A prestigious arts centre offering individually focused internships, often leading to successful careers

The Kennedy Center’s RKI program in DC offers arts internships to youth with disabilities. By 2024, 910 alumni excelled in roles like actors, filmmakers, and administrators, with annual intakes of 15-30 interns.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a leading cultural hub presenting world-class performances and artists in Washington, D.C. It houses its own Office of Accessibility and VSA. Annually, the Rosemary Kennedy Initiative (RKI) provides 15 to 30 young people with disabilities paid, arts-based internships with customized employment tracks unique to their requirements and interests. Of its 910 alumni, many have made distinct careers as stage actors, filmmakers, arts administrators, comedians, or theatre technicians.

Problems Targeted

The lack of accessible career development in the arts for young people with disabilities leads to their underrepresentation and limited professional growth in creative fields.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, through its Office of Accessibility and VSA, runs the RKI programme, offering customized, paid internships for young people with disabilities. Each of the internships – which range from 16 weeks to one year – is designed to align with the individual needs and interests of the participants, providing them with real-world hands-on experience in various aspects of the creative arts. Notably, alumni frequently return to be mentors and role models. Interns work in a range of professional areas such as arts administration, arts education, technical theatre, or as artists and performers. For example, Shannon, an arts administration intern, worked on marketing, fund development, programme design, and outreach services. She later pursued a career in acting and comedy and has performed at the Kennedy Center. The programme is intentionally kept small to remain person-centred. This approach has proven effective, with many alumni going on to successful careers in TV, theatre, music, and other creative fields.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The RKI internship programme is funded through a combination of federal grants, private donations, and endowments centred around the Rosemary Kennedy Endowment, with additional support by the U.S. Department of Education. The Kennedy Center aims to expand the programme’s reach and impact by developing an Employer Community of Practice to engage employers, raise awareness, and build a network of shared practices. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

Pictures

Each year the John F. Kennedy Center offers paid arts internships to 15–20 young people.

Each year the John F. Kennedy Center offers paid arts internships to 15–20 young people.

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