Job Posting: Assistant Storyteller (Internship)

Time Frame: November 17, 2025 – March 15, 2026 

Hours: 18 hours per week

Compensation: $28,080. salary or $1,170 bimonthly, plus 6% paid vacation days 

Eligibility: The candidate must meet BC Arts Council Early Career Development program guidelines: 

• Be working or practicing in an area funded by the BC Arts Council, including but not only:
  • Arts Administration
  • Community-Based Arts
  • D/deaf, Disability, and Mad Arts
  • Literary Arts (creative writing, publishing)
  • Media Arts
  • Multi- and Interdisciplinary Arts
  • Museums or Indigenous Culture Centres
  • Performing Arts (music, theatre, dance, circus arts, comedy, production and/or technical)
  • Visual Arts (critic, curator, artist in contemporary or traditional visual arts and/or craft, including Indigenous Arts)
• Be legally allowed to work in Canada as a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident.
• Have resided in B.C. since July 10, 2023 and must be prepared to provide documentation to support residency status upon request.
• Not be enrolled in full-time studies.
• Not have participated in two previously successful Early Career Development projects. In other words, an individual may participate in a maximum of two Early Career Development projects in their lifetime.
• Not be a participant in any other application in the 2024 Early Career Development intake.
• Not have any overdue final reports on previous BC Arts Council grants.

AND EITHER

• Identify with one of the BC Arts Council’s Designated Priority Groups and have completed basic training in their field of practice within ten years of July 10, 2024.

OR

• Have completed basic training in their field of practice within five years of July 10, 2024.

Primary job location: 825 Pacific Street, Vancouver, British Columbia

Reporting to: Head of Communications

About 221A

221A is a nonprofit organization that works with artists and designers to research and develop cultural, social and ecological infrastructure. We keep artists in the city through studio placement fellowships, residencies, affordable housing and work spaces, education programs, and research and advocacy. 221A envisions a pluralistic society in which all people have the means to access and make culture.

Summary of Role

This internship role is funded by a BC Arts Council Early Career Development grant. The Assistant Digital Storyteller works cross-departmentally, and the successful candidate will have foundational skills in social media engagement and storytelling, and can synthesize multi-element projects clearly and succinctly. 

During their internship, with the guidance of the Head of Communications, the candidate will hone their active listening, copywriting, narrative-strategy, cross-platform delivery, as well as basic technical skills in photography and videography. Based on the candidate’s interest, there is occasional opportunity to step outside of regular deliverables and work cross-departmentally to engage in longform story arcs such as fundraising campaigns or research and development; to document exhibitions in non-extractive and anarchival ways; and to activate paintings, library items and other artistic objects through human-centred storytelling through videography, photography and interviews. 

This position is funded through the BC Arts Council Early Career Development Program.

Role Qualifications

Experience:

• Minimum 1 year of related Communications experience including: copywriting, editing, web design, content production for social media.
• Communications or Marketing accreditation, or working towards accreditation (cannot be full time student) 
• Arts Administration or non-profit experience is an asset.
• Educational experience aligns with BC Arts Council Early Career Development Program’s definition of “Basic Training” as outlined on page six of the program guidelines.

Skills:

• Exceptional (written and verbal) communication skills (English Language); other languages, including ASL, considered an asset
• Experience in content creation, and formatting/styling of web, computer, and phone applications. 
• Organizational and planning abilities, especially in social media scheduling and monitoring
• Flexible and creative
• Working knowledge of MS Office / Google Drive
• An understanding of the cultural sector and/or nonprofit arts sector is an asset
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, projects, and priorities effectively.
• Tact and negotiation skills within a team setting.
• Discretion with confidential information.
• Cultural competencies regarding folks who are low-income people, artists, and cultural workers.

Duties and Responsibilities

Planning and Relationships (50%)

1. Work closely with Head of Communications to develop communications materials related to programming, research and development, and other organizational activities 
2. Maintain an active presence on 221A channels including social media and the organization’s general inbox  
3. Work with third-party contractors including agencies, videographers and other media professionals to disseminate materials throughout 221A’s channels in a timely manner. 
4. Assist the Head of Communications with developing materials in line with 221A’s communications strategy.

Content Creation and Branding (30%)

5. Develop stories and narratives that effectively communicate our vision, mission, and unique offerings through compelling content for various channels.
6. Assist with digital marketing campaigns to increase visibility, attract supporters, and promote events or initiatives. 
7. Engage our target audience using our newsletter, email marketing and social media
8. Develop marketing materials, outreach strategies, and partnerships to drive attendance and participation.

Data and Reporting (20%)

9. Effectively and comprehensibly report completed tasks in an organized and clear manner for interdepartmental flow and accessibility
10. Utilize analytics tools to track and analyze the performance of communication efforts tied to strategic plans.
    

Ancillary Duties as determined through mutual agreement with the Employer.

Working Conditions 

• The Assistant Storyteller’s primary office is on-site at 825 Pacific St, with occasional work at locations across 221A’s facilities within the Downtown Eastside, Chinatown, and East Vancouver.
• They will be exposed to noise and regular flow of building users.
• They must have the capacity for extended periods of concentration with computer and mobile phone technology.
• Moderate lifting (up to 12 kg/25 lbs) may be required on an occasional basis.
• In the normal course of work, there may be occasional exposure to particles and particulates at 825 Pacific St. 221A strongly adheres to WorkSafeBC standards and will provide PPE where appropriate, but cannot promise a scent or noise reduced space.
• Computer and mobile phone technologies will either be provided, or payment will be made in lieu by 221A.

How to Apply

Employment Equity

221A is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants on all points on spectrums of race, place of origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, and ability. 

Priority for this position will be given to:

• Black, Indigenous, and other racialized applicants
• People living with disabilities
• 2-Spirit, trans, queer, and non-binary people

Please send your cover letter and CV/resume by email to hr@221a.ca. 

Please use “[Full Name], Assistant Storyteller” in the Subject Line.

Ensure your cover letter includes your name, email, and contact information

This call will remain open until November 09, 2025. 221A thanks all applicants in advance for understanding that due to capacity limitations, only applicants under consideration will be contacted.

Posting will be removed when the position is filled.

Useful Links

• 221A.ca 
• 221A Staff Policy (if you belong to an organization and would like to comment on or adapt any of these policies please get in touch with us)
• Workplace Values
• Organizing Values
• Organizational Chart