Art Institute Internships: Launching Your Career in the Art World
Internships at art institutes offer invaluable hands-on experience in various settings, including curatorial and museum environments. These experiences provide crucial training for developing disciplinary skills and shaping future career paths. This article explores the diverse internship opportunities available, focusing on how they can bridge academic knowledge with real-world practice, ultimately preparing students for successful careers in the art world and beyond.
The Value of Art Institute Internships
Internships serve as a bridge between academic studies and professional practice, offering students a chance to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings. They provide opportunities to collaborate with professionals, gain insights into the inner workings of art institutions, and discover how their creative abilities can make a tangible impact. Furthermore, internships allow students to test their ideas, refine their career goals, and build a professional network.
Featured Internship Programs
Several institutions offer structured internship programs designed to provide comprehensive training and mentorship.
The Smart Museum of Art’s Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Curatorial Internship
This internship provides a graduate student with mentorship, resources, and opportunities to conduct extensive collections research and contribute meaningfully to museum projects. A central aim of the internship is creatively and critically integrating the Smart’s collection into campus and community life, encouraging applicants to bring their individual background, scholarly interests, and disciplinary experiences to the position. The internship is open to advanced graduate students who have finished their coursework and, ideally, are in the late stages of the dissertation. Applications are announced in the Spring of the preceding academic year.
COSI Curatorial Research Fellowship at the Art Institute of Chicago
Each year, the Department of Art History nominates one to two of its advanced graduate students to serve as a COSI Curatorial Research Fellow at the Art Institute of Chicago. The COSI Fellow will work on substantive on-going or discrete projects that will involve the student in museum work such as collecting, storing, exhibiting, and/or conserving art.
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Types of Internship Opportunities
Internships in art institutes span a variety of roles and departments, offering diverse experiences and skill development.
Curatorial Internships
Curatorial internships offer hands-on experience in collections management, exhibition development, and art historical research. Interns may assist with researching artworks, writing catalogue entries, and developing interpretive materials.
Museum Operations Internships
These internships provide insight into the day-to-day operations of a museum, covering areas such as visitor services, marketing, and development. Interns may assist with event planning, fundraising, and community outreach.
Registrarial Internships
Registrarial internships focus on the management and care of museum collections, including documentation, storage, and conservation. Interns may assist with cataloging artworks, processing loans, and maintaining collection records.
Education Internships
Education internships involve developing and implementing educational programs for museum visitors of all ages. Interns may assist with leading tours, creating educational materials, and organizing workshops.
Read also: Internship Opportunities at SwRI
Finding and Securing Internships
Several resources are available to help students find and secure internships in the art world.
University Career Services
University career services departments, such as CAREERlink, provide platforms for searching and applying for internships, managing applications, and accessing career advising services. These services offer personalized guidance and resources to help students navigate the internship search process. Don't be shy - whether you're just starting to think of options or have a specific path in mind, it's easy to meet with a career advisor!
Online Job Boards
Online job boards, such as Handshake, specialize in connecting students with internship opportunities across various disciplines. These platforms allow students to search for internships based on their interests, skills, and location preferences. For EmployersLooking to hire an SAIC intern? Connect your professional experience to your academic path. Turn creative work into tangible results. Collaborate with artists, designers, organizations, and companies in Chicago and beyond. Begin your search on Handshake, where CAPX-approved companies post creative opportunities across disciplines.
Networking
Networking with professionals in the art world can be a valuable way to learn about internship opportunities and gain a competitive edge. Attending industry events, joining professional organizations, and reaching out to individuals working in the field can help students build connections and gain insights into potential internship opportunities.
Internship Credit and Compensation
The availability of internship credit and compensation varies depending on the institution and the specific internship program.
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Internship Credit
Students may pursue internship credit for their work in the arts community. These internship credits are credit/no credit. They do not count toward the major or minor, but they do count toward overall graduation credit requirements. After you accept an internship offer, complete the CAPX Internship Request Form to begin the approval process. Submit as soon as possible, ideally within two weeks of receiving your offer and before the add/drop deadline of the term. Once your internship and site agreement are approved, CAPX will enroll you in the appropriate internship course (you don’t need to register yourself).
Paid vs. Unpaid Internships
Opportunities exist for both paid and unpaid internships at museums and galleries. For example, the Saint Louis Art Museum offers positions in their Curatorial, Registrarial, and Education departments. These jobs often revolve around a special exhibition, but can also involve working with an institution's permanent collection.
Programs with Stipends
Some internship programs, such as the Advanced Level Program, offer stipends to participants. 1.) The Advanced Level Program: a two-semester (fall/spring) museum operations program for graduate students, exceptional college seniors and individuals with a four-year college degree, with previous museum or art institution experience. All participants receive stipends.
Application Process
The application process for art institute internships typically involves submitting a statement of purpose, resume or CV, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Applications to either or both programs consist of a statement of purpose (explaining career aspirations and reasons for choosing this particular institution), a resume or CV, all official or unofficial transcripts above high school and two academic and/or professional recommendations.
International Students
For international students (F-1 visa): After approval, CAPX and International Student Affairs will coordinate your Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization.
The Impact of Internships on Career Trajectories
Internships can significantly impact students' career trajectories, providing them with the skills, experience, and connections needed to succeed in the art world.
Career Advancement
Internships can lead to full-time employment opportunities within the art institute or related organizations. The hands-on experience and professional relationships gained during an internship can make students highly competitive candidates for entry-level positions.
Graduate School Admissions
WashU Art History majors are highly sought after, and are routinely accepted into master's or doctoral programs across the world.
Alternative Career Paths
After graduation, our students go on to distinguished programs in art history, archaeology and visual culture. Some go on to positions in galleries, museums and foundations, while others go on to professional school in law or medicine. In recent years many have decided to take several years in service, such as in the Teach for America program, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and others.
Real-World Experience
Step out of the studio and into the field. Internships give you the chance to test your ideas in real-world settings, collaborate with professionals across industries, and discover new ways to turn your creative curiosity into career momentum. Whether you’re working with a local studio, nonprofit, or global brand, you’ll gain insight into how creative work comes to life, and how your skills can make an impact beyond the classroom.
Summer Program
2.) Summer Program: students focus on one museum department or office for eight weeks, full-time. Applicants may be college juniors (students finishing their sophomore year), seniors and individuals with a four-year college degree. This program is primarily for those individuals with little previous museum or art institution experience. However, one previous internship in the applicant's local area is recommended prior to applying to this program.
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