Job Details

Salary: $16.00 - $18.00 Hourly
Location : Boise City Hall, ID
Job Type: Intern
Job Number: 23 -07421
Department: Arts & History
Division: History Education
Opening Date: 02/05/2026
Closing Date: 2/19/2026 12:00 PM Mountain

Summary Statement
The City of Boise Department of Arts & History is a local cultural agency dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging through accessible, place-based arts and history. The department seeks to connect people with the city's cultural heritage by creating opportunities for meaningful community engagement in our arts and history sector, while also working to collect, preserve, and share Boise's history. One way we do this is by gathering community artifacts, documents, and oral histories to tell the story of who Boise was-and who it is-for present and future generations.

The City of Boise Department of Arts & History, History Division seeks to hire one intern for the 2026 summer season to support the development of a department-wide, long-term initiative focused on collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of Boise and its communities. Under the guidance of the department, the intern will conduct a comparative study and implementation planning project for a participatory community archiving program.

The intern will research, analyze, and design a participatory archiving framework. This project will examine best-practice models from comparable cities, cultural institutions, and community organizations, and will identify the resources, workflows, and supports needed to implement participatory archiving programs in Boise.

The intern will work under the supervision of the City Historian to produce a replicable, citywide model to guide future neighborhood-based and thematic community archiving initiatives.

Mission: Cultivate a distinct sense of place which reflects Boise's rich past, diverse communities, and unique natural setting.

Essential Functions

• Complete assigned readings on participatory archiving to develop a foundational understanding of:
  • The purpose and motivation behind participatory archiving programs nationally
  • Ethical considerations when working with communities
  • Common challenges, risks, and successes of participatory archiving models
• Conduct a comparative study of successful participatory archiving programs across the country in peer cities, museums, libraries, and cultural organizations to identify:
  • Best practices and program models
  • Ethical standards and consent practices
  • Staffing structures and training needs
  • Budget considerations and funding models
  • Logistical requirements and timelines
  • Equipment and material need
• Analyze local and statewide repositories and history programs.
• Identify:
  • Gaps in representation, narrative, and collecting practices
  • Opportunities for collaboration and shared stewardship with affinity groups and local community partners
  • Areas where participatory archiving could strengthen Boise's historical record
• Review existing City of Boise Archives & History collections and programs to:
  • Identify internal capacity, limitations, and needs
  • Determine where participatory archiving could integrate into current cultural sites and programming
  • Highlight priority community stories and underrepresented narratives
• Create implementation recommendations for integrating participatory archiving into existing Arts & History programs and cultural sites, including:
  • Suggested program models and workflows
  • Staffing and volunteer roles
  • Budget ranges and material needs
  • Ethical protocols and community care practices
• Develop a starter toolkit for future participatory archiving events, including:
  • Sample timeline
  • Day of event checklists
  • List of potentially required materials and equipment
  • Recommend documentation workflows

Requirements

• Students currently enrolled in a public history, history, or archives program; or individuals with an interest in history, archives, public history, or community engagement; and/or those interested in pursuing a degree in public history, archival studies, or a related field.
• Strong organizational, research, and communication skills
• Comfortable working with community based subject matter and diverse stakeholders
• Undergraduate or Graduate student enrolled in a college or university.
• Proficiency in MS Office products including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Be able to work 19 hours per week.
• Be able to commit to the entire 12-week internship program.

Application Process: To apply for the City of Boise Internship Program, please submit the following materials:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Transcript
• Two letters of recommendation (Optional)

Working Conditions

Working Conditions
The physical effort characteristics and working environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
All temporary or part-time employees working 19-hours or less are not eligible for benefits.

Please visit our website for further details
01

Which answer best describes your current year in school?

• Freshman
• Sophmore
• Junior
• Senior
• Graduated in the last 12 months

02

Are you enrolled/graduated recently from an accredited University or college?

• Yes
• No

03

Can you commit to working for the City in-person during the summer months?

• Yes
• No

Required Question