Curatorial Intern, Whitney Western Art Museum Job Description
Department: Whitney Western Art Museum
Intern Title: Curatorial Intern
Overview:
This internship provides experience to a student exploring career opportunities in art
history. The intern will be introduced to curatorial practices including handling objects;
researching the collection; interpretation of our permanent collection; and aspects of
special exhibition planning. The intern will have an assigned project to complete during
the defined period of the internship, but will also participate in all aspects of the curatorial
department for broad exposure to museum functions.
Level of Responsibility: Reports to Curator and Curatorial Assistant, Whitney Western
Art Museum
The intern will also be expected to interact with other departments regularly, including the
library (research), education (interpretation), IT (website), and collections management/
conservation (object handling).
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
• Attend and participate in Center internship seminar and other activities
• Work alongside curatorial staff on routine projects or tasks that may come up and
be of educational value
• Work on one or more of the specific projects listed below, as it pertains to skill set
and professional or academic interests
• Weekly discussion of one to two articles pertaining to related projects, collections
care and management, or art news
Social and Digital Media
Preparation and Production
The Whitney Western Art Museum plans to further develop its digital media presence and
seeks an intern who has skills and interest in filmmaking and writing for the web. Tasks
may include:
• Preparing and editing web, audio, and/or video content
• Filming and editing artist interviews, lectures, and symposia
• Creating new content for the museum’s Interactives page (See here:
http://
centerofthewest.org/explore/western-art/interactives/)
• Contributing to the museum’s blog and social media outlets
Proficiency in Adobe Premier Pro CS5, WordPress, and Photoshop are highly desired, as is
experience with hand-coding HTML/CSS and CAKE. Language translation and experience
with Audacity a plus. Proficiency in Excel and Word is necessary. Must be able to work on
a Mac.
Exhibition Planning
Albert Bierstadt: Witness to a Changing West
The Whitney Western Art Museum is currently organizing the exhibition Albert Bierstadt:
Witness to a Changing West to premiere in 2018. Bierstadt (1830–1902) is best known as
America’s premier western landscape artist. He was also a renowned history painter, a
rarely discussed element of his legacy. This major exhibition will address Bierstadt in
context of his treatment not just of majestic mountains and lakes but more prominently of
bison and American Indians, who he approached as key subjects for his art. Tasks may
include:
• Researching Bierstadt and his artwork included in the exhibition
• Helping brainstorm and develop interpretive materials and programs
• Contributing exhibition-related content to the museum’s blog and social media
outlets
Research and Content Development
Contemporary Artist Research
The Whitney Western Art Museum plans to undertake a major survey of its holdings of
modern (post-WWII) and contemporary art. This project may involve the following tasks:
• Conducting traditional art historical and art market research
• Conducting surveys and condition reports in art storage vaults
• Compiling art news in weekly digest for curatorial review
• Requesting of contemporary artists and/or their representatives high-resolution
images and image use rights
Gallery Talks
Engaging with museum visitors is a critical function of curatorial departments. The
successful candidate would develop a public program around a work of art or theme within
the Whitney’s permanent collection display. Tasks may include:
• Research on topic of choice pertaining to on-view Whitney collections
• Announcing and delivering a 15–20 minute talk to the public
Qualifications:
• Open to advanced undergraduate or graduate-level students in art history or related
field
• Requires general knowledge of art history
• Knowledge of western American history and/or art is helpful
• Previous research experience is helpful
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and writing skills
