Internships

Overview

The Museum of Arts and Design has a long-standing history of supporting internships that provide meaningful, engaging and project-based opportunities for undergraduate and graduate level students throughout the year. These positions are available in several departments and allow the participants to gain invaluable work experience at a non-profit visual arts organization as they prepare to continue their studies, pursue careers in the arts, or apply their experience to other fields.

General Requirements

All applicants must:

Attend an institution of learning with courses leading to a degree, certificate or diploma
Applicants are eligible during periods when school is not in session, if:
- Applicants were students the previous semester
- Applicants have not yet graduated or completed educational requirements of the program
- Applicants have graduated, but are starting a new academic program within six months
Be a US citizen or completing residence requirements for a degree such as those required of medical or pharmaceutical students

Internship Sessions

WINTER/SPRING: Start week of January 26
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, January 16

SUMMER: Start week of June 1
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, May 4

CURRENT UNPAID INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

Education Department: Director’s Office and New Projects

The Vice President and Director of Public Programs and Education overseas all aspects of educational initiatives at MAD. Our Education Center serves as a space for stimulating conversations and fostering exchange among a broad public. In this internship an emphasis will be placed on exploring ways to improve our current program offerings and researching new opportunities. This internship is designed for a candidate who is interested in various aspects of educational programming and developing their administrative skills.

Interns will read selected articles and have the opportunity to observe and participate in trainings, while gaining a better understanding of the way an Education Department works at a museum. Specifically for the fall 2014, emphasis will be placed on three projects:

The Artist Studios: Working in conjunction with the Manager of Teen, Family and Engagement Programs

Systemizing the application process for this program
Participating in research related to attracting new artists and designers
Organize and bring together artist’s experiences and visitor response

New Initiative/Exploring Making: Working directly with VP of Education

Discuss and help draw together research for a potential new hands-on space
Create and manage excel sheets with data: looking at other spaces, potential equipment and costs, etc.

In-Gallery Visitor Experience: Working in conjunction with the Manager of Interpretation

Review and evaluate audio guide usage at MAD and other institutions
Help generate and collect visitor surveys
Selected research for upcoming exhibitions related to interpretive tools such as training materials for guides

To apply for this internship please send a cover letter and resume to cathleen.lewis@madmuseum.org with “Director’s Office Internship" in the subject line. Your cover letter should outline your specific interest in this internship, along with your qualifications and skills that you believe make you a strong candidate for this opportunity. Please also include if you are interested in a semester only internship or a full year (academic year) internship.

Education Department: Family and Teen Programs Intern

Family and Teen Programs emphasize creating multisensory learning experiences for young people with the aim to create personal meaning in relation to the museum’s exhibitions and also to engender broader enrichment and support for the field of contemporary art and design.

This internship will emphasize work in the following areas depending on an intern’s skills and interests: Working with the museum’s youth council, Teen Trustees; providing support for portfolio developing and careers in the arts programming for young audiences; thinking proactively about developing and supporting family-based experiences at the museum, from day-to-day visits to preparing for annual family days; and working on engagement programs that provide more experiential and participatory opportunities for visitors.

Reporting to the Manager of Teen, Family and Engagement Programs, the ideal candidates will:

Demonstrate a strong knowledge of youth development and the specific needs of families visiting public institutions
Have strong written and verbal communication skills
Have previous experience with students—preferred, though not necessary
Must be available for 2 -3 days a week

To apply for this internship please send a cover letter and resume to molly.macfadden@madmuseum.org with “Family and Teen Intern” in the subject line. Cover letters should outline specific interest in this internship, along with qualifications and skills indicative of a strong candidateship for this opportunity. Please also include availability (semester or a full academic year internship).

Education Department: Interpretive Programs Intern

Interpretive programs and materials help deepen visitors understanding and relationship with objects on view. These include such things as audio guides and gallery brochures, but also the preparation of gallery guides and special programs associated with exhibitions. Additionally, interpretation has a strong visitor experience component that considers closely visitor expectation, behavior and experience.

Interpretive programs are also concerned with providing consistency in interpretive offerings, consistency in institutional voice, maintaining a strong understanding of educational theory and pedagogy, and translating curatorial content into tangible tools and programs that enrich the visitors experience. Interns reporting to the Manager of Interpretation will:

Conduct research related to exhibitions and help to translate artist statements and contextual information into usable resources for gallery guides such as docents and artist educators
Gather analytical information about visitor experience, behavior and engagement in exhibitions such as observations and short interviews
Review interpretative materials and provide feedback; research interpretive tools at other institutions
Participate in training opportunities to deepen knowledge and understanding of museum education, including: docent and educator training sessions, doing gallery worksheets and conducting program observations
Prepare reports, summaries and excel worksheets that will help the museum improve the quality of their interpretive tools
Assist with administrative responsibilities associated with interpretative programs
Must be available 2-3 days a week

To apply for this internship please send a cover letter, writing sample and resume to carli.beseau@madmuseum.org with “Education and Interpretation Intern” in the subject line. Cover letters should outline specific interest in this internship, along with qualifications and skills indicative of a strong candidateship for this opportunity. Writing samples should be no longer than five pages and be representative of skills as a researcher, communicator and translator of ideas into concise, meaningful content. Please also include availability (semester or a full academic year internship).

Education Department: Public Programs
Public Programs cover a broad field at MAD including: lectures, cinema, performance, adult workshops, residencies and fellowships and demonstrations. Public Programs serve as an ever-evolving and progressive resource center and laboratory for art, design, craft and other forms of cultural production. Our initiatives engage participants in active critique whether using traditional artistic disciplines or emerging contexts and aim to explore creative methodologies and develop innovative possibilities.

Because of the large scope of this department, interns are divided by interest and skill into the following two categories:

Cinema
Cinema at MAD strives to challenge and diversify the cinematic canon by presenting emerging and underrepresented cinematic artists and groups who promote dialogue and explore innovative approaches to cinematic form. From theatrical films, to television, kinescopes and works for mobile-device content, Cinema at MAD aims to promote an ongoing focus on human experience.

Reporting to the Director of Public Programs, cinema interns will assist in curating, coordinating, and presentation of cinema programming. Ideal candidates:

Hold a strong knowledge of contemporary and historical cinema
Strong written and verbal skills
Although not necessary, previous history with festival, theatrical, and organizational film programming is preferred

Dance, Performance, Social Practice and Live Programs
This area of Public Programs focuses on showcasing new processes and approaches to live performance, dance and various forms of social practice. Our performances revolve around ideas of supporting traditional and emerging performance-based practices that utilize the contemporary art museum as context, tool and resource center.

Reporting to the Director of Public Programs, interns will assist in curating, coordinating, and presentation of all public programming with an emphasis on the categories above.
Ideal candidates:

Hold a strong knowledge of contemporary and historical cinema
Strong written and verbal skills
Although not necessary, previous history with festival, theatrical, and organizational film programming is preferred

To apply for one of these internships please send a cover letter and resume to jake.yuzna@madmuseum.org with “Live Performance Intern” or "Dance, Performance and Social Practice" in the subject line. Your cover letter should outline your specific interest in one of these internships, along with your qualifications and skills that you believe make you a strong candidate for one of these opportunities. Please also include if you are interested in a semester only internship or a full year (academic year) internship.

Education Department: School and Teacher Programs

School and Teacher Programs explore the field of museum education in theory and practice, as well as behind-the-scenes administrative support while producing educational content and resources for K-12 student and teacher audiences.

These offerings consist of two school programs including MAD’s signature youth program MADlab and our in-school program Arts Reach; as well as the Teachers’ Resource Packets, Teachers’ Professional Development and the Teacher Advisory Committee. This intern will explore the following areas depending on an intern’s skills and interests:

Assisting experienced educators with K-12 school group visits and learn in-gallery engagement strategies
Conduct qualitative research such as helping to evaluate teaching artist and docent performance
Participate in-gallery training exercises
Draft study guides and resource materials
Assist with developing and implementing promotional efforts
Review lesson plans written by teaching artist
Assist coordinating teacher events including Teachers’ Advisory Committee meetings
Review and compile school program evaluation data
Assist with the outreach to schools and community groups
Facilitate drop-in activity for visitors of all ages to explore hands-on making

Ideal Candidates will:

Have an interest in and knowledge of youth development, and contemporary art, craft and design
Have strong written and verbal communication skills; be detailed-oriented
Have previous experience with students—preferred, though not necessary
Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office proficiency a must)
Ability to prioritize tasks, and to work well collaboratively as well as independently
Must be available for 2 -3 days a week

To apply to this internship please send a cover letter, resume and 2-3 references to nakeisha.gumbs@madmuseum.org with “School & Teacher Intern” in the subject line. Your cover letter should outline your specific interest in this internship, along with your qualifications and skills that you believe make you a strong candidate for this opportunity. Please also include if you are interested in a semester only internship or a full year (academic year) internship.

Education Department: School and Teacher Programs: Arts Reach (off-site, in-school)

The Arts Reach program allows MAD’s education department and its teaching artists to extend their reach to middle and high school students at the Manhattan Alternate Learning Centers and the Bronx Alternate Learning Centers. This partnership provides the opportunity for students who are in severe danger of being left behind to learn about arts & design through museum visits and in-class hands-on projects. The primary goals are to provide a positive and nurturing environment where critical thinking and creative problem solving is encouraged.

As this program runs off-site at participating schools, the internship sessions are different from the museum itself. Below are the truncated sessions. All applicants MUST be available the entire three months of this internship.

FALL SESSION: October – December
APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 22

WINTER SESSION: January – March
APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 8

SPRING SESSION: April - June
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 16

Reporting to the Manger of School and Teacher Programs, interns will:

Assist MAD Teaching Artists with hands-on projects both at the museum and in the classroom

Collaborate with Teaching Artist on lessons/ workshops
Lead inquiry-based discussions
Help prepare all materials needed for hands-on projects
Participate in planning meetings
Time commitment: 1 hour classes—twice a week, on-site at the school

To apply for this internship, please send a cover letter, resume and 2-3 references to artsreach@madmuseum.org with “Arts Reach Program Intern- Fall (or Winter, or Spring)” in the subject line. No prior teaching experience needed, although previous experience with youth/students is a plus. The ideal candidate will be available to travel throughout Manhattan and/or the Bronx.

CURRENT PAID INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
There are currently no paid internships

No phone calls please. The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.