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Art-related
internships are excellent ways to get valuable experience
in particular fields. They can be done during the semester
or the summer, for academic credit or (rarely) for a small
stipend. We have had students do internships at museums (especially
the Mississippi Museum of Art), arts administration agencies
(such as Arts Alliance and MS Arts Commission), advertising
agencies, graphic design businesses, magazines, and individual
artists' studios, among other sites. For further information
about some of the Jackson internship sites, and the requirements
for getting college credit, see this Millsaps
page. Even if a site you're interested in isn't listed
here, it's still often possible to make an arrangement to
do an internship there.
Internships
are also available outside of Jackson, although they are often
more competitive since students from a larger area might be
applying. We have had students do internships at museums in
Biloxi, Memphis, and Chattanooga and at Sotheby's in New York,
among other locations, so it's definitely worth trying!
Here are brief accounts by four of our students about their
internships:
Laine
Hendricks ('03, art history; Sotheby's, NY)
"As a rising senior art history major, I was interested
in exploring a career in the arts in New York City. My summer
internship with Sotheby's provided me with the opportunity
to learn about the auction market, meet fascinating and
knowledgeable experts, and live in the exciting city of
New York! Through my position in the Magnificent Jewelry
Department, I was able to meet with potential consignors
to explain the auction process to them, assist Administrators
and Specialists with daily matters, and work with the Vice-President
of the Salon Prive, a private sales jewelry department.
This experience was better than I could have imagined!"
Heather
Isbell ('03, art history; Dixon Gallery and Gardens,
Memphis)
"I consider my internship to be very valuable because
it gave me practical experience working in a museum setting.
From the offices of the Dixon Gallery I was able to see
the demands and rewards of working behind the scenes of
museum administration. I was also able to offer my own meaningful
contribution to the upcoming museum exhibition this fall
through the research projects I completed for the education
department."
Kate
Bruce ('04, studio and art history; Ohr-O'Keefe Museum
of Art)
"My internship with the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art was
an incredibly insightful experience. I was able to learn
about the organization of a regional museum, and had the
chance to participate in several outreach programs that
targeted elementary schools. I was also involved in the
planning of the new museum that is to be designed by architect
Frank Gehry, and that was great!"
Crystal
Helo ('03, studio; The Ad Agency, Byram)
"I have learned a lot in my internship with The Ad
Agency dealing with programs on the computer and the process
of how ads are made and put into production. This internship
has helped me see what I want to do for a career and has
given me a head start on experience. I worked on a few ads
and helped to develop a web page for the agency. Overall,
it was a wonderful experience."
Just
to get you started in your own search, here is some information
on internships taken from various websites, including a few
regional and national museums as well as several of the major
auction houses:
Museums
in the Southeast
High
Museum of Art, Atlanta
The High Museum of Art's internship program is available
to college students, recent college graduates, and high
school seniors. Interns at the High work a minimum of six
weeks (hours and schedule will be worked out by you and
your supervisor). All of our intern positions are unpaid,
but you are given many benefits of regular employees, such
as free admission to functions, discounts at our gift shops
and café, etc. To apply for an intern position, please
submit a resume and cover letter, along with the completed
Intern Application Form. Please make sure your resume is
as specific as possible, listing course work, previous experience,
knowledge of computer programs, etc. In your cover letter,
please identify three departments that you feel you would
be most interested in and most qualified for. Our Department
List will provide you with a brief description of each of
the museum's departments. For additional questions or comments,
please feel free to email
Bobbi Edmond. Please contact by email, fax or mail
resume, cover letter and application form to:
Bobbi
Edmond
Assistant to the Chair of Education/Internship Coordinator
High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
New
Orleans Museum of Art
The internship program at NOMA is designed to provide undergraduate
and graduate students from colleges and universities with
on-site training and work experience at the museum. Interns
will gain professional experience by working in at least
one of NOMA's four divisions: Administration, Curatorial,
Education, or Development. Emphasis is placed on gaining
practical work experience. Each intern is assigned a specific
project to complete, under the supervision of a NOMA staff
member. Interns are expected to assume professional responsibilities
and demonstrate individual initiative. They will be assigned
specialized duties and contribute at an important level
in the museum. Supervisors offer thorough training, guidance,
and evaluation. Although internships at NOMA are unpaid,
most interns receive academic credit. Entry into the Internship
program at NOMA is competitive. All applicants must submit
the following information: a current résumé,
a letter of recommendation from a professor or supervisor,
a writing sample, transcripts of university coursework.
For further information, please call the Curator of Education
at 504-483-2797.
North
Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh
Internships for college credits are available throughout
the Museum.
Call (919) 839-6262, ext. 2143 for information.
Kimbell
Art Museum, Fort Worth
The Kimbell Art Museum offers several volunteer internships
in the education department and in the slide library during
the academic year and also summer months, according to the
needs of the Museum. The internship provides an opportunity
for the student to gain exposure to museum practice and
programs. Interns assist with various administrative and
research projects, including education workshops and resources;
and assisting in the slide library with photography, mounting
slides, and digital imaging. Preference is given to art
history, art education, and studio art majors; a personal
interview is required. Applications for internships during
the school year and summer months will be accepted no later
than the following dates (early applications are encouraged).
Fall internship application deadline August 15; Spring internship
application deadline December 15; Summer internship application
deadline April 1.
Print the internship application form with your browser.
Send the completed form with a cover letter describing your
abilities, interests, and career goals. By Fax: 817-877-1264
or By mail: Education Department, Kimbell Art Museum, 3333
Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76110.
If you have questions, please contact the Education Coordinator
at connieh@kimbellmuseum.org.
Major
National Museums
Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York
Museum
of Modern Art, New York
Hirshhorn
Museum, Washington
Each year a number of undergraduate and graduate internships
are available at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Internships are offered during the summer, spring, and fall/winter
semesters, and academic credit may be arranged through the
intern's school. While internships are unpaid appointments,
they provide an excellent foundation for future museum work
or art-related careers. Interns work extensively within
specific departments, as well as interacting with professionals
in every area of the museum, learning how various departments
realize particular and common goals. Today many of our former
interns are curators, educators, public affairs officers,
and conservators at national and international museums.
Departments
that offer internships, and typical duties of interns:
- Curatorial
Division (Assist with research related to the permanent
collection or temporary exhibitions; may provide editorial
assistance on publications)
-
Education Department (Assist with special projects, such
as symposia and festivals; may lead tours of the permanent
collection and temporary exhibitions)
- Exhibition
and Design Department (Assist with exhibition installation,
graphic design, and/or publications)
- Conservation
Department (Learn about modern and contemporary materials
in the Lab; summer interns also assist conservators in
treating outdoor sculptures; Applicants must have appropriate
conservation training and prior approval from the department
Chief)
- Public
Affairs (Prepare and distribute press materials and interact
with members of the press at exhibition press previews;
may write public service announcements for radio and television;
Applicants will preferably have a background in English
or journalism, as well as a working knowledge of art and
art history)
- Other
opportunities: Registration and collections management,
documenting and photographing the collection and exhibitions,
and a variety of library projects.
Applicants
should have 15 semester hours of art history or equivalent
academic preparation, with a grade point average of 3.25
for undergraduates and 3.5 for graduate students. A specialization
in modern and contemporary art history is helpful. Applicants
must submit an application packet by the following deadlines:
November 1 for spring internship; March 1 for summer internship;
June 1 for fall internship.
The
following materials should be included in an application
packet:
- A
brief statement listing specific reasons for desiring
an internship, including areas of greatest interest
- Three
letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with
the applicant's academic qualifications
- Official
college or graduate transcripts
- A
resume detailing prior academic and work experience
- The
applicant's citizenship, social security number, and date
and place of birth.
Send
applications to:
Intern
Coordinator
Smithsonian Institution
PO Box 37012
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
MRC Code 350
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Notification
of selection will be mailed to applicants approximately
30 days after the deadline. For more information, please
write, or email.
Corcoran
Museum of Art, Washington
The Corcoran Gallery of Art offers internships for graduate
AND undergraduate students. Based on a program of supervised
learning, Corcoran internships provide students with an
opportunity to learn about museum operations and to pursue
academic and professional goals. Possible department placements
include: Curatorial for American Art, Curatorial for Photography/Media
Arts, Education, Curatorial for Prints and Drawings, Curatorial
for Contemporary Art, Curatorial for European Art, Registrars,
Public Programs, Public Affairs, Graphics, Development,
WPA/Corcoran.
Summer Internships: From early June through mid-August,
the Corcoran sponsors a ten-week internship program. This
program is open to juniors or seniors in college, and students
between academic degree programs. The summer internship
program is explicitly geared toward those students who are
interested in gaining firsthand museum experience or intend
to pursue careers in arts administration. Weekly "brown
bag" lunch meetings with Corcoran department heads
offer interns the chance to gather information about all
facets of the museum and to learn about the backgrounds
of seasoned and successful museum professionals. Interns
also visit other Washington arts and humanities institutions
to view special exhibitions, tour permanent collections,
and meet with museum professionals. Corcoran staff consider
interns' personal interests, capabilities, and future career
plans before assigning them to individual departments. Summer
interns maintain regular staff hours, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm,
Monday through Friday. Interns must arrange to receive academic
credit from their respective institutions. The deadline
for submitting an application for a summer internship is
March 15. For more information, contact Sarah Loffman, Coordinator
of Education Programs, at 202.639.1725, or via e-mail at interns@corcoran.org.
To apply, send a resume, transcript, 2 letters of recommendation,
a cover letter listing your 3 department placement preferences
and stating your reasons for wanting to participate in the
Corcoran's internship program. Explain how such an experience
will help to further your education and career plans. Since
your letter serves in place of a personal interview, please
outline your abilities, interests, and career goals. Send
all application materials to Coordinator of Education Programs,
The Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street, NW, Washington,
DC 20006. Please do NOT send applications by fax or email
for this internship!
National
Gallery, Washington
Preference is given to graduate students.
Philadelphia
Museum of Art
Museum Studies Internship Program, June 7 - August 6, 2004
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a leader in the training
and mentoring of young museum professionals and future museum
colleagues. The Museum Studies Internship Program provides
interns with exposure to the inner workings of a major metropolitan
museum, promoting an awareness of museum careers through
experiences not available in most academic settings. The
Museum selects a diverse group of talented undergraduate
and graduate students from a highly competitive regional,
national and international pool of candidates. The Museum
Studies Internship Program offers Volunteer Internships
each summer. Candidates must have completed their sophomore
year by the spring of 2004. The Program runs Monday through
Friday for nine weeks. Interns participate in a Museum Studies
curriculum including collection tours with curators, departmental
orientations, field trips and seminars, which take place
on Mondays. Tuesdays through Fridays are spent in departmental
placements. Administrative and Curatorial Department Interns
are placed according to departmental needs that vary from
year to year. In past summers, Administrative placements
have included the following departments: Development, External
Affairs, Library, Marketing and Public Relations, and the
Registrar. Curatorial Departments requesting interns have
included Costume and Textiles, European Painting, Indian
and Himalayan Art, and Modern and Contemporary Art. Education
placements are made in two divisions: public programs for
adults and college students or programs for youth and family.
Assignments range from administrative support and research
to teaching children. The Museum Studies Internship is an
unpaid, volunteer internship. Students are encouraged to
ask their respective schools about the process for receiving
academic credit and the availability of funding for internships
at nonprofit institutions. All applicants must submit the
following materials: application; official academic transcript;
two letters of recommendation from college professors; resume;
and a one page essay describing the candidate's interest
in the internship, skills that would contribute to the program,
and career goals. All materials need to be received by February
20, 2004. Applications will be reviewed by the Summer Internship
Advisory Committee. Finalists selected will be invited for
interviews in person or by telephone. Applicants accepted
will be notified by April 23, 2004.
Art
Institute, Chicago
Internships are offered by the Art Institute's many departments
throughout the year and enable students to gain first-hand
experience in their areas of interest or study. Interns,
working under the guidance of curators or department heads,
assist in routine departmental work that ranges from special
projects and research to clerical support. Interns are junior-
or senior-level college students, or graduate students.
A major in art history or fine art is not essential. Internships
vary from department to department; a majority of internships
are offered unpaid of for academic credit. Students are
responsible for making appropriate arrangements with their
schools to receive credit for internships. Hours vary and
are flexible; however, a minimum of 14 hours per week is
generally expected. Students must be earning academic credit
at the time of the internship.
The following departments often offer internships. Accounting,African
and Amerindian Art, American Art, Architecture, Archives,
Asian Art, Conservation, Design & Construction, Development,
Energy and Facilities Planning, European Decorative Arts,
European Painting, Human Resources, Imaging, Installation
and Packing, Modern and Contemporary Art, Museum Education,
Museum Registration, Operations, Prints & Drawings,
Public Affairs, Purchasing, Ryerson/Burnham Library, Video
Data Bank, Student Affairs. Application deadlines: Spring-November
15, 2003; Summer-March 15, 2004; Fall-July 15, 2004. To
apply for an internship, please submit the following: resume,
cover letter, and application. Positions may be available
in other areas depending on departmental needs. If you
are
selected as a candidate for a potential internship, we
will call you to schedule an in-person or telephone interview.
Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements.
As part of the consideration process, you must also fill
out an application which may be downloaded as a .pdf file
from this site. A letter of interest, and a resume are
required
in addition to the application. Please print and fill out
the form and send it along with your resume and cover letter
to the address listed below. Please include the department
you are applying to in your cover letter. Housing arrangements
are not provided for interns. It is the intern's responsibility
to find his/her own housing. However, we do have dorm rentals
for summer interns. Contact the School of the Art Institute's
Department of Student Life at (312) 899-7460 for more information.
Submit
application materials to The Art Institute of Chicago, Internship
Program, 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60603-6110,
or send an email to aic.jobs@artic.edu.
Auction
Houses
(information from Princeton Review)
Sotheby's,
New York
Approximate applicant pool: 250-300; Interns accepted: 40-50
Compensation: None
Eligibility: college juniors and seniors
Duration: 8 weeks: Mid-June through Mid-August
The Work: Founded in 1744 so British citizens could exchange
property without the burden of face-to-face bargaining,
Sotheby's today is known the world over as the place to
sell property of great value and interest. Recent Sotheby's
auctions have featured the Duchess of Windsor's jewelry
collection, Andy Warhol's art collection, and paintings
by Georgia O'Keefe. Interns are placed either in a business
department like the Press Office, Graphic, or Marketing,
or in one of thirty-three expert departments like American
Paintings or Chinese Works of Art. Every Tuesday, interns
attend two-hour lectures to learn more about the business
side of an auction house and the expert departments. Interns
are assigned a mentor outside of the department they are
interning in. Three parties are thrown throughout the summer
exclusively for the interns
To Apply: Submit introductory letter and resume with a request
for an application. Deadlines: Summer: 3/1
Internship Coordinator; Sotheby's Inc., Human Resources,
1334 York Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10021, (212) 606-7000
Christie's,
New York & Los Angeles
20 interns accepted-19 in New York Rockefeller Plaza location
and 1 in Los Angeles Regional Office
Compensation: NY or CA state minimum wage
Duration: September-December; January-May; June-August
The Work: Christie's is the world's oldest fine arts auctioneer,
selling paintings, furnishings, and decorative arts since
James Christie, the founder, held his first sale in 1766.
Christie's has been in the news recently for reportedly
overcharging its customers along with rival auction house
Sotheby's; the chairmen of both firms were formally indicted
in mid-2001. Fall and spring interns may work up to three
full days per week, or 24 hours per week maximum. Summer
interns must work Monday-Friday, 9-5. Applicants should
have: background in art history or decorative arts, knowledge
of foreign language(s), genuine interest in the art world,
and motivated attitude. Deadlines: Summer: 2/14; Fall: 4/4;
Spring: 11/1
To Apply: Please send resume and cover letter to: Sara Fox,
Christie's, Human Resources, Internship Program, 20 Rockefeller
Plaza, New York, NY 10020, sfox@christies.com
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