The Canadian Association for the Performing Arts (CAPACOA) is offering a paid internship for an Open Data and Digital Research Intern position. The chosen candidate will help support the team delivery of Artsdata’s nationally reaching digital discoverability projects. 

Hourly wage: $19.00/hour

Hours per week: 20-25 (adaptable to support the student’s schooling schedule)

Length of contract: up to 570 hours 

Contract completion date: This contract has a firm end date of March 28th 2026.

Relationship to employer: Employee 

Location: Remote / Work from home / Canada

Anticipated Start Date: Oct 6, 2025 (flexible)

*This position is funded through The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), with the kind support of the Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC). This government funded program gives post-secondary students across Canada paid work experience related to their field of study. The program supports current Canadian students, over the age of 15.

Skills Development Opportunities

During the course of the Internship, the selected individual will learn and become proficient in the following ways:

• Entering information into Wikidata and other open data platforms;

• Learning how to reconcile, link, and mint entities through the Artsdata knowledge graph;

• Modelling and taxonomy practices in the performing arts sector;

• Gaining industry knowledge, techniques, and experience integrating best practices in open data.

Internship Description

This intern will contribute to the Artsdata initiative by reconciling organization and venue data for national live performing arts stakeholders, through Arts Touring Connector, I Want to Showcase, and other connected platforms. Their work will support national efforts to strengthen digital discoverability in the performing arts sector, with a focus on accuracy, inclusion and equity.

The intern will learn to apply the FAIR principles in practice:

• Findable – ensuring information about venues and organizations can be easily located by sector stakeholders;

• Accessible – maintaining data in open formats that are available to everyone;

• Interoperable – aligning data with global standards so it connects seamlessly across platforms and knowledge graphs;

• Reusable – entering information in ways that allow it to be shared, repurposed, and built upon for future reuse.

Responsibilities

• Working alongside CAPACOA’s Artsdata team to implement industry-leading approaches to integrating open data and pathways for sustainable data management;

• Support the Artsdata team in implementing industry-leading approaches to open data integration and sustainable data management;

• Researching venue and organization entities and translating findings into open data entries;

• Learning how to model and enter information into open data platforms (modelling venues, artistic companies, arts presenting organizations, individuals artists, and agents);

• Attending meetings, tracking and managing tasks, and reporting task outcomes (verbally and writing);

• Providing courteous, kind, and conscientious communication within the team;

Other tasks/projects may include:

• Supporting national professional development sessions for the live performing arts community..

• Attending and aiding other projects to gain industry insight and identify stakeholder needs.

General Requirements

• Preferred level of education: post secondary.

• Currently training in school in a field related to this type of work in the future (examples: Technical and Operational studies, Data discoverability, Arts & Cultural Management etc.) 

• Knowledge of (or willingness to learn) open data linking techniques and principles;

• Ability to research information about arts presenting organizations and venues;  

• Detail oriented, with an ability to set priorities and to take initiative;

• Enthusiastic team-player who is able to juggle multiple/competing priorities;

• An understanding (or willingness to learn) of challenges facing our sector, and under-recognized community members.

• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, (ideally in both official languages.)

• Experience working with (or willingness to learn) digital communications tools, Asana, websites, blogs, standard office software including the Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite.

• A desire to grow their own skills and knowledge, preparing them for a career in the non-profit sector.

• Following the interview / offer: Provide proof of enrollment from the student’s post secondary educator (examples: an unofficial or official transcript of records, verification of enrollment form, timetable with clear dates, etc.)

Equal Opportunity Employment

CAPACOA is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to the principles of equity and diversity in employment. All qualified persons, who meet the SWPP eligibility guidelines, are encouraged to apply.

We strive to ensure open and safe work environments for all, and are particularly interested in hearing from students who self-identify as:

• Indigenous

• Persons with disability

• Newcomers to Canada (within the past 5 years)

• First-Year Students ( first year for any type of post-secondary degree)

• Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

• Visible Minorities

SWPP Requirements

To be eligible for this SWPP funded position, applicants must:

• Be registered at a Canadian post-secondary education institution. 

• Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 2.

• Please note: International students, i.e. persons using a Student VISA or work permit, are not eligible for the funding.

• Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

How to Apply: 

When emailing your application to with “Open Data and Digital Research Intern” in the email subject line, please include your:

• Resume

• Cover letter

Application Deadline: Ongoing until the position is filled

We thank all applicants for their interest in the position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

About the Employer

The Canadian Association for the Performing Arts/l'Association canadienne des organismes artistiques (CAPACOA) is a national arts service organization supporting the performing arts touring and presenting community. CAPACOA works to advocate for the interests of Canadian presenters, agents and managers, artistic companies, networks and other stakeholders and the communities they serve, and to provide national-level opportunities for performing arts industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and develop skills.

CAPACOA believes the arts define our society. They are essential to the quality of life of all Canadians. We believe that we must:

                      •        must meet the needs of our members    

                      •        offer a strong network of peers

                      •        empower our members so they can best serve their communities

                      •        take a leadership role in the development of the performing arts in Canada

                      •        be a catalyst for innovation in the performing arts

For more information about CAPACOA please visit our website: https://capacoa.ca