2026 Curatorial Intern: Summer

Summary

2026 Curatorial Intern: Summer

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

The Curatorial Intern supports the curatorial team in the research, interpretation, and presentation of artworks and exhibitions. This position is open to current students and provides hands on exposure to curatorial practice within a museum setting. Interns support a variety of projects, including exhibition development, object research, interpretive writing such as object labels, and initiatives related to the full range of the museum's craft collection, from historic to contemporary.

As a Curatorial Intern, you will help bring innovative projects to life by providing essential support for craft focused initiatives within the museum and beyond. By contributing directly to ongoing projects, the intern expands upon their academic training and applies their knowledge and skills in a professional environment while gaining insight into the collaborative and intellectual work that shapes curatorial decision making.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collection Research: Build object files for new acquisitions including works in ceramics, wood, fiber, glass, and metal. Fact-check information, write object-related content, and prepare presentations for internal and external audiences. Conduct research on potential acquisitions to support the growth of the museum's diverse holdings in American craft.
• Gallery Installation: Join for curatorial review of artwork installation in CB's new expansion

Qualifications:

• Ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Demonstrated research and writing skills
• Positive attitude and collaborative spirit
• Ability to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality and discretion
• Proficiency in using standard office equipment including copiers and telephone, as well as Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams

Schedule:

• Dates: June 1st through July 25th
• Hours: Up to 40
• 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:

• Graduate Students: $14.00

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:

• 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.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants 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.

Job Description

2026 Curatorial Intern: Summer

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

The Curatorial Intern supports the curatorial team in the research, interpretation, and presentation of artworks and exhibitions. This position is open to current students and provides hands on exposure to curatorial practice within a museum setting. Interns support a variety of projects, including exhibition development, object research, interpretive writing such as object labels, and initiatives related to the full range of the museum's craft collection, from historic to contemporary.

As a Curatorial Intern, you will help bring innovative projects to life by providing essential support for craft focused initiatives within the museum and beyond. By contributing directly to ongoing projects, the intern expands upon their academic training and applies their knowledge and skills in a professional environment while gaining insight into the collaborative and intellectual work that shapes curatorial decision making.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collection Research: Build object files for new acquisitions including works in ceramics, wood, fiber, glass, and metal. Fact-check information, write object-related content, and prepare presentations for internal and external audiences. Conduct research on potential acquisitions to support the growth of the museum's diverse holdings in American craft.
• Gallery Installation: Join for curatorial review of artwork installation in CB's new expansion

Qualifications:

• Ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Demonstrated research and writing skills
• Positive attitude and collaborative spirit
• Ability to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality and discretion
• Proficiency in using standard office equipment including copiers and telephone, as well as Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams

Schedule:

• Dates: June 1st through July 25th
• Hours: Up to 40
• 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:

• Graduate Students: $14.00

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:

• 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.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants 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.