STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES AT THE NEUBERGER MUSEUM OF ART

Internships

The internship program introduces students to museum professions and the role of the museum in society. The program brings students together with museum staff to allow students to explore careers in museums. Students work in one area of the museum and contribute to current projects. The nature of these projects is based on availability as well as student experience and interest. In addition to fulfilling their internship assignment students will interact with other museum staff and museum professionals through participation in monthly lunches and the completion of an interview project. The program stresses the professional and intellectual development of students and an introduction to the vitality of museums.

The Neuberger offers internships during each academic term for credit or non-credit. Students of all majors are encouraged to apply. All years are eligible for internships, although preference will be given to juniors and seniors. This is a competitive program with a limited number of interns accepted. It is important to apply early. We will begin reviewing applications the semester prior and conduct interviews with students before the end of the term. Applications will not be accepted after three weeks prior to the Add/Drop deadline.

Please click here to see the Purchase College Career Development Center for questions regarding eligibility for credit and course registration.

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Application Deadlines

Fall 2008
Application Review Begins: April 20th, 2008
Application Deadline: August 20th, 2008

Spring 2009
Application Review Begins: November 9th, 2008
Application Deadline: January 7th, 2009

Internships are offered in the following areas of the museum:

• Collections Management: Interns will assist the museum's Registrar with day-to-day tasks and record-keeping, cataloguing, and partial inventories of the permanent collection as needed. Also, interns will be involved in the organization and implementation of details surrounding temporary exhibitions. This is a non-credit position with a maximum of three hours per week.
• Curatorial: One intern per semester is sought to work in the office of the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art on exhibitions. The intern will learn aspects of curatorial work through involvement with various responsibilities related to the job in the Neuberger Museum of Art, including research, design and implementation of exhibitions, preparation of text for publications, newsletters, website and press, and other duties as assigned.


• Development/Membership: The Development Department accepts one intern to assist in all aspects of development for the Museum, including conducting research on potential funding sources and help to prioritize funding possibilities, assist in the re-organization of the filing system, while conducting research on individual donors. Interns will assist in the maintenance of the donor database and individual records, the solicitation and acknowledgement letters, the analysis of the giving trends, and the development of various new projects. Interns will also be involved in grant editing, writing, and the compilation of proposals and reports. Interns will complete one significant project (to be determined) during their internship, which will be presented to the Development Department.


• Event Planning: The Development Department accepts one intern Event Planning intern to assist in all aspects of the organization and implementation of special events and cultivation events. Assisting the Development Staff, Interns will compose invitation text and proof invitations, secure raffle, silent/live auction items, and goodie bag items, and work on event solicitation and acknowledgement letters. Interns will also be involved with the development of décor, production of the journal, assist in production of PowerPoint presentation for events and develop an analysis of income and expenses in relation to previous years.


• Education: Up to two interns each semester are accepted in the Department of Education. The internship emphasizes the Museum's interaction with the public. Interns will become familiar with Education Department programs including school tours, adult tours, Purchase student engagement programs, the docent program, teacher workshops and resources, as well as the educational philosophy of the department. Projects can include research, program planning, and resources development.


• Exhibitions: Interns in the Exhibitions Department will have the opportunity to assist with a wide range of procedures and activities essential to the planning and implementation of exhibitions. Level One Interns will primarily focus on the maintenance and organization of workshop spaces: Level Two Interns will utilize their knowledge from level one in projects more closely related to the display of works of art for exhibition.


• Public Programming: Public Programs accepts one intern per semester to assist with diverse aspects of educational programming related to the Museum's exhibitions. Interns will become familiar with researching, coordinating and implementing a broad range of multidisciplinary events including artists and scholar lectures & dialogues, performances, and student and family events. Through these programs, the Museum works to develop audiences from the Purchase College campus and the region. Projects may include research, program planning and implementation, and program marketing and promotion.


• Marketing/Public Relations: Interns will work with Museum staff to develop new audiences for the Neuberger Museum of Art. They will help the Museum develop and execute new initiatives to get the word out about exhibitions and programs and be involved in all aspects of marketing from the daily essentials to the creative. Skills: attention to detail a must; graphic design ability is a big plus.
  
• Visitor Services/Museum Store: A Visitor Services intern will work broadly with the Manager of Visitor Services and members of the External Affairs team on many aspects of visitor experience at the Museum.

• Student Programming Committee
  The Neuberger is currently developing a Student Programming Committee that will work closely with Museum staff to develop and implement programming. Students will learn to research, plan and execute mission driven programming.
  Contact Elena Pellegrini for more information


• Student Guides
  The Neuberger is currently developing a Student Guide program. Trained by Museum staff, Student Guides will to be assigned to galleries and to engage visitors in conversation about the collections and exhibitions and enhance the visitor experience. Training will include learning about the collections and current exhibitions as well as museum education theories and practices.
  Contact Briley Rasmussen for more information.