Dear COMD students, Below is a link to the Brooklyn Museum Internship application and a list of descriptions for the museum’s available positions, ranging from Curatorial to Exhibition Design and Retail. Applications are due July 14 at 11:59 pm EST.
The Brooklyn Museum Fall Internship is a part-time paid opportunity. Interns receive $17 per hour, and work 18 hours per week, from September 20–December 13, 2024. Selected interns will be paired with a supervisor and integrated into one of our departments, participating fully in day-to-day workplace activities and projects with the guidance of full-time staff members. In addition to gaining extensive work experience, they will also attend seminars that focus on the role of museums in society today and include intimate conversations with Museum staff.
LINK TO APPLICATION: https://form.jotform.com/241156001537143
Learn more about the Brooklyn Museum’s Internship Program here: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/education/adults/internships
Available Positions for the Fall:
Exhibition Design — The exhibition design department is responsible for the design process from planning through completion of the display of special exhibitions, collection galleries, and special projects. This process involves concept development and providing shops with construction documents to oversee art installation. The ideal candidate would be familiar with design programs such as Vector works and Rhino and have a desire to collaborate on a range of design projects, have excellent communication skills and be a creative thinker. This would be a valuable experience for anyone interested in being part of a creative team while developing important personal skills related to exhibition design.
Registrar — If you are interested in the theory and practice of museum work, then we offer the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience while exploring the intersection of museums, social justice, and technology. The intern will assist collections registrars and information specialists who work behind the scenes to steward the museum’s encyclopedic collection. Tasks involve digital record-keeping associated with the permanent collection, the processing of new acquisitions, and digital asset management, as well as physical paper file management for object and donor information. These projects will provide a solid introduction to registration work including professional museum standards for acquisition procedures, collection and information management, in addition to providing robust training in The Museum System database (TMS) and NetX digital asset management system; no prior experience with these programs is required. The ideal candidate is curious and open-minded, a self-directed learner, detail- and process-oriented, and capable of working independently as well as part of our team.
Retail— The intern will work closely with the Director of Retail & Merchandising Strategy to support the daily functions of the retail and food & beverage business. Responsibilities can range from helping source new products for the shop to developing and implementing new operational work streams. Ideal candidates are current or recent undergraduates with strong organizational skills and looking to pursue a career in business, fashion, merchandising, or marketing. Previous related coursework or related work experiences are a plus.
Arts of Africa, Asia, and the Islamic World — Working with the Curators and Curatorial Assistant, the intern will assist with research and organization for upcoming exhibitions and acquisitions, collections maintenance, and provide general departmental support. This internship might include aiding in fielding external and internal research inquiries; documentation of collection objects, including a digitization project for the Arts of Africa collection in anticipation of the upcoming reinstallation of the African galleries; work with records and checklists in The Museum System (TMS); participate in visits to object storage; and obtain experience working with other Museum departments. The ideal intern will have excellent organizational and communication skills, experience in art historical research methods, and a background and interest in critically engaging with the diverse needs and contexts across the three departments of Arts of Africa, Asia, and the Islamic World. It is encouraged that such work may also be informed by the Intern’s own areas of interest.
Art of the Americas (Hybrid)— Working directly with the Curator of Indigenous Art and the department curatorial assistants, the intern conducts research and outreach related to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and creates extensive reports summarizing and documenting museum work related to that legislation. Additionally, the intern may provide departmental support and conduct collection and provenance research if time allows. Ideal candidates have knowledge of NAGPRA; prior research experience; excellent communication and organizational skills, including meticulous attention to detail; a demonstrated commitment to Native American communities and/or Native American Art; and an interest in a museum career.
CONSERVATION (Onsite)— The intern will assist conservators on preventive conservation activities that could include working with environmental data, integrated pest management activities, making storage housings and containers for artworks, applying accession numbers, condition photography and performing minor treatments under supervision. This internship will serve as an introduction to the field of art conservation. The ideal candidate has an interest in science, art and loves working with their hands.
Contemporary Art— Working with the Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the Curatorial Assistant of Modern and Contemporary Art, the intern assists with research, planning, and organization for upcoming exhibitions and acquisitions, and provides general departmental support. Ideal candidates are current or recent undergraduates with strong organizational, research, and writing skills and an interest in contemporary art. Previous related coursework or related work experiences are a plus.
Decorative Arts and Design — Working with the Senior and Assistant Curators of Decorative Arts and Design, the intern will assist with research and the organization of two related cross-Collection projects being developed in honor of the Brooklyn Museum’s 200th anniversary. One will explore the history of the Museum and its collecting practices and the other considers creativity in Brooklyn and the way the borough has been shaped as an innovative, diverse, and provocative center of artistic production. Additionally, the intern will gain experience working with the Collection through collections reviews, researching new acquisitions and gallery rotations, building and organizing object and exhibition folders, assisting with writing gallery labels and provenance research, and performing administrative duties. Requirements include: superior research and writing abilities; excellent communication and organizational skills, including meticulous attention to detail; an interest in history, decorative arts, design, craft; and being a self-starter.
