Marketing & Communications Intern

Position Title: Marketing & Communications Intern

Department: MarCom

Reports To: Integrated Marketing Manager

Range: This is a paid internship with an hourly rate of $16.75

Company Description

At Ravinia, we believe in the transformative power of shared, live-music moments and their ability to inspire individuals, strengthen communities, and foster a more connected world.

Beyond presenting outstanding performances by the world’s greatest musicians, our mission as a not-for-profit organization is to develop broader, more diverse audiences and performers in the music industry with our Reach Teach Play® community engagement and education programs, our Steans Institute’s collaborative and experiential artistic training programs, and more. Together, Ravinia’s initiatives serve tens of thousands of students, families, and emerging professional musicians.

Our 36-acre park is home to North America’s longest-running outdoor music festival and its most artistically diverse. Over 100 different events, featuring a mix of classical, rock, pop, jazz, R&B, indie, and country performers, make up a typical summer season across our open-air and indoor stages, including the annual residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a Marketing & Communications Intern to join our Ravinia Festival Marketing and Communications (MarCom) team. The role involves assisting with on- and off-site activations, developing creative campaigns to engage new and returning audiences, supporting the purchase and delivery of ads, and assisting with email marketing and social media as needed. This internship plays a vital role in promoting Ravinia’s concerts, enhancing the visitor experience, and helping the festival connect with diverse audiences through innovative marketing initiatives.

Dates of Internship: May 2026 - September 2026

Location: Ravinia Festival and off-site activation sites. This is an in-person role. 

Key Responsibilities

On- and Off-Site Activations

• Represent Ravinia as part of the “Street Team” at local events and off-site activations 

• Assist in transporting, setting up, and taking down off-site activations with Street Team

• Greet media partners on concert nights and help manage night-of logistics

• Plan and execute in-park activations to engage visitors and gather subscribers

Administrative Assistance

• Assist in tracking marketing and press campaigns

• Compile and deliver marketing assets to advertising partners

• Participate in Summer Season Concert Duty

• Help maintain the ad calendar, coordinating with graphics department and advertisers to deliver assets 

• Assist in the delivery, deployment, and ROI reporting of paid and trade digital campaigns

• Deliver performance updates on paid and trade campaigns internally and externally as needed

• Provide departmental administrative support as needed
  
  

Creative Campaign Development

• Opportunity to pitch, plan, and execute a full promotion from start to finish, including ideation, logistics, and follow-up

• Assist with grassroots marketing efforts, including in-park signage and displays

• Develop ideas for interactive activities to offer to first-time park visitors

• Conduct artist research to identify promotional opportunities and drive engagement

• Develop and execute special projects related to artist hospitality, new-audience experience and education, customer experience enhancements, and more

Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills Required

• Proficient in or has the ability/desire to learn Google Workspace

• Developing project management skills, organizational skills, and attention to detail; experience with Project Management systems such as Monday.com is a plus

• Excellent research abilities and strong communication skills

• Ability to work well in a team environment

• Experience with social media content creation and familiarity with major platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok)

• Basic graphic design or video editing skills preferred (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar)

• Enthusiasm, reliability, and a proactive approach to learning and contributing

Education and Experience

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Marketing, Communications, Arts Management, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and work experience

• Strong interest in live events, music, or arts marketing

Success Factors

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Effective execution and brand representation: Effectively support and deliver on-site and off-site activations while representing Ravinia in a professional, engaging manner

• Operational excellence: Complete administrative and campaign tasks accurately and on time, contributing to overall marketing effectiveness

• Campaign contribution and insight: Support marketing campaigns from execution through reporting, demonstrating an understanding of performance metrics and impact 

• Creative Initiative: Contribute innovative ideas and successfully execute projects from concept to completion

• Collaboration and adaptability: Work effectively across teams and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Professional Development Outcomes 

• Hands-on marketing experience: Exposure to campaign planning, execution, and performance tracking across digital, on-site, and grassroots channels

• Event and brand activation skills: Experience supporting live events, audience engagement, and on-site marketing efforts

• Creative and strategic development: Opportunity to contribute ideas and execute projects from concept to completion

• Cross-functional collaboration and communication: Experience working with internal teams, external partners, and stakeholders

• Professional growth and adaptability: Strengthened time management, problem-solving, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment with mentorship and feedback

Work Environment:

This is an in-person, seasonal internship based at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL, running during the summer season (May/June through September).

Supportive, creative, and hands-on, with an emphasis on learning, mentorship, collaboration, and professional growth. Primarily this role will report on-site at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL, with occasional off-site or remote editing work as assigned. Work hours vary and include nights, weekends, and outdoor events, particularly during the summer concert season. Work takes place in a mix of office settings, performance venues, and outdoor spaces, requiring flexibility, adaptability, and comfort working in a dynamic, fast-paced public-facing environment.

As the Marketing and Communications Intern, your schedule will flex based on concert times, marketing events, and special activations, often requiring mid-afternoon through mid-evening hours, including weekends and some holidays. 

The Marketing and Communications Intern must have a vehicle, a valid driver's license, and access to a reliable, registered, and insured vehicle for transporting activation materials to off-site locations.

The role is fully in-person and requires the ability to lift up to 30 lbs. for light physical activity, such as setting up in-park displays, signage, or promotional materials. Interns will work closely with the marketing team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment that features live events. 

Ravinia is an Equal Opportunity Employer

As an equal opportunity employer, Ravinia strongly believes that diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is essential to our success, and we strive to create and sustain an equitable and inclusive environment for all our employees. Ravinia does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under federal, state, or local law. We encourage individuals of all identities and abilities to apply.