Internships: Volunteer, Research Assistantships, and Apprenticeships

Internships: Eleven-Month | Summer | Volunteer

Fellowships: CASVA | Conservation | Curatorial

Volunteer: Docents | Art Information | Library | High School | Copyist | Horticulture

Employment: Current Job Announcements

Since 1964, the National Gallery of Art has offered professional museum training to candidates from all backgrounds through a variety of internship and volunteer programs. In addition to the Gallery's paid internships and fellowships, a number of unpaid internships, research assistantships, and apprenticeships are available. Unpaid interns work in one Gallery department, contribute to ongoing Gallery projects and programs, and attend the weekly museum seminar. Unpaid research assistants and apprentices do not attend the seminar.

Eligibility
Eligibility varies according to the project. The majority of volunteer positions are open to graduate students currently enrolled in a degree program and to recent recipients of a relevant advanced degree. Preference will be given to graduate students with funding from another granting institution or agency (such as Fulbright). For postgraduate participants with a master's degree, the degree must have been conferred within one year of the proposed start date; for PhD recipients, the degree must have been conferred within two years of the proposed start date.

Terms
Eligible applicants should refer to individual projects for specific terms offered. Both full-time and part-time opportunities are available. Part-time hours vary, but a commitment of twenty-four hours per week is expected. The museum seminar, open to unpaid interns, takes place on Friday mornings during the academic year and on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during the summer.

Projects
Please note: this Web site will be updated as new projects are announced.

Press and Public Information – Video Archiving Systems Intern
The intern will focus on auditing the media collection of the press and public information office, create a log of media types and content using Filemaker Pro, research media library standards, and develop a system and appropriate formats for accessioning and deaccessioning media. This important work will dovetail with that of the video production and distribution intern (see description below) in the same office. The systems set up by this intern will enable the Gallery to produce media summaries about its promotional campaigns and to produce frequent and timely video and audio releases in multiple formats for multiple platforms, including television, Facebook, YouTube, and the Gallery's own Web site. Current library and information science graduate students and 2009 graduates of such programs are invited to apply. Term of internship: 6–12 months. Deadline: May 8, 2009, for a start date of June 15; June 30 for a start date of September 8.

Press and Public Information – Video Production and Distribution Intern
The intern will coordinate camera crews shooting video and will edit footage of major press events, exhibitions, lectures, and concerts to be posted on the Gallery Web site, YouTube, iTunes, and/or Facebook. He/she will produce evergreen videos of the Gallery for distribution to press outlets and networks and will produce a video to orient new staff to the Gallery. Familiarity with Final Cut Pro and Filemaker Pro as well as previous experience producing film, television, or Web programs are desired. Current film production graduate students and 2009 graduates of such programs are invited to apply. Term of internship: 6–12 months. Deadline: May 8, 2009, for a start date of June 15; June 30 for a start date of September 8.

Application Materials
Application form (PDF 33k)
(Download Acrobat Reader)

Complete application packets must include:

1. Six copies of completed application form


2. Six copies of full résumé or CV


3. Six copies of a writing sample (roughly fifteen pages)


4. Transcripts (for applicants at institutions that issue transcripts): send us six copies of transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution you have attended.
   This can be done in either of the following ways:
   
   1. open a copy of an official transcript, make five copies of the original, and send all six to the mailing address below
      
   or
   2. make six copies of unofficial transcripts and send all six to the mailing address below.
      
      
   Note: If you choose the second option and you are accepted into the program, you will need to provide us with one original transcript from each institution you have attended. Should you have difficulty in securing transcripts, a third option is to request that the records officer or registrar from each institution send the transcripts directly to the National Gallery via fax or e-mail.
   
   The fax number is (202) 842-6935, attn: Department of Academic Programs; and the e-mail address is intern@nga.gov.
   
   For applicants at institutions that do not issue transcripts: send us six copies of comparable documents. If you have a question about what might be considered a comparable document, please contact intern@nga.gov.


5. Submit three letters of recommendation, one from a chair or dean of your department, one from a professor, and one of your choosing. Letters must be in sealed envelopes with the signature of your reference across the seal.

Complete application packets must be received by the project deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

Review Process
All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of National Gallery of Art staff and outside specialists.

Mailing Address
Department of Academic Programs
Division of Education
National Gallery of Art
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785

Inquiries
For additional information about National Gallery of Art internships please contact the Department of Academic Programs by telephone at (202) 842-6257, or e-mail intern@nga.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions

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The present announcement supersedes all previous information about the Volunteer Internships, Research Assistantships, and Apprenticeships.