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Image: Cali Stuckey, Outreach and Audience Engagement Intern

Deadlines

August 15 for fall semester (September 6–November 10)
December 15 for spring semester (February 7–April 12)
April 15 for summer semester (June 5–August 9)

The NCMA offers an on-site internship program with the possibility of occasional remote work. We are excited to give you the opportunity to have an NCMA staff mentor, docent support, and a cohort of intern peers from colleges in North Carolina and beyond.

While you are learning and supporting the NCMA, you’ll participate in enrichment activities that may include presentations from staff in departments across the Museum. You’ll also go on tours of the galleries and conservation lab. On-site activities listed in the department-specific descriptions will be modified at the discretion of internship supervisors. Your internship culminates in a presentation for staff and other interns. Internships are currently unpaid unless noted in specific departmental descriptions.

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 

APPLY HERE 

Please email internships@ncartmuseum.org with any questions. 

  • 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.
    References: SUBMIT HERE
  • 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 of the above items. If any are missing, you will not be considered for an 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 frequency and number 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 Requirement 

Interns must be available to work approximately 15 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. Select internships for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are available as paid opportunities; please see specific internship descriptions.

Summer 2024 Internships

College Events

TIME COMMITMENT
10–15 hours per week, flexible schedule on-site, must be able to work some weekends or after hours (after 5 pm) for events

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Work alongside NCMA staff to help prepare for college events, create your own research project while interning at the Museum, and learn about Museum procedures from ideation to execution in outreach and event planning.
  • Assist in planning and communicating proactively for college events.
  • Attend weekly meetings to discuss Museum programming, brainstorm ideas, and check in with other interdepartmental managers.
  • Assist during college events to facilitate event setup, transitions, and cleanup.
  • Participate in internship cohorts and learn from other Museum departments about their operations.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Current college or university student interested in event planning, audience engagement, outreach, museum studies, arts programming, arts entrepreneurship, or art history
  • Experience with event planning and research skills
  • Good written and oral communication skills
Curatorial: Ancient Collections

TIME COMMITMENT
10–20 hours per week, flexible schedule

RESPONSIBILITIES
Dependent upon academic background, interests, and talents of the intern. Will include some or all of the following:

  • Assist with provenance research and other tasks related to the forthcoming catalogue on the ancient Greek, Italian, and Roman collections.
  • Experience the exhibition creation process of one of the fall 2024 shows
  • Research and provide other assistance related to planning special exhibitions.
  • Assist with additional research and writing needs as requested.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicants must be seniors or graduate students with a major in one of the following specialties: 1) Classics, archaeology, or art history, with an interest in ancient Greece, Italy, and Rome; or 2) museum studies, with an interest in curatorial projects.
  • Applicants must have great research and writing skills and be detail oriented.
Curatorial: 20th-Century and Contemporary Art

TIME COMMITMENT
10–20 hours per week, flexible schedule

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 on potential acquisitions.
  • Research and provide other substantive assistance related to planning special exhibitions and collection installations.
  • Help with exhibition development for smaller, collection-based exhibitions.
  • Assist with additional research and writing needs as requested.

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 20th-century and contemporary art; knowledge of post-2000 global arts desirable, or 2) museum studies, with an interest in curatorial projects.

Education: Digital Learning

Collaborate with educators to develop educational resources to engage the public digitally through the Museum’s award-winning educational website NCMA Learn. Work closely with the education team through video communications and collaborate in online spaces to develop culturally responsive digital content for around 10–20 works of art for students ages 12+, educators, and caregivers. This internship is offered virtually or hybrid, occasionally working on-site.

TIME COMMITMENT
15–20 hours per week

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Develop content for 10–20 works of art using a provided template and curatorial notes. Research supporting resources for students and teachers around these works.
  • Create supplemental resources to engage K–12 learners with those 10–20 works (quick tips, blog posts, activities, etc.).
  • Assist the education team in analyzing data to inform future development.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Collaborative skills working virtually. We will collaborate mostly in Google docs, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.
  • Strong writing skills using clear, concise language that is not overly academic. We aim for education content to be at an 8th grade reading level on the Flesch Reading Ease Formula.
  • Experience with research databases and vetting sources.
Education: Summer Camp

TIME COMMITMENT
15–20 hours per week

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Assist with NCMA summer camps.
  • Collaborate with camp assistants, instructors, volunteers, and NCMA education staff to assist with lessons and games to promote camper engagement.
  • Assist managing campers (ages 6–12) throughout the day (inside the Museum as well as outdoors) and provide support for instructors with preparation and organization of materials.

REQUIREMENTS
Previous experience working with children and a background in art or outdoor recreation is preferred.

Graphic Design

TIME COMMITMENT
10–20 hours per week, primarily on-site with some remote work possible

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Work alongside the NCMA’s publications team within the Marketing and Communications Department. Design print and digital materials across departments such as education, marketing, programs, performing arts, and more.
  • Learn about the different design roles withing the publications team and in other areas of the Museum.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Graphic design major
  • Interest in print and digital design
  • Familiarity with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator
  • Canva, illustration, and animation experience a plus
Outreach: NCMA AIM Program (PAID)

The goal of this internship is to provide learning and mentorship opportunities for college students across North Carolina pursuing degrees in studio art, arts management, or arts education. Students who are interested in working with local practicing artists in rural communities statewide will benefit from guiding and teaching local youth in a classroom or group studio setting. AIM seeks to give college students an opportunity to work alongside local artists and explore their own interests in artmaking with middle school students. In addition to developing leadership and instructional skills, the intern in this position will assume a mentorship role by sharing their college experiences to inspire the sense that a career in art is a possible path for young people.

TIME COMMITMENT

  • This is a short-term part-time position that pays $15/hour for approximately 15 hours per week during active residencies.
  • Hours are determined by residency but fall primarily between 3:30 and 5 pm twice a week.
  • Intern assists teaching artists in afterschool programs during six-week residencies in select counties across North Carolina.
  • Must be within a 30-minute drive of residency location and have access to reliable transportation.
  • Currently recruiting in Elizabeth City (Pasquotank County), Windsor (Bertie County), Murphy (Cherokee County), Asheboro (Randolph County), Monroe (Union County), Jacksonville (Onslow County), Hickory (Catawba County), and Mooresville (Iredell County).

Please apply! We may be coming to an area near you!

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Travel as needed and record of all program mileage.
  • Maintain active communication with NCMA staff and the teaching artist to understand timelines and program goals.
  • Participate in collaborative studio practices including class setup and cleanup and following all necessary safety procedures.
  • Participate in creative brainstorming, problem-solving. and artmaking.
  • Express cultural sensitivity and appreciation for diverse youth of rural communities.
  • Engage in appropriate and meaningful conversations and mentorship with participating youth to encourage and educate.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Currently pursuing degree in studio art, arts education, arts management, or related field in AFA, BA, BFA, MA, or MFA program
  • Display strong interest in working with and educating middle school–aged youth to inspire creativity and innovative problem-solving
  • Possess attitude of empathy, inclusion, and understanding
  • Be responsible, with ability to remain flexible and dedicated to program
  • Have experience with or is seeking to develop lesson-planning and teaching techniques in a classroom studio setting.
  • Undergo background check before working with youth
Registration

TIME COMMITMENT
10–15 hours per week, flexible schedule

RESPONSIBILITIES
Are you interested in finding out what happens behind the scenes at the NCMA? The registration team has principal oversight of the permanent collection and provides crucial back-of-house support for a dynamic changing exhibition schedule. Dependent upon academic background, interests, and talents of the intern, responsibilities may include some or all of the following:

  • Be a part of the exhibitions team during the installation/deinstallation periods in the galleries.
  • Assist with processing of forms related to loans and exhibitions such as receipts, loan agreements, and condition report forms.
  • Assist with annual inventory of the NCMA collection, including updating collections database locations (SUMMER ONLY).
  • Continue the indexing of files related to previous bequests to the NCMA. Help with reorganizing and rehousing file contents.

REQUIREMENTS
Applicants should be undergraduate or graduate students with a background in art history, history, museum studies, or library science. Familiarity with Excel, good written and verbal communication skills, and good attention to detail are a plus.

Teen Events

TIME COMMITMENT
3–5 hours per week, flexible schedule on-site, must be able to work some weekends or after hours (after 5 pm) for events

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Work alongside NCMA staff to help prepare for teen events, do your own research project advised by one of our staff members, and learn about Museum procedures from ideation to execution in outreach and event planning.
  • Assist in planning for teen events.
  • Attend weekly meetings to discuss Museum programming, brainstorm ideas, and check in with other department managers.
  • Assist during teen events to facilitate event setup, transitions, and cleanup.
  • Participate in internship cohorts and learn from other museum departments about their operations.

REQUIREMENTS

  • High school student interested in art, event planning, audience engagement, outreach, museum studies, arts programming, arts entrepreneurship, or art history.
  • Responsible and organized
  • Good communication skills
Video Production

TIME COMMITMENT
10–15 hours per week, flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends

RESPONSIBILITIES
Will include some or all of the following:

  • Research and analyze industry-wide museum standards for video marketing.
  • Create and produce video for ongoing series.
  • Archive VHS videos into digital format.
  • Conceive, create, and complete a project of applicant’s choosing.
  • Assist with live video production during concerts.

REQUIREMENTS
Applicant must provide a link to a demo reel within the cover letter and must be a college first-year, sophomore, junior, or senior.

Visitor Experience and Retail Hospitality

TIME COMMITMENT
15 hours per week, combination of on-site and remote

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Create and update documents to share with visitors.
  • Attend Park tours.
  • Serve at the Welcome Center during open hours.
  • Assist with retail management.
  • Create visitor statistics and record data.
  • Research retail and service standards at other museums and parks across North Carolina.
  • Report to the Director of Visitor and Retail Experience.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Ideal opportunity for a hospitality or parks and recreation major.
  • Willingness to serve on weekends
  • Strong interest in hospitality and welcoming strategies

HBCU/MIHE Paid Summer Internships 2024

These internships occur at the North Carolina Museum of Art but to apply, please visit DNCR’s application page.
Deadline for summer 2024: January 8
HBCU Conservation Summer Intern

It is important to note that this internship opportunity is only for students who are seriously interested in and/or pursuing preservation or art conservation as a profession. Consideration will also be given to those more broadly interested in museum studies. Graduate level preferred, undergraduate will be considered. Art conservation studies, museum studies, preservation studies (cultural heritage), art, art history, and science

Project objective
To provide a collaborative situation in which the prospective student learns and gains experience in all facets of art preservation, restoration, and research. The student also contributes to the daily work and responsibilities of the museum’s Conservation department.

Major tasks to be performed

  • Assist conservators in the conservation and preservation of artworks as appropriate for the skills and experience of the intern.
  • Undertake one significant conservation project on their own as appropriate for the skills and experience of the intern with the full oversight of department staff.
  • Take part in all Conservation Department work, responsibilities, and initiatives to the extent possible.

Knowledge to be gained by intern

  • Experience all facets of art preservation, restoration, and research and gain insight into the daily work and responsibilities of a museum conservator.
  • Assist conservators in examination of works of art, which may include using microscopes, x-radiography, infrared reflectography, and other analytic techniques, and in preparation of digital images.
  • Possibly assist in the installation and/or deinstallation of temporary exhibitions.
  • Possibly assist with maintenance of outdoor sculpture.
  • Possibly assist the conservation coordinator in conservation documentation and in database management.
HBCU NCMA Graphic Design Internship

Project objective
Work alongside the NCMA’s publications team within the Marketing Department. Design print and digital materials for departments such as Education, Marketing, Programs, Performing Arts, and more. Learn about the different design roles within the publications team and in other areas of the Museum.

Major tasks to be performed
Utilize Adobe Creative Cloud software to design print and digital materials across departments.

Knowledge to be gained by intern

  • Design education and program materials in NCMA house brand.
  • Design a set of house-brand elements such as background patterns.
  • Assess Museum’s use of Canva for social media graphics.
  • Assist in development of fall exhibition branding.
HBCU Digital and Visual Resources Internship

Project objective
This internship is ideal for those interested in general museum studies, digitization practices and standards, and imaging workflows within the cultural heritage field.

Major tasks to be performed
This internship involves digitizing assets from the NCMA’s archive of analog transmissive materials for inclusion in the Museum’s digital asset management system (DAMS) and collection management system (CMS). Using scanners and cameras, the successful candidate will gain experience in digitizing large material sets as well as assessing and refining digitization workflows and best practices.

  • Contribute to creation and assessment of imaging workflows.
  • Gain experience in digital asset management within a GLAM environment.

Knowledge to be gained by intern
This internship is under the supervision of the manager of digital imaging but will have adjacencies with the Registration, Curatorial, Conservation, Education, and Marketing and Communications departments.

  • Use camera/scanner to digitize NCMA historical transmissive materials (slides/transparencies/negatives).
  • Use software to process image files and create appropriate derivative files.
  • Apply metadata to digitized files and upload to the NCMA’s digital asset management system.
  • Maintain and troubleshoot equipment and workflows.
HBCU Communications and Marketing Internship

Project objective
The marketing intern gains hands-on knowledge of PR and marketing efforts within the Museum, working alongside the digital marketing team.

Major tasks to be performed
Ongoing community and/or press outreach in support of brand and/or exhibition marketing plans.

Knowledge to be gained by intern
In addition to that spent on ongoing projects, time is allocated to learn from each team within the Marketing Department – editorial, graphic design, photography, videography, and digital marketing.

Overall insight into marketing and communications development for a cultural arts organization as well as team workflows, campaign building strategies, audience outreach, and brand development.

Exhibition marketing and PR

  • Draft press releases about upcoming Museum exhibitions, educational programs, and/or performing arts events.
  • Collaborate on the creation of Media Day, to include press outreach, attendee confirmation, and press packet creation.
  • Locate and record press clippings for ongoing Marketing reports.
  • Update media lists and post upcoming events on community event calendars.
  • Conduct relationship outreach with community partners and/or influencers.

Organic content creation

  • Support social media content development for organic and paid posts for X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram.
  • Monitor engagement and schedule posts.
  • Assist with writing and distributing promotional materials such as flyers, posters, digital graphics, and brochures.
  • Review website content and align to site map.

Ongoing brand marketing

  • Set up Google alerts and pull social media analytics for reporting.
  • Optimize and update branded social platforms.
  • Conduct marketing and communications–related research projects in support of creative briefs.
  • Take on additional responsibilities as needed.
Museum Educator Internship

Project objective
This internship is for observing and practicing skills needed for future work in our Education Department. The most immediate opportunity for contracted work is assisting with summer camps. Additional opportunities include supporting education outreach and teacher professional development throughout the school year. This internship fosters relationships with students from Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions of Higher Education (MIHE), giving them the networking and training opportunities for careers in museum education, digital learning, and arts management.

Job description: The intern works closely with the director of education and the education team, learning about different aspects of museum education. The intern writes education content and assists in a variety of education programs: camps, teacher professional development, online resources, and tours. This position collaborates with Education Department staff and a small team of digital learning interns in developing education content for the Museum’s award-winning educational website NCMA Learn (learn.ncartmuseum.org). In the second half of the internship, the intern begins to specialize in one program area to hone skills for future contract opportunities.

Major tasks to be performed

  • Assist with camp drop-off and pickup and train under veteran teacher assistants.
  • Research five to ten works of art to write bulleted key ideas and resources for students and teachers using a provided template and curatorial notes.
  • Support the Summer Teacher Institute, engaging with K–12 teachers across NC.
  • Support new docent training.
  • In collaboration with the director of education, develop a small independent project as experience is gained to showcase learning in one area of museum education.
  • Reflect and share lessons learned throughout the summer with other interns and staff.
  • Participate in optional opportunities for additional professional development (NCMA intern programming, related ed team/staff meetings, mentoring, etc.).

Knowledge to be gained by intern

  • Interpretive writing skills for school-age audiences
  • Collaborative working skills in digital platforms
  • Program management (communication skills, administrative skills, etc.)
  • Classroom management/group facilitation skills
  • Experience with research databases and vetting sources

Relevant skills

  • Collaborative skills working remotely. We collaborate mostly in Google docs, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.
  • Strong writing skills in clear, concise language that is not overly academic. We aim for education content to be about an eighth grade reading level on Flesch Reading Ease Formula.
  • Experience with research databases and vetting sources.
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