Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature
Published: 28 September 2026
Community Engagement Internship
Host organisation: Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature
Project title: Community Engagement Internship
Project description
We are a long‑established cultural organisation with 20 years of experience in delivering cultural activity and community engagement. We have delivered three major reading campaigns, including Scotland's first citywide reading campaign, with a fourth campaign launching imminently. We work locally, nationally and internationally to make our city and the world better through books.
This year, we published new research evaluating the impact of literature in Edinburgh. One of the key gap identified within the sector was the need for deeper, more consistent community engagement beyond the city centre. This internship is designed to give a doctoral student meaningful, hands‑on experience in place‑based cultural engagement while supporting our organisation as we extend our reach into neighbourhoods across Edinburgh.
The Community Engagement Intern will help us activate, sustain and grow community‑centred literary activity. They will gain experience in partnership development, volunteer engagement, public‑facing cultural work and evaluation.
Key activities:
- Readers‑in‑Residence volunteer activation
Supporting follow‑up work with our new cohort of 150 Readers‑in‑Residence volunteers, helping us retain, motivate and meaningfully involve them in ongoing reading advocacy activity across Edinburgh. - Digital exhibition development
Collating and curating our Readers‑in‑Residence digital exhibition, showcasing volunteer stories, reading advocacy practice and the work of partner venues across the city. - Community partnership work
Assisting our collaborations with Edinburgh Libraries, Historic Environment Scotland, and other neighbourhood partners as we pilot new forms of community‑based literary engagement.
Outputs
- A plan for activating and retaining our new cohort of 150 Readers‑in‑Residence volunteers
- Presentation of the digital exhibition, potentially with a live event
- A set of community engagement recommendations based on pilot activity with libraries and neighbourhood partners
- A short reflective report on community needs, barriers and opportunities
- A suite of communications outputs (case studies, content for socials) that help us share the project publicly
In person/remote/hybrid
We have an office and we work there on a hybrid basis. It is not accessible (steep winding staircase) so happy to be flexible to support the selected candidate if they have access needs. We can facilitate in person and remote.
Benefits to the researcher
The intern will gain meaningful, hands‑on experience in community engagement within a cultural organisation, developing practical skills in working with volunteers, neighbourhood partners and public audiences. They will build confidence in communications practice by producing case studies, public‑facing content and digital exhibition materials, strengthening their ability to translate cultural activity into compelling stories. They will also gain important C.V. experience, having curated and delivered a cultural presentation through the exhibition.
They will gain insight into how literary ecosystems function, how cultural organisations convene partners, and how place‑based engagement strategies are developed. The role offers direct experience of partnership working with libraries, heritage organisations and community venues, as well as exposure to strategic planning, evaluation and sector advocacy.
Overall, the placement provides a rich professional development opportunity, equipping the researcher with transferable skills in community engagement, cultural communications, project delivery and collaborative working across Edinburgh’s literary landscape.
Key relationships
The researcher will work closely with Edinburgh City of Literature Trust staff, including the Director and Operations & Development Officer, and will collaborate with a wide range of partners across the city’s literary and cultural ecosystem. Their core relationships will include:
- Readers‑in‑Residence volunteers — supporting activation, retention and storytelling
- Library staff and community librarians — developing neighbourhood‑based engagement activity
- Local cultural and community organisations — building connections and piloting engagement activity
- Citywide literary networks and partners — contributing to collaborative ecosystem activity
These relationships give the intern direct experience of working across Edinburgh’s literary landscape, engaging with professionals, volunteers, cultural partners and public audiences.
Our Director has experience of translating a research PhD into a career in culture and will be able to offer support and mentorship. The researcher will also be assigned a 'Board Buddy' from our highly experienced board, based on their interests/career goals.
Subject areas
This opportunity would be relevant to the following subject areas:
Archaeology and Classics; Creative Arts and Design; Creative Writing; Drama & Theatre Studies; Curating; Cultural and Museum Studies; History; Media, Comms, Film & TV; Comparative Literature; Celtic Studies; Literatures.
Person specification
A1. Knowledge Base
- Essential: Subject Knowledge; Information Seeking; Information literacy and management.
A2. Cognitive Abilities
- Essential: Evaluating.
A3. Creativity
- Desirable: Inquiring minds; Innovation.
B1. Personal qualities
- Essential: Enthusiasm; Integrity; Self-confidence; Responsibility.
B2. Self management
- Essential: Preparation and prioritisation; Time management; Responsiveness to change.
C1. Professional conduct
- Essential: Ethics, principles and sustainability; Respect and confidentiality.
C2. Research management
- Desirable: Risk management.
D1. Working with others
- Essential: Team working; Collegiality; Equality and diversity; Collaboration.
D2. Communication & dissemination
- Essential: Communication methods; Communication media.
D3. Engagement & impact
- Essential: Public Engagement; Society and culture.
First published: 28 September 2026