2025 Research and Evaluation Intern - Summer

Job Description:

Position Title: 2025 Research and Evaluation Intern- Summer

Position Type: Intern 

Reports to: Research Operations Manager 

Date Reviewed: 12/17/2025 

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 Research and Evaluation intern works within the Research & Evaluation department to learn valuable skills in museum and nonprofit evaluation (including evaluation planning, data collection, analysis, and reporting). Broadly, this work will assist in gaining further knowledge about the museum and its internal and external impact and in developing an understanding of how data-based research and decision-making is applied to mission-based organizations.  An internship in our department would focus primarily on developing skills in museum and nonprofit evaluation and research. Based on their interest, existing skillsets and experience, and professional goals, an intern with our department would be expected to engage any combination of work to facilitate impactful collaborative services, conduct or support evaluation associated with grant-funded projects, and assist in operationalizing consulting services (including creating documentation, organizational structures, evaluating and implementing workflows, and engaging in overall project management support).

In addition to project-based work, an intern would support the museum’s ongoing evaluations that include collecting data from guests to Crystal Bridges and the Momentary about their experiences in our facilities and on our grounds, and/or with our programs and exhibits. Studies include research and evaluation measuring overall guest demographics, guest experience, and guest outcomes related to exhibition or program experiences. These studies support the museum's mission by collecting critical information measuring the impact of arts experiences. The primary methods used by our team and an intern are surveys and interviews. Data from these studies is shared with leadership, program directors and managers, and the board to help make institutional decisions and ensure Crystal Bridges and the Momentary are carrying out our mission of welcoming all to the museum.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate in assigned projects and receive applicable training and support to engage in evaluation and research studies as appropriate.
• Approach museum guests and invite them to participate in a research or evaluation study by responding to a survey or brief interview.
• Conduct observations or other engagements with guests to gather information about their experiences or perspectives.
• Follow established data collection protocols which covers how to approach guests to ensure random sampling, what information to say, and how to track response rates.
• Reliably and accurately gather data at scheduled times to ensure quality data collection meets monthly collection goals and will effectively inform programmatic and resource-based decisions.

Qualifications:

• Experience effectively interacting with customers or public-facing positions.
• Participate in assigned projects and receive applicable training and support to engage in evaluation and research studies as appropriate.
• Approach museum guests and invite them to participate in a research or evaluation study by responding to a survey or brief interview.
• Conduct observations or other engagements with guests to gather information about their experiences or perspectives.
• Follow established data collection protocols which cover how to approach guests to ensure random sampling, what information to say, and how to track response rates.
• Reliably and accurately gather data at scheduled times to ensure quality data collection meets monthly collection goals and will effectively inform programmatic and resource-based decisions.  

Timeline:

Intern selected by: February3rd

Anticipated Start Date: June 2nd

Anticipated End Date: July 25th

Schedule:

Dates: See above

Hours: High School students: Up to 15 hours a week; Undergraduate students (bachelor’s Level): Up to 20 hours a week;

Weekly schedule to be arranged with direct supervisor

To qualify for bachelor’s or master’s hours, you must be enrolled in an accredited program or have graduated from an accredited program within the last three years. Students will be required to submit a current schedule or official transcript.

Compensation:

High School Interns: $12.00 an hour

Undergraduate Interns: $13.00 an hour

To qualify for bachelor’s or master’s compensation, you must be enrolled in an accredited program or have graduated from an accredited program within the last three years. Students will be required to submit a current schedule or official transcript.

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. 

#LI-Onsite

Salary : $12 - $13