Gain an inside look with Casimir Campagna as he explores his time at the O Museum at the Mansion! Learn about internships in this interview with Casimir as he shares how this internship expanded his understanding of event planning, development practices, and outreach.
Casimir is an emerging arts manager with an interest in venue and events management. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Arts Management at George Mason University, and earned his Bachelor of Music in Euphonium Performance with a minor in Business Administration from Towson University. Casimir brings experience in event planning, member engagement and nonprofit operations through his work with Phi Mu Alpha, the largest and oldest national music Fraternity, and the O Museum at the Mansion in Washinton, DC. As a lifelong lover of both performing and visual arts, he is passionate about connecting communities through supporting artistic organizations.
Can you describe yourself and why you chose to pursue Arts Management?
Casimir: I grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland as the child of two musicians. I've sung and played instruments for as long as I can remember — so when it was time to pick a career path, I chose music education at Towson University. It wasn't until I became an officer of Phi Mu Alpha, a national fraternity with a mission to uplift others through music, that I found my passion lies in the operations behind the magic. I switched to a performance degree with a business minor so I could focus on learning the "how" of nonprofits operate, and better serve my organization. Now, I seek to invite communities into artistic organizations through event planning and other operational support.
Can you describe your current internship and the organization you are interning at?
Casimir: I'm currently an Events Intern at the O Museum at the Mansion in Washington, DC. I assist with day-of logistics for both private and public events, such as room set-up, guest check-ins, and demonstrating the Museum's AR features. The O Museum is a unique nonprofit that's one part hotel, one part antique store, and one part museum. We're currently rising in visibility thanks to reels on TikTok and Instagram highlighting us as the "Secret Door Museum" - because there are over 100 rooms and 80 secret doors to be found in our building of 5 interconnected row-homes! Rooms around the museum include bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens with themes such as the Beatles, Oz, Elvis Presley, espionage, and more - many of which are available to be rented. The museum has a "Heroes and Artists in Residence" program, where artists and individuals working to better the world can stay for free - Rosa Parks was one of the first Heroes in Residence, and stayed at the O for 10 years! Almost everything displayed in the museum has been donated by guests, and is for sale to support the Museum's operations.
Why did you choose that organization to intern?
Casimir: In all honesty, I was looking for an events internship, this opportunity came up on Idealist, the organization looked really fun, and they were one of the only places I heard back from before the semester began.
What projects, research, or work were you involved with at your internship?
Casimir: Aside from day-of event support, I've been observing the Development Committee meetings and planning for the upcoming Founder's Day gala to get involved with how larger events are planned. I'm also working on a benchmarking project — researching competitors' venue and catering pricing — and an outreach project to find organizations that may be interested in attending some of our events. I'll also be getting more involved with 51 Steps, a nonprofit that spun off from the O Museum as the largest outdoor museum with AR exhibits all over DC. When I'm not working on these projects, I help around the museum: assisting with the concierge project to give our flyers to local hotels; training as a docent to teach guests about the Museum; pricing new inventory; and arranging art and exhibits.
What’s one of the most valuable lesson you’ve learned so far?
Casimir: The O Museum is a hidden gem whose identity is evolving from a more hospitality-focused institution to a more experiential one, and learning about how the organization has shifted with the trend of what guests are most interested in has been valuable. The way the O has stayed alive though, especially during the pandemic, has much more to do with the founder H, her husband and president Ted, and all of the board members' connections — making personal invitations to businesses, press, and local figures to come to events and invite their participation and contributions.
How have your courses in the Arts Management program helped prepare you for the internship?
Casimir: I think most of all, understanding board structures and development practices has made it much easier to understand how the O functions. I interact with docent staff most regularly, and my supervisor mostly works with clients looking to throw private parties or corporate meetings. Sometimes these team members aren't entirely clear on how or why things are done, other than "it's something the board does" — so knowing the context helps my understanding of why the board would be handling personal invitations, or how an event was planned as a partnership.
What advice would you give to students starting an internship?
Casimir: An internship is an educational opportunity, but it's also an opportunity for making good impressions for networking and potential employment. Ask questions, be open to learning about anything and everything, but you'll also get more professional benefits out of it treating it like the job you've always wanted — so make sure you know what you want out of an internship before going in.
