC
Position Summary
The Department of Planning and Development’s Art & Design Unit is in search of a Summer 2026 Intern.
The intern will work directly with Sydney Conaway on fieldwork and deciphering data, and inventory report development relating to Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation’s (PHDC) Percent for Art program. There will be opportunities for an intern to contribute to a variety of elements related to the ongoing research and program development of PHDC’s Percent for Art program. This position is a temporary, part-time internship. Intern can expect to work on the following:
Fieldwork: Assisting with surveying Artwork that will be conducted digitally in the field. We will record location, condition, materiality, and general site analysis of work produced under the Percent for Art program (approximately 350 pieces).
In-Office Work: Intern will investigate and confirm ownership of Artworks with guidance of staff and assist with other in-office tasks related to the Survey. A field trip to City Archives and the Public Library will be necessary for understanding ownership and timelines of Artworks produced. This will provide the intern with exposure to the archiving process at the City. Additional activities include assisting in compiling and sorting through survey data with Sydney Conaway and collaborating with other Planning Department teams such as GIS. This work will contribute to a new web app that will display the Percent for Art Collection on a public interface. This application will show exact locations of artworks in addition to being able to sort by year, neighborhood, medium, whether the piece is indoors or outdoors, etc.
Importantly, the culmination of this work will be paramount for both the Percent for Art program but also the broader arts and cultural community of Philadelphia. This research will contribute to the City’s understanding of its own Cultural Resources while building relationships and information to share with the broader Arts and Planning communities.
The maximum number of hours allocated for this role is a maximum of 20 hours per week. Please submit a resume, cover letter, and references.
Essential Functions
The essential functions for this internship may include:
Data Collection
Data Interpretation
Graphic Representation (Adobe Suite)
Research and Analysis
Writing
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
The intern should have a working background of public art, conservation, and general understanding of Urban Planning. Ability to use adobe suite, write proficiently, and the ability to perform outdoor research and analysis in the summer months. Any demonstrated site or art surveying experience is a plus.
Education:
Master’s level student with at least one year of graduate level courses in Art, Conservation, and/or Urban Planning/Design. Majors aligned with this position include Urban Planning/Design, Public Art, Fine Art, Historical Preservation, Conversation Studies, Curatorial Studies, and Landscape Architecture.
Experience:
The Intern must possess the ability to work independently and communicate research both verbally and in writing.
TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and references.
Hourly Rate: $16.28
Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:
Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!
*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire
Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.
The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.
For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx
This city will never settle for good enough. We’re fueled by passion and connection and backed by talent and potential. It’s that drive that sets us apart nationally and unites us locally. If you want to create a better Philadelphia, start here!
Representing a best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, the City of Philadelphia provides growth and learning opportunities that will set you up for future success. We believe in empowering our employees through hands-on experience and job exposure. Growth doesn’t come without hard work—a career with the City will challenge you to push your expertise to the next level.
