Curatorial Intern | Spring 2022

Position Title:  Curatorial Intern | Spring 2022
Position Type:  Hybrid, in person (Bentonville, AR) or remote
Department:   Curator
Reports to:      Associate Curator

About:

Art Bridges is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. The mission of Art Bridges is to expand access to American art in all regions across the United States. Since 2017, Art Bridges has been creating and supporting programs that bring outstanding works of American art out of storage and into communities. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of nearly 170 museums of all sizes and locations to provide financial and strategic support for exhibition development, loans from the Art Bridges collection, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local audiences. The Art Bridges Collection features American masterworks of early American to present day and encompasses painting, sculpture, and photography.

Position Summary:

The Curatorial department seeks one intern for the spring 2022 semester (January 24, 2022-April 15, 2022). The intern works will assist with institutional research, loan sharing initiatives, exhibition projects, and collection research. The internship applies to the full scope of the collection, which currently spans from the 18th century through today in a variety of mediums.

Duties will include:

• Researching loan sharing initiatives
• Collection research
• Assist with loan sharing initiatives
• Institutional research

Preferred candidates will be passionate about expanding access to art with skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, research, communications, writing, and building interpersonal relationships. The intern should possess intellectual curiosity, flexibility, and openness to give and receive feedback. They will be interested in American art, community engagement, social justice, and DEAI. Applicants must be prepared for a hands on experience. The intern will have the ability to work with diverse partners, listen, ask questions, adapt, and collaborate.

This 12-week internship will commence on or about January 24, 2022 and will end April 15, 2022. The intern will work 10-15 hours per week as determined with supervisor and will be paid hourly.

Art Bridges is committed to a diverse workforce and to providing training for the next generation of museum professionals. Students from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Undergraduate: rising juniors or seniors and current seniors (class of 2022)
• Graduate: first or second year graduate students
• Interest in American art
• Completion of at lease one American art history course
• Detail-orientated
• A background check is required
• Must maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information
• Possible course credit can be negotiated with University departmental supervisor

Areas of Support:

The Curatorial Intern will actively participate and perform duties in some of the following functional areas:

• Assist the Curatorial team in activating the Art Bridges collection
• Potential partner research; identifying best contact person at identified institutions
• Writing and editing copy for various projects, including collection research.
• Assist with finding and/or developing content for the Art Bridges website.
• Assist with partner support. The needs of our partner venues vary, and this will require
• flexibility and problem-solving.
• Meeting attendance
  • Attend All Staff and Curatorial department meetings
  • Attend project meetings
  • Collaborate with curators, program administrators, education/programming staff, registrars, web developers, and others
• Other duties as assigned

Please submit a resume and cover letter and a writing sample (2-3 pages) to be considered for this internship. Email jsporleder@weioffice.com. The application deadline is November 8, 2021.

Internship Compensation:

$14/hr and/or course credit

Timeline:

• Application due by November 8. 2021
• Intern selected by December 1, 2021