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Interns
Internships at the NCMA provide opportunities to become familiar with and actively contribute to the inner workings of an art museum. They offer a challenging learning experience and promote awareness of museum careers. Students gain valuable experience working at the Museum and may be able to earn educational credits for their work.
DEADLINES
June 15 for Fall Semester
October 1 for Spring Semester
March 1 for Summer Semester
ELIGIBILITY
College students, recent graduates, graduate students, and nontraditional students are encouraged to apply. Although it is not generally required that interns have an art or art history major, Museum departments may individualize their requirements. Eligibility varies for each internship term.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Send your application to internships@ncartmuseum.org. Be sure your submission includes all of the following:
- Cover letter, including your first and second Museum department preferences. If two departments are not listed, you will be considered for only one department. If you are open to any available internships, please make note of that as well, as it will provide more opportunities for you.
- Up-to-date résumé.
- Two letters of recommendation, preferably from a professor or professional reference. Allow ample time to request letters. Individuals selected as your references can send their letters directly to internships@ncartmuseum.org.
- Transcript of undergraduate or graduate records. Official or unofficial transcripts are accepted. Applicants must have a 2.8 average on a 4.0 scale.
You must include all the above items. If any are missing, you will not be considered for that internship. You will receive an email confirmation of receipt of your complete application. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
REVIEW PROCESS
Once the deadline has passed, Museum staff members review application materials. Finalists are contacted for interviews within about six weeks after the deadline. Final decisions are typically made within one month after that.
The number and frequency of internships available varies. A department may be unable to offer an internship for a particular semester, for varying reasons, even after an opening has been posted. You will be notified if your chosen department is not able to offer an internship.
TIME REQUIREMENTS
Interns must be available to work from 10 to 32 hours per week with flexible schedules. Refer to the individual department descriptions for hourly commitments.
ACADEMIC CREDIT
Some colleges give credit for internships. Students are responsible for arranging with their schools to receive credit. Internships are unpaid.
Internship Opportunities
Available spring only
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be juniors, seniors, or graduate students with a major in one of the following ancient art specialties:
1. Classical art or archaeology with an interest in Egyptology
OR
2. Ancient American art or archaeology interest in Andean material culture
TIME COMMITMENT
One semester, with flexible schedule, 10–20 hours per week
RESPONSIBILITIES
Dependent upon academic background, interests, and talents of the intern. Will include some or all of the following:
- Research and write on objects in the Museum’s collection and potential acquisitions.
- Research and provide other substantive assistance related to planning special exhibitions and permanent collection installations.
- Create a “virtual exhibition” for a blog post.
- Assist with ongoing ancient art–related publication or conservation projects.
Available fall, spring, and summer
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be juniors, seniors, or graduate students with a major in one of the following art specialties:
1. Art history with an interest in modern and contemporary art. Knowledge of global arts, post-1980s, desirable.
OR
2. Museum studies with an interest in curatorial projects.
TIME COMMITMENT
One semester, with flexible schedule, 10–20 hours per week
RESPONSIBILITIES
Dependent upon academic background, interests, and talents of the intern. Will include some or all of the following:
- Research and write on objects in the Museum’s collection and potential acquisitions
- Research and provide other substantive assistance related to planning special exhibitions and permanent collection installations
- Exhibition development for smaller, permanent collection-based exhibitions
- Additional research and writing needs as requested
Available fall, spring, and summer
DESCRIPTION
Are you interested in finding out what happens behind the scenes at the NCMA? The Registration Department has principal oversight of the permanent collection and provides crucial back-of-house support for a dynamic changing exhibition schedule.
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be juniors, seniors, or graduate students. Computer skills are necessary, including Windows Office, especially Word and Excel. Collections database experience is a plus.
TIME COMMITMENT
One semester, with flexible schedule, 10–15 hours per week
RESPONSIBILITIES
Dependent upon academic background, interests, and talents of the intern. May include some or all of the following:
- Assist with processing of forms related to loans and exhibitions such as receipts, loan agreements, condition report forms.
- Be a part of the exhibitions team during installation/deinstallation in the galleries.
- Assist with annual inventory of the NCMA collection, including updating the collections database locations (summer only).
- Provide support on other projects as needed.
Available fall, spring, and summer
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have completed their freshman year of college with coursework in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, or related study. Writing and social media experience is extremely beneficial.
TIME COMMITMENT
One semester, with flexible schedule, 20 hours per week
RESPONSIBILITIES
Dependent upon academic background, interests, and talents of the intern. Will include some or all of the following:
- Write news releases about Museum exhibitions, educational programs, and performing arts events.
- Brainstorm ideas and write blog posts for Circa, the NCMA blog.
- Assist with the distribution of press kits and related materials.
- Locate and record press clips.
- Assist with writing and distribution of promotional materials such as flyers, posters, digital graphics, and brochures.
- Manage and develop promotions for Museum exhibitions and events.
- Marketing and communications-related research projects.
- Develop content and strategy for organic and paid posts and long-form content for Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
- Build community and media lists.
Internship period runs May 7–August 8
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have completed their freshman year of college. Driver’s license and reliable and clean transportation a necessity. We reimburse for gas and mileage.
TIME COMMITMENT
A typical concert day begins at 10 am and ends about 1 am. We offer some flexibility, as long as you are available to work a minimum of 10 hours on those days.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Operating very simple technical/lighting equipment and being available for concert prep on afternoons and concert days and nights.
- Providing transportation for musicians to and from airport and running errands with or for them or their crew.
- On show days: remaining flexible regarding periods of less activity but also being ready to jump when given a task. Being 100% reliable no matter what the activity level.
- Remaining calm and maintaining a level head and positive attitude through occasional stressful moments.
- Some light physical labor with setting up merchandise goods, lights, chairs, table. You will have stage labor and staff help available to you for this.
- Driving a golf cart/gator. Very simple, low speed. We train you.
- Coordinating with volunteers to make sure they have guest lists and other items.
- Communicating with Box Office.
- Marketing: live tweeting and building our twitter following/account. Telling the story of our venue and audience experience. Possibly distributing fliers and developing guerrilla marketing and social media strategies. (We especially want to focus on gaining customer testimonials and photos/Instagram videos following events. Sometimes, the best marketing happens after the event ends.)
- Evaluating customer comments from our post-event surveys and making recommendations for the future.
- Attending some event planning meetings with Box Office, Security, Catering, Marketing, and Housekeeping teams.
- Grocery and supply shopping for bands on the days prior to show days.
- Assistance with Green Room and dressing room setup and cleanup. Assistance with general hospitality: being a good, friendly, calm, and trustworthy host.
- Sometimes selling merch for artists if you have prior retail experience and are interested (this is paid by our visiting artists).
- Some filing, data entry, and additional administrative tasks. Can be done from home.
- Assisting with Green Team initiative and developing other sustainability improvements.
- Community inreach/outreach; possibly visiting with community advisors to help make our events genuinely welcoming to all visitors.
- Any special projects that you would like to propose.
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Sign Up“My internship with the NCMA provided me with practical curatorial training and broadened my knowledge of the inner workings of an art museum. I loved my time there—thank you!"
—Kyle Canter, Curatorial Intern, Fall 2018–Spring 2019
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