2025 Havner Curatorial Intern

Job Description:

Position Title: 2025 Havner Curatorial Intern

Division: Art Management

Department: Art Management

Reports to: Curator

About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action.

Position Summary:

The Havner Curatorial Summer Internship at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a paid residential internship and opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a curatorial department and exposure to the workings of a major American art museum. Havner Interns will work one on one with a member of the curatorial team and assist with exhibition projects, develop interpretation, including writing labels for collections objects and conduct research on objects in the collection. Interns are expected to work with the full scope of the collection, which spans the 18th century through today. Crystal Bridges has a robust summer internship program across all departments, and Havner Interns will be welcomed into this community of colleagues. Through orientation, discussions and/or meetings, Havner Interns will gain knowledge of many museum departments. Havner Interns will expand upon their academic training and work to apply their knowledge and skills in professional ways.

This internship is open to current undergraduate juniors & seniors as well as current graduate first and second year students. This 8-week summer internship commences on June 2, 2025 and ends July 25, 2025. The intern is expected to work 35 hours per week. The stipend is paid biweekly. Pay rate for undergraduate students is $13/hr. Pay for graduate students is $14/hr. Housing near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is provided (Two interns per bedroom).

Crystal Bridges is committed to an equitable, inclusive, and diverse cohort of interns and aims to provide training for the next generation of museum professionals. Students representing ethnically underrepresented groups in the curatorial field are encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The position requires verbal and written conversation with others, work at a desk and utilizing a computer for prolonged periods of time.
• Each week, interns will have several required meetings.
• In addition, interns will meet regularly with their supervisor.
• While much of the work is self-guided, interns are expected to proactively update their supervisor regarding progress on projects and challenges faced. Interns are expected to actively participate in talks, meetings, and other opportunities.

Qualifications:

This internship is open to current undergraduate juniors & seniors as well as current graduate first and second year students.

Timeline:

Applications due: February 3rd

• Intern selected by: March 3rd
• Anticipated Start Date: June 2nd
• Anticipated End Date: July 25th

Schedule:

• Dates: See Above
• Hours: 35 hours a week
• Weekly schedule to be arranged with direct supervisor

Compensation:

Pay rate for undergraduate students is $13/hr.

Pay for graduate students is $14/hr.

Required Documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands:  In the work environment described below, position requires work at a desk, utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time, good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching for filing, and physical stamina to lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a height of at least three feet for file and materials storage as appropriate for the demands of the office. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.

• Work environment:  Work will be performed in an office environment and museum spaces. The noise level in the museum work environment is usually low to moderate.

If the intern’s personal equipment is used, the museum accepts no liability for any damage caused to said equipment while being used for museum purposes, nor loss or corruption of electronic files on devices.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

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Salary : $13 - $14