Special Internships

The Department of Art History has established six special internship positions at the following institutions:

These prestigious internships offer graduate students enormous opportunities to work within the art gallery setting. Individual descriptions for each of the four internships is presented below.

Emile H. Mathis Art Gallery Internship

The Department of Art History invites graduate student applications for the Emile H. Mathis Art Gallery Internship. This semester long program is intended to train graduate students in collection management as well art installation, marketing, and curatorial work. Students work under the supervision of the Director, the Academic Curator, and the Gallery Teaching Assistant.

To apply: Students must fill out an internship application form, provide a cover letter and CV/resume. You must be a first or second year MA graduate student in good standing. The successful candidate will demonstrate a high level of competency in research methods, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and an ability to work independently. Students who are awarded this competitive semester-long training program are expected to be present in the gallery 7-8 hours per week with a schedule approved by the Director and Curator. An additional weekly 2-3 hours of independent reading and research is required. Readings include select chapters from AAM’s Museum Registration Methods relating to common collections management tasks such as accessioning, database work, condition reports, storage methods, and object handling. Students also can use this time to conduct research for their Art Exposé presentation.

In the gallery, students will engage in a wide range of activities and trainings that include but are not limited to:

Collections Management
Object handling
Locating and retrieving objects from storage home location
Inventory of the UWM Art Collection in the gallery
Inventory of the UWM Art Collection loaned around campus
Research of objects in the UWM Art Collection
Accessioning recently donated objects into the UWM Art Collection
Photographing objects from the UWM Art Collection
Condition Reports
Implementing archival storage strategies to preserve objects
Using Past Perfect

Curatorial
Support the creation, design, and research of staff-curated exhibitions
Using Past Perfect
Research of objects in the UWM Art Collection
Research and preparation of an Art Expose Gallery Talk

Marketing
Create social media/website content

Library
Accessioning books for the UWM Art History Library
Using Past Perfect

Preparator
Hanging art
Framing/Unframing art
Putting up/taking down wall text
Cleaning the gallery space
Moving exhibition furniture

Education
Working with TAs and Professors to find art for the classroom
Pulling works for classes visiting the gallery
Presenting to classes
Presenting in the gallery for exhibitions

Process: The Director and Curator will interview selected applicants at the start of each semester. Students are encouraged to apply again if they are not accepted the first time.

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The UWM Art History Kohler Foundation + SPACES Internship

The Department of Art History invites graduate student applications for a summer internship at the SPACES Archives at Kohler Foundation, Inc. (KFI) in Kohler, WI. SPACES is dedicated to the study, documentation, and preservation of art environments. It is currently a preservation project of Kohler Foundation.

The internship is intended to train a graduate student in a range of activities including research, archive and collections management, and digitization. Students will be supervised by KFI Executive Director Laura Roenitz and will register for ARTHIST 891. Priority will be given to MA students in the Curatorial Track (MA in Art History with an Emphasis on Museums and Curatorial Practice).

Students who are awarded this competitive internship are expected to be present at the Kohler Foundation eight hours per week from early June until late August (approximately 14 weeks) and will receive a $2,000 stipend. Most work will be on-site, but scheduling can be flexible. The intern must have their own transportation to Kohler, Wis.

To apply:
Students must fill out an internship application form and provide a cover letter, CV/resume, and writing sample (2-4 pages). The successful candidate will demonstrate a high level of competency in research methods, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and an ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Drive is required.

This intern will spend the majority of their time working on a project related to photographer Seymour Rosen, founder of SPACES Archives. The project is to digitize and catalog SPACES’ large collection of Rosen’s slide images, which includes documentation of mid-century California and many art environments across the United States.

Project outline:

  • Digitize a large collection of Seymour Rosen’s slides
  • Create a project dashboard that tracks progress and image metadata
  • Create a digitized slide collection storage plan that prioritizes accessibility for SPACES staff and future researchers
  • Create inventory of Rosen’s images on SPACES website, noting where additional images need to be uploaded or replaced
  • Perform research on art environments photographed by Rosen that are not represented on the SPACES website

The intern will receive training on slide digitization and content management for the SPACES website. They will also have the opportunity to engage in other facets of SPACES’ work, including identifying other areas of work/research that may interest them.

Selection Process:
Applicants will first be screened by the Art History Internship Committee, then the selected candidate will be interviewed and approved by the Kohler Foundation executive director.

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The UWM Art History Haggerty Museum of Art Internship

The Department of Art History invites graduate student applications for a semester long internship at the Haggerty Museum of Art on the Marquette University campus. The internship is intended to train graduate students in range of activities including curatorial work, education, research, and marketing. Students will be supervised by Lynne Shumow, Curator of Education and/or Emilia Layden, Associate Curator, and will register for ARTHIST 891. Priority will be given to MA students working toward the Art Museum Studies Certificate.

To apply:
Students must fill out an internship application form, provide a cover letter and CV/resume. Students who are awarded this competitive semester-long internship are expected to be present at the Haggerty around 10 hours per week with a schedule approved by the director.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a high level of competency in research methods, excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational skills and attention to detail and an ability to work independently. Preferred qualification: focus in medieval, Renaissance and early modern periods.

Students will engage in a wide range of activities and trainings that include but are not limited to:

Curatorial and Education
Supports curators in all areas of their responsibilities including research for exhibitions and publications, maintenance of collections records, bibliographic and biographical records and files, and general curatorial inquiries.

Researches and catalogs the permanent collection and archives as part of an ongoing collection management initiative.

Writes, edits, and assists in the production of Museum publications and exhibition-related materials, including wall texts and extended object labels.

Performs exhibition support functions, including bibliographic and checklist research, publication research and production, website development, and public program planning.

Conducts museum tours and creates didactic information for K-12 students.

Works with the Registrarial Department to promote and facilitate the use of the permanent collection as a teaching resource for Marquette faculty and students and the greater Milwaukee community.

Process:
Applicants will first be screened by the Internship Committee, then the selected candidate will be approved by the Director of Education and/or Associate Curator at the Haggerty Museum of Art. Students are encouraged to apply again if they are not accepted the first time.

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The UWM Art History Chipstone Foundation Social Media Internship

The Department of Art History invites graduate student applications for a semester long internship at the Chipstone Foundation in Fox Point, WI. A nationally known organization dedicated to the study and curation of American decorative arts and material culture, the Chipstone Foundation has a strong record of communicating new research and innovative interpretative strategies to students, scholars, and the general public. Over the past decade, using social media platforms has become central to fulfilling the Foundation’s mission. On Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, we share ongoing research, scholars’ visits, collections highlights, programming, and more. This work requires researching our collection, brainstorming points of connection between contemporary issues and historical art, writing posts, and maintaining best practices in museum social media strategies. Accordingly, this Social Media Internship is intended to familiarize graduate students with curatorial practice, research, and programming, with a focus on promoting the Foundation’s work and collection on social media platforms. Students will be supervised by Curator of the Chipstone Foundation Ruth Dibble and will register for ARTHIST 891. Priority will be given to M.A. students working toward the Art Museum Studies Certificate.

To apply:

Students must fill out an internship application form and provide a cover letter and CV/resume. Students who are awarded this competitive semester-long internship are expected to be present at the Chipstone Foundation around 10 hours per week with a schedule approved by the Chipstone Curator and Director of Research.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a passion for arts education, dynamic written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and an ability to work independently. Preferred qualification: interest in American art or decorative arts and museum public relations.

Students will engage in a wide range of professional activities that include:

  • Collaboratively creating and managing a social media calendar
  • Researching, writing, and creating posts
  • Growing Chipstone’s social media presence

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The UWM Art History Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) Internship

The Department of Art History invites graduate student applications for a semester long internship at MOWA, the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend, Wisconsin. The internship is intended to train graduate students in range of activities including curatorial work, research, art installation, marketing, and education. Students will be supervised by the Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Graeme Reid, and will register for ARTHIST 891. Priority will be given to MA students working toward the Art Museum Studies Certificate.

To apply: Students must fill out an internship application form, provide a cover letter and CV/resume. Students who are awarded this competitive semester-long internship are expected to be present at MOWA 5-10 hours per week with a schedule approved by the director.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a high level of competency in research methods, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and an ability to work independently.

Students will engage in a wide range of activities and trainings that include but are not limited to:

Collections Management
Inventory of the MOWA Art Collection
Research of objects in the MOWA Art Collection
Condition Reports

Curatorial
Prepare/write labels
Prepare/write checklists
Condition Reports
Research of objects on display

Marketing
Write exhibition promos
Design exhibition posters/postcards/catalogs
Mailings

Preparator
Hanging art
Framing/Unframing art
Matting art
Putting up/taking down wall text
Cleaning the gallery space
Implementing archival storage
Moving

Education
Exhibition tours
Pulling works for classes visiting the gallery
Presenting to classes
Presenting in the gallery for exhibitions

Process:
Applicants will first be screened by the Internship Committee, then the selected candidate will be approved by the MOWA Director of Collections and Exhibitions. Students are encouraged to apply again if they are not accepted the first time.

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