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2016 Summer Internship Program

As the preeminent institution devoted to the art of the United States, the Whitney Museum of American Art presents the full range of twentieth-century and contemporary American art, with a special focus on works by living artists.   Designed by architect Renzo Piano and situated between the High Line and the Hudson River, the Whitney's new building vastly increases the Museum’s exhibition and programming space, providing the most expansive view ever of its unsurpassed collection of modern and contemporary American art.

Under the supervision of a department head or curator, interns gain first-hand experience with museum work by assisting with regular departmental duties that range from research and special projects to administrative tasks. The Human Resources (HR) Department organizes weekly seminars with department heads and curators to introduce interns to the museum profession. Curator-led tours and trips to smaller cultural institutions are also part of the program.

 The 2016 Summer Intern Program begins June 6th and continues through August 5th. Participants must be available for nine consecutive weeks, five days per week and arrange for housing independently. Interns receive two unlimited monthly metro cards, regular employee discounts at the Museum restaurant, retail store, invitations to exhibition openings and free admission to most other New York City museums. If selected, students should consider applying for funding through the Brandeis World of Work Internship Funding Program: go.brandeis.edu/wow.

Internships are available in the departments listed below, and these summaries describe the functions of the department and not necessarily intern responsibilities. Applicants should review the list and note three, in order of preference. If applicants are only considering either Curatorial or Development, then state two to three areas of interest.

 ADMINISTRATION: Provides management, oversight, and institutional strategic planning.

COMMUNICATIONS:  Works with local, national and international media to secure coverage of the Museum and its programs and activities; seeks out and maintains positive relationships with critics, reporters and editors who are capable of providing meaningful coverage to the Museum.

CURATORIAL:  Oversees and guides the expansion of the Museum's permanent collection of over 20,000 works of art, and organizes and generates exhibitions appropriate to the institution's mission. Curators produce scholarship and research on the collection, author catalogues to accompany exhibitions; cultivate and maintain relationships with artists; participate in public programs (lectures, symposia); and oversee loans. Curatorial areas include: Chief Curator; Permanent Collection; Prewar Art; Drawing; Prints, Photography; Film and Video; Performance; Andy Warhol Film Project.

DEVELOPMENT:  Responsible for fundraising efforts through engagement in strategic planning, development, management and implementation in pursuit of building long-term relationships for the museum’s financial health. Various initiatives include Board development, a major gifts program, planned giving, memberships, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants, and special events.

DIGITAL MEDIA: Develops and manages the Museum’s digital media initiatives, often in collaboration with other departments, to help realize the Whitney’s programmatic, audience development, visitor experience and fundraising goals.

EDUCATION:  At the heart of all Whitney Education programs is a focus on artists -- their materials, methods, and inspirations. As educators, the department creates opportunities for visitors with different needs, experiences, and interests to make meaningful connections with the art on view. Program audience includes K-12 students, teens, teachers, families, adults, seniors and people with disabilities

GRAPHIC DESIGN:  Oversees development and production of all Whitney visual communications including advertising, promotional materials, gallery graphics, signage, whitney.org, invitations and branded merchandise. Applicants must be Graphic Design majors.

MARKETING:  Creates and executes promotional campaigns that drive attendance for individual exhibitions and programs while serving institutional positioning/branding goals. This includes designing and implementing marketing efforts via print, online, television, social media and other channels to effectively reach target audiences.

PUBLICATIONS: Produces exhibition and collection catalogues; edits exhibition graphics, brochures and exhibition-related ephemera; and sets the Museum’s editorial style. Rights and Reproductions: maintains image assets, handles image and Hopper licensing, provides images and permissions for institutional use, and oversees exhibition photography.

REGISTRATION:  Responsible for the long-term preservation of the permanent collection and all works of art on loan to the Museum. Maintain best practices while coordinating arrangements for packing, crating, shipping, framing and insuring works of art for exhibition, acquisition, storage or loan.

RESEARCH RESOURCES:  Provides access and information to primary resources relating to the museum’s history, collections, and programming. Comprised of the Archives, Permanent Collection Documentation Office, Special Collections, and The Frances Mulhall Achilles Library, the department is a platform to foster the research needs of museum staff and to qualified members of the scholarly and museum communities. Students must be enrolled in an MLIS program to be considered for work in the Archives or Library.

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.