Accent Sisters Work-Study Fellowship Program

About the Open Call

Accent Sisters is excited to offer a fellowship program for individuals passionate about literature, visual arts, and community engagement. The fellowship provides hands-on experience in a bookstore and a hybrid event space, where exhibitions, book launches, film screenings, educational programs, and other forms of public programming take place. This work-study fellowship is ideal for someone looking to build a career in cultural institutions, independent bookstores, or art galleries. Fellows will work closely with both the bookstore and gallery teams, gaining skills in book curation, exhibit planning, marketing, and community outreach, while developing a personal project that merges these disciplines. What You Will Get: Opportunities to work closely with some of the best writers, artists, and creators; A chance to pitch projects, events, and develop programs for a thriving and diverse community; Be part of the most exciting happenings in New York’s art and cultural scene; Free passes to attend all in-person events and classes held at Accent Sisters; Fellow discounts to purchase products at Accent Sisters; Towards the end of the fellowship, we will work with you to develop a special showcase of your personal project and/or your work at Accent Sisters; One-on-one mentorship with Accent team; A stipend of $600 dollars. Fall 2025 Fellowship Tracks: Accent Sisters is offering four tracks with different areas of focus, applicants are generally asked to choose one of the following that best fit their skills and interests: 1. Communications & Publishing 2. Curation & Administration 3. Design & Media Asset Management 4. Digital Marketing & Operations. 1. Communications & Publishing: Fellows in this track will support the bookstore’s publishing and media outreach efforts across multiple platforms. Responsibilities Include: Facilitate 1–2 online events every month, which may include but are not limited to: Craft classes, Book club meetups, Author Q&A sessions; Support event preparation, including: Assisting with early-stage research on featured books, authors, or themes, Helping draft promotional copy and visual assets in coordination with the marketing team, Coordinating event logistics such as registration, reminders, and participant communication, Preparing and/or moderating Q&A sessions; Editorial Support: Assist in drafting marketing materials for Accent’s upcoming titles and communicating with designers, writers, and the editorial team; Content Creation: Work with Accent team and digital marketing & strategy fellow to draft content for Accent’s key digital communication platforms, including Instagram, WeChat, RedNote, and email newsletters; Outreach & Collaboration: Connect with writers, translators, and editors for potential collaborations; Book Launch Assistance: Coordinate with publishers to pre-order titles for book launch events. Assist with organizing shipments, tracking inventory, and returning unsold copies after events; Podcast Production: Pitch and research for potential guests, themes, and topics for Accent’s literary podcast show, Accentricity; host and produce 1 podcast episode per month, compile shownotes, and draft social media posts. 2. Curation & Administration: Fellows in this track will gain experience in exhibition development, public programming, and cultural administration. Responsibilities include: Exhibition Development: Assist with all stages of exhibition planning and execution, including research, communication with artists and curators, task coordination, scheduling, and on-site support for installation and deinstallation. Note: occasional evening or weekend hours may be required during exhibition periods (typically once per month); Exhibition Maintenance: Support the daily upkeep of exhibitions, assist visitors, and report exhibition-related updates to the Accent team and curators; Event Coordination: Collaborate with the Accent team to develop and run public programs, artist talks, and workshops. Maintain and update the exhibition and event calendar; Grant Application: Assist with grant writing, open calls, fundraising efforts, and administrative tasks such as submission tracking, collaboration inquiries, and product consignments; Communication & Outreach: Work with the publishing and communications fellow to draft press releases, curatorial notes, and outreach materials. Coordinate logistics and communications with artists, collaborators, researchers, vendors, and cultural institutions; Administrative Assistance: Support the development and maintenance of internal resources and public-facing platforms. 3. Design & Media Asset Management: Fellows in this track will contribute to the bookstore’s visual identity design and official website maintenance. Responsibilities include: Visual Design & Creative Production: Design posters, banners, social media graphics, and other promotional materials for events, classes, exhibitions, and store products; Event Documentation: Support event photography, video recording, and minor editing for in-store programs and exhibitions. Contribute to maintaining a visual record of Accent’s activities and creating media content; Digital Asset Management: Organize, tag, and archive digital media and design files. Help update and edit the official website, online store, digital content platform, and digital archive, ensuring visual consistency across platforms; Creative Coordination: Collaborate with event, workshop, and exhibition organizers to gather necessary images and content for design; Assist with maintaining creative production timelines. 4. Digital Marketing & Operations: Fellows in this track will be developing engaging content for the Accent Sister community, with a focus on promoting Accent Sisters’s events, products, and classes. Responsibilities include: Content Creation & Social Media Operations: Create and schedule graphics, videos, stories, and captions in collaboration with the Accent Team and communications fellow; Audience & Market Research: Research target audiences and cultural trends; analyze brand positioning and user engagement data; Assist with outreach for events and help identify and contact potential collaborators, partners, and community organizations; Analytics & Campaign Development: Track and report on sales, event performance, social media engagement, content reach, and user behavior to help develop programs and actionable marketing strategies; E-Commerce Operations: Assist with updating the Shopify store and online class listings, including product listings, categorization, and copywriting; Email & Newsletter Marketing: Use tools like Xiumi and Mailchimp to design, write, and edit newsletters and special announcements; Event Documentation: Photograph and video record bookstore events, exhibitions, and workshops for archival and promotional use. FOR ALL: General Responsibilities: Outside of the responsibilities detailed in the four fellowship tracks, reporting primarily to Accent’s space manager, the fellow’s primary duties on-site include: Store Maintenance: Perform shifts on-site at the Accent Sisters bookstore for 3 days/week; keep the space clean, organized, and welcoming for visitors; Customer Service: Greet visitors, assist with inquiries, and provide book/event/membership information when appropriate; Process sales transactions, handle payments, and maintain accurate records; Collection Management: Catalog and shelve books, Support the curation and upkeep of seasonal book and product displays, Write book reviews and staff recommendations; Event & Exhibition Support: Preparing and running public programs such as book launches, readings, workshops, and exhibition openings, including registration, set-up, guest reception, and sales; Promotion & Documentation: Help promote and document in-store classes, events, and exhibitions; Assist with other administration tasks.

What is Offered

A stipend of $600 (paid in two installments), opportunities to work closely with some of the best writers, artists, and creators, a chance to pitch projects and develop programs, free passes to in-person events and classes, fellow discounts, special showcase of personal project, and one-on-one mentorship.

Requirements

Open to upcoming senior, upcoming second year graduate students, and recent graduates of undergraduate/graduate programs. Requirements for Communications & Publishing: Background in Language and Literature, Creative Writing, or equivalent (recent graduate, or current student going into senior year/second year graduate program); Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, and preferably with knowledge of a second language; Strong story-telling ability through writing, and preferably with demonstrated interest in multimedia story-telling (e.g. social media, reel, podcast); Ability to work independently and as part of a team; A keen interest in international and multilingual literature; Knowledge of mainstream and independent publishers, publishing platforms, and literary events (book fairs, readings, etc.). Requirements for Curation & Administration: Background in curatorial practice, museum studies, art history, or arts administration (recent graduate, or current student going into senior year/second year graduate program); Demonstrated interest in curation and contemporary arts, especially interdisciplinary practices; Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and preferably Chinese, such as communicating and collaborating in a curatorial team, draft and responding emails, draft meeting notes, and representing Accent Sisters during exhibition production, opening receptions and public programs; Proactive, self-driven and detail-oriented: ready to participate in on-site exhibition installation and deinstallation, support outreach events, assist exhibition visitors, and contribute to day-to-day exhibition upkeep; Proficient in developing structured digital filing systems with Google Drive and Google Sheets. Some familiarity with art metadata, file naming conventions, and rights documentation; Highly Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Doc, Sheet, Slides, and Form). Requirements for Design & Media Asset Management: Strong background in visual design either as a current undergraduate senior, second-year graduate student, or recent graduate. Candidates from non-design academic backgrounds with a strong and relevant portfolio are also encouraged to apply; Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suites (Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign) and Figma for both print and digital design production; Familiarity with low-code web platforms such as Cargo, WordPress, or similar site builders; foundational knowledge of HTML and CSS; Experience with adapting visual identity across mediums and platforms, whether printed matters or social media. Ensure the correct formatting and presentation for finalized design according to specifications; Comfort with digital tools and platforms, and a strong interest in evolving design practices for digital and web-based environments; Strong time management skills and an ability to work independently and collaboratively. Requirements for Digital Marketing & Operations: Strong background in digital marketing and social media engagement. with skills in photography, videography, and/or writing. Open to current undergraduate seniors, second-year graduate students, or recent graduates; Passionate and knowledgeable about independent publishing, literature, arts, and digital cultural scenes; Proficient in managing accounts on social media platforms(Instagram, Rednote, TikTok); familiarity with marketing tools; Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to track, evaluate, and set performance goals for digital campaigns; Basic proficiency in photography, video editing, image editing, and graphic design; Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; fluency in additional languages is a plus; Able to work both independently and collaboratively within a team; Detail-oriented and capable of formatting and presenting marketing materials according to platform specifications; Able to manage timelines and meet deadlines for social media scheduling and content delivery. General Expectations: The ideal candidate will be highly organized, proactive, and passionate about literature and the arts. They should have strong communication skills and be comfortable working independently and in a team environment; Professional proficiency in English, fluency in Mandarin or other foreign languages is desirable and varies depending on fellowship position; Demonstrated interest in literature, visual arts, or the organization of cultural events; Excellent people skills: friendly and professional in communicating with customers and visitors; Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace; knowledge of social media management tools is a plus; Experience in event planning or marketing is a plus; Familiarity with local literary or art communities is desirable. Accent Sisters is committed to diversity and inclusion; individuals from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. Applicants who do not fulfill all requirements are still encouraged to apply if they can present a strong case.

How to Apply

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION https://forms.gle/C6q2oXw9mJvNeYu76 Accepting applications on a rolling basis from now through November 26th.