Participant-Oriented Evaluative Case Study of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts Internship Program

For more than forty years, the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts has professionally prepared aspiring arts managers through its premier internship program. Until now, no empirical case study existed on a successful internship program in a cultural organization. Therefore, this participant-oriented evaluative case study answers two questions, (1) what best practices has the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts used to develop a successful internship program? In addition (2), why has the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts internship program been so successful? With answers to these questions, this study contributes to practice and will enhance the conceptualization, design, implementation, management, and planning of internship programs in cultural organizations.