Association of Research Institutes in Art History – Careers in Art History Internships

Deadline for Applications: Friday, February 26, 2021

Program Dates: March 29 – April 30, 2021

The Association of Research Institutes in Art History (ARIAH) is offering paid professional development internships for up to 20 students and recent graduates interested in careers at art museums and art history research centers. The internships will be virtual and participants will commit from 10 to 12 hours per week for a period of four weeks

You are encouraged to apply if you are an undergraduate student currently enrolled at an educational institution in the USA, Canada, or Mexico, or a recent graduate (within one year) and interested in learning more about how museums work. We seek applicants from all disciplines, concentrations, and backgrounds, particularly those who have not previously held internships at arts-related institutions. You do not need to have prior museum experience to apply.

The following ARIAH institutions are participating in the spring 2021 Careers in Art History Internship Program: Canadian Centre for Architecture; Center for Creative Photography; Clark Art Institute; The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; The Phillips Collection; Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery; and The Wolfsonian–Florida International University (FIU).

Program Details

The internships will last for four weeks and participation will be fully remote via Zoom

The program dates are Monday, March 29 – Friday, April 30, 2021. There will be a one-week break from April 12 through April 16

Zoom meetings will be held Mondays through Fridays for two (2) hours each day (exact time TBD). It is expected that participants will attend all or most Zoom calls.

Participants will be hosted by a different institution each week. The internships will provide practical and theoretical training in a variety of professional practices that will be useful not only in the field of art history but also museum studies, conservation, history, and architecture, with the aim of making these skills transferable to other pursuits as well.

Interns will learn about the different professional pathways available at art museums and research centers, including:

curatorial practice and exhibitions
collections management
art conservation
social media outreach
oral history
public relations
archives, libraries, and associated practices
research programs
digital and print publications

All interns will be assigned a mentor for the duration of their internship. At the end of the internship, a career development and résumé-writing workshop will be provided, and all interns will make a brief presentation on a project they completed.

Stipend

Interns will receive a stipend of US $1,300.

Eligibility

This program is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled at educational institutions in the USA, Canada, or Mexico; students who are on pause from coursework while enrolled in an academic program; and recent graduates (within one year) based in the USA, Canada, or Mexico. (Please note: The program and conversations will be conducted in English.) Eligible institutions include two-year colleges, four-year colleges/universities, professional, technical, vocational, and trade schools, advanced degree programs, or other educational institutions offering qualifying degrees or certificates.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online (Google account required) and include a résumé (maximum 2 pages) detailing educational background and work/volunteer experience (if any), and contact information for one reference who will be contacted for shortlisted candidates. References should be able to speak to the applicant’s academic abilities and interests.

Contact

Submit any queries to ariahinternships@gmail.com