Mr Nissen and fellow interns Brooke Lowry (21) and Lena Plaksina (21) are grasping the opportunity to gain valuable experience in event organising, marketing and sales, as they make the most of the festival's ‘‘all hands on deck'' ethos.
Miss Lowry and Miss Plaksina both signed on for the festival through the Dunedin City Council's ‘‘Sexy Summer Jobs'' internship programme.
Mr Nissen is one of four students now in New Zealand from the International Business Academy (IBA) in Denmark gaining experience through working with local businesses. With a focus on international marketing and sales, he was keen to work as a marketing assistant in the small team environment of the Dunedin Fringe Festival.
‘‘Within a small organisation like the festival, I felt I was more likely to get into more departments and gain a wider range of experience,'' Mr Nissen said.
‘‘The festival is a completely different event to the music festivals I have experienced in Denmark and I'm enjoying the atmosphere.''
Brooke Lowry, who is working in sales and publicity for the Dunedin Fringe Festival, has come down from Auckland to study for a master of business at the University of Otago.
‘‘I wanted to gain some practical experience, and I have really learned a lot in the past few months,'' Miss Lowry said.
‘‘We're all getting stuck in and doing what needs to be done.
‘‘And as the festival gets closer, I'm really looking forward to getting out there on the front line and making it happen.''
Events assistant Lena Plaksina completed a degree in communication design at Otago Polytechnic last year, and is relishing the opportunity to put those skills to work on behalf of the festival.
‘‘It's great to be able get to use my skills and do some in›house design as well,'' Miss Plaksina said.
Dunedin Fringe Festival director Paul Smith said it was great to have the trio on board.
‘‘It has been really good to have them with us - they are enthusiastic and full of fresh ideas.''
Volunteers played a vital role in preparations and running the Dunedin Fringe Festival, with about 60 volunteers recruited each year to help.
• People interested in volunteering with the Dunedin Fringe Festival, which runs from March 13 to 23, are welcome to email volunteer co›ordinator Miriam Noonan at volunteer@dunedin fringe.org.nz or visit the website www.dunedinfringe.org.nz
