SFMOMA Summer Internship Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) offers a full-time, ten-week paid summer internship program designed to introduce undergraduate and graduate students to the diverse career paths available within the museum world. This program aims to cultivate foundational leadership skills while providing an insider's perspective on museum administration through mentor training, hands-on project experience, and professional development opportunities. SFMOMA's internship program welcomes talented students from all backgrounds, valuing diversity in culture, race and ethnicity, and gender expression.
General Internship Information
SFMOMA’s summer internships typically start in early June. The internships are full-time and last for ten weeks. These internships provide participants an insider view of museum administration, including mentor training, hands-on project experience, and professional development opportunities.
Specific Internship Examples and Requirements
While specific internship offerings may vary, here are two examples of internships previously offered at SFMOMA, along with their specific requirements and project plans:
1. Collections Internship
Overview: This internship focuses on collections research, stewardship, and access practices within SFMOMA.
Requirements:
- Student or recent graduate in Museum Studies, Museum Administration, or a similar program. SFMOMA considers a graduation date within 6 months of the internship start date as a recent graduate.
- General knowledge of museum practices, museum audiences, and modern and contemporary art.
- Familiarity with records management and organization.
- Comfort working with digital asset management and project management systems.
- Ability to work effectively with a range of internal and external constituents.
- Ability to thrive in a creative, collaborative, team-oriented environment.
Responsibilities/Project Plan:
Over the 10-week program, the Collections Intern will:
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- Become familiar with collections research, stewardship, and access practices at SFMOMA.
- Analyze the purpose and responsibilities of the Collections Committee, alongside all other Board-level committees at SFMOMA.
- Research the history of the Collections Committee.
- Organize existing documents related to the Committee for ease of access.
- Survey peer museums about their equivalent Committees for benchmarking and contextualizing purposes.
- Interview museum staff and Committee members for their perspectives on the Committee.
- Make recommendations for enhancing staff engagement with the Committee and vice versa.
- Work with staff to develop the FY25 season of meetings, and to plan the Fall 2024 meeting.
- Produce a dossier describing their idea for marking the Committee’s tenth anniversary.
- Present their idea to senior staff in Collections and Committee chairpersons.
Educational Objectives:
- Learn about the scope of collections stewardship at a museum of modern and contemporary art.
- Experience backstage collections stewardship activities to increase understanding of collections-related needs, challenges, and opportunities.
- Learn about the purposes and responsibilities of Board-level committees.
- Gain experience connecting with museum supporters.
- Gain experience pitching ideas to senior staff.
- Gain experience developing a theme, goals, and outcomes for a series of meetings related to collections stewardship.
2. Off-Cycle Internship (Education Focus)
Overview: This internship focuses on supporting education programs and resources at SFMOMA.
Requirements:
- Must be a current student or recent graduate, preferably with a focus in art, teacher credentialing, education, museum studies, public policy, or library science. SFMOMA recognizes a graduation date within 6 months of the internship start date as a recent graduate.
- Experience working with audiences of varying ages in an arts, educational, or public context.
- Knowledge and experience with current educational practices and techniques (a plus).
- Knowledge and understanding of, and enthusiasm for, modern and contemporary art.
- Diplomatic, interpersonal, and communication skills.
- Interest in institutional history and public programs.
- Ability to work enthusiastically and effectively with intergenerational audiences.
- Skills in written communications.
- Ability to maintain patience and flexibility while working in a dynamic public work environment.
- Knowledge and interest in modern and contemporary art and education techniques.
- Ability to engage and lead large groups of people of all ages in diverse activities.
- Database and project management software skills (a plus).
- Ability to work independently and reliably.
Responsibilities/Project Plan:
- Weeks 1-2: Overview of the history of Education Programs since 2013 (closure). Visit the CC day to look at physical archives.
- Weeks 3-4: Begin to amass and organize the documentation of teacher programs including teacher institutes, teacher advisory group, open studio workshops, community partnerships, etc. Get Digital Garden and Morely training at the end of Week 4.
- Weeks 5-6: Begin to upload documentation to Digital Garden + tagging video resources. Sync programs to specific exhibitions in Morely when possible.
- Weeks 7-8: Continue uploading and tagging. Meet with the Manager of Educator Engagement to discuss the personal research project; begin collecting documentation and information towards this end.
- Weeks 9-10: Finish uploading and tagging. Complete personal research project and presentation.
Educational Objectives:
- Learn to use museum programs and systems.
- Broaden knowledge of Bay Area-based artists, community organizations, and how this intersects with museum educational programming.
- Learn the history of a pivotal resource within the museum.
- Understand how nonprofit arts institutions work.
- Develop one's own proposal of a Teacher Program and describe how that might be important within intersectional and racial justice frameworks here in the Bay Area based on the history of the program area.
General Application Process
The application process for SFMOMA internships generally includes the following:
- Completed Application: Submit a completed application via SFMOMA's job site.
- Resume: Provide a current resume outlining your relevant experience.
- Cover Letter: Include a cover letter stating the specific internship of interest. In the cover letter, describe the experience you bring, why you are interested in museum or nonprofit work, reasons for applying to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and your goals for the internship.
- Letters of Recommendation: Submit two letters of recommendation from either a college professor or former employer.
- College Transcript: Provide a college transcript; unofficial transcripts are acceptable if legible.
SFMOMA's Mission and Purpose
SFMOMA is dedicated to making the art of our time a vital and meaningful part of public life. The museum believes that art transforms lives, provoking thought, expression, and exploration of creativity, and envisioning new possibilities. SFMOMA expanded to provide a better experience for visitors and a better home for its collections, including the SFMOMA collection and the Fisher Collection, one of the finest collections of contemporary art in the world. The museum's transformation, designed in collaboration with the architecture firm Snøhetta, enhances SFMOMA's role as a place for learning, inspiration, and interaction for visitors from the Bay Area and beyond.
The Value of a SFMOMA Internship
A SFMOMA internship offers a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in the museum field, develop valuable skills, and contribute to a leading cultural institution. Interns are immersed in a dynamic and collaborative environment, working alongside experienced professionals and gaining exposure to all aspects of museum operations. The program is designed to provide a well-rounded experience, combining hands-on project work with mentorship and professional development opportunities.
By participating in a SFMOMA internship, students and recent graduates can:
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- Explore career options: Gain firsthand experience in various museum departments and roles.
- Develop professional skills: Enhance skills in research, communication, project management, and collaboration.
- Build a professional network: Connect with museum professionals, artists, and other interns.
- Contribute to a meaningful mission: Support SFMOMA's commitment to making art accessible and engaging for the public.
- Enhance your resume: Gain valuable experience that will make you a more competitive candidate for future employment.
Tips for a Successful Application
- Research SFMOMA: Familiarize yourself with the museum's mission, collections, exhibitions, and programs.
- Tailor your application: Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experience for the specific internship you are applying for.
- Showcase your passion: Express your enthusiasm for art, museums, and SFMOMA in your application materials.
- Proofread carefully: Ensure that your application materials are free of errors in grammar and spelling.
- Request strong letters of recommendation: Ask professors or employers who know you well and can speak to your skills and qualifications.
- Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to prepare your application materials and meet the deadline.
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