2016 SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
As the preeminent institution devoted to the art of the United States, the Whitney Museum of
American Art presents the full range of twentieth-century and contemporary American art, with
a special focus on works by living artists. Designed by architect Renzo Piano and situated
between the High Line and the Hudson River, the Whitney's new building vastly increases the
Museum’s exhibition and programming space, providing the most expansive view ever of its
unsurpassed collection of modern and contemporary American art.
The Whitney Museum’s Summer Internship program is open to college juniors, seniors and
graduate students. Freshmen are not eligible, and applicants must have a minimum of two years’
of academic course work. Graduating seniors are also eligible. Under the supervision of a
department head or curator, interns gain first-hand experience with museum work by assisting
with regular departmental duties that range from research and special projects to
administrative tasks.
The Human Resources (HR) Department organizes weekly seminars with department heads
and curators to introduce interns to the museum profession. Curator-led tours and trips to
smaller cultural institutions are also part of the program.
The 2016 Summer Intern Program begins June 6th and continues through August 5th.
Participants must be available for nine consecutive weeks, five days per week and arrange for
housing independently. Interns receive two unlimited monthly metro cards, regular employee
discounts at the Museum restaurant, retail store, invitations to exhibition openings and free
admission to most other New York City museums.
Internships are available in the departments listed below, and these summaries describe the
functions of the department and not necessarily intern responsibilities. Applicants should
review the list and note three, in order of preference. If applicants are only considering either
Curatorial or Development, then state two to three areas of interest.
ADMINISTRATION: Provides management, oversight, and institutional strategic planning.
COMMUNICATIONS: Works with local, national and international media to secure coverage
of the Museum and its programs and activities; seeks out and maintains positive relationships
with critics, reporters and editors who are capable of providing meaningful coverage to the
Museum.
CURATORIAL: Oversees and guides the expansion of the Museum's permanent collection of
over 20,000 works of art, and organizes and generates exhibitions appropriate to the
institution's mission. Curators produce scholarship and research on the collection, author
catalogues to accompany exhibitions; cultivate and maintain relationships with artists;
participate in public programs (lectures, symposia); and oversee loans. Curatorial areas
include: Chief Curator; Permanent Collection; Prewar Art; Drawing; Prints, Photography; Film
and Video; Performance; Andy Warhol Film Project.
DEVELOPMENT: Responsible for fundraising efforts through engagement in strategic
planning, development, management and implementation in pursuit of building long-term
relationships for the museum’s financial health. Various initiatives include Board development,
a major gifts program, planned giving, memberships, corporate sponsorships, foundation and
government grants, and special events.
DIGITAL MEDIA: Develops and manages the Museum’s digital media initiatives, often in
collaboration with other departments, to help realize the Whitney’s programmatic, audience
development, visitor experience and fundraising goals.
EDUCATION: At the heart of all Whitney Education programs is a focus on artists -- their
materials, methods, and inspirations. As educators, the department creates opportunities for
visitors with different needs, experiences, and interests to make meaningful connections with
the art on view. Program audience includes K-12 students, teens, teachers, families, adults,
seniors and people with disabilities
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Oversees development and production of all Whitney visual
communications including advertising, promotional materials, gallery graphics, signage,
whitney.org, invitations and branded merchandise. Applicants must be Graphic Design majors.
MARKETING: Creates and executes promotional campaigns that drive attendance for
individual exhibitions and programs while serving institutional positioning/branding goals. This
includes designing and implementing marketing efforts via print, online, television, social media
and other channels to effectively reach target audiences.
PUBLICATIONS: Produces exhibition and collection catalogues; edits exhibition graphics,
brochures and exhibition-related ephemera; and sets the Museum’s editorial style. Rights and
Reproductions: maintains image assets, handles image and Hopper licensing, provides
images and permissions for institutional use, and oversees exhibition photography.
REGISTRATION: Responsible for the long-term preservation of the permanent collection and
all works of art on loan to the Museum. Maintain best practices while coordinating
arrangements for packing, crating, shipping, framing and insuring works of art for exhibition,
acquisition, storage or loan.
RESEARCH RESOURCES: Provides access and information to primary resources relating to
the museum’s history, collections, and programming. Comprised of the Archives, Permanent
Collection Documentation Office, Special Collections, and The Frances Mulhall Achilles
Library, the department is a platform to foster the research needs of museum staff and to
qualified members of the scholarly and museum communities. Students must be enrolled in an
MLIS program to be considered for work in the Archives or Library.
QUALIFICATIONS AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Internships are open to college juniors, seniors and graduate students (no freshmen) who study
different disciplines, have a strong interest in American art and/or museum work. Candidates
should have a strong academic background, internship/job experience and excellent
administrative skills. Applicants interested in curatorial should be aware that preference will be
given to upperclassmen and graduate students who are art history majors and have related
experience.
Instructions:
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There is no separate application, and incomplete applications will not be considered.
All materials should be scanned, organized into one PDF and emailed to hr@whitney.org
Write 2016 Summer Internship Program in the subject line.
The document should include the following:
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Resume
Cover Letter – Include list of 2-3 Museum departments, in order of preference. Describe
your interest in these areas and the experience you bring. If you are only interested in
Curatorial or Development, then state which area.
A one-page statement of purpose describing why you are interested in museum work,
your reasons for applying to the Whitney and your goals for the internship.
Letter of recommendation from a college professor or former employer (do not send
separately)
College transcript. Transcripts can be unofficial, but need to be readable. (do not send
separately)
Availability for an in-person interview in March. If you meet the qualifications of the
internship, we will consider SKPYE and phone interviews for students who are abroad
and far from New York.
Proposed beginning and ending dates of internship (if different than program dates)
Housing arrangements (include in cover letter)
ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 1st:
After reviewing applications, the Human Resources Department will contact selected applicants
for in-person or SKPE interviews. Since last minute openings do occur, those not selected for an
initial interview or who are interviewed but not initially accepted, will be placed on a waiting list.
The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does
not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or
citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including
gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum
encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description
shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.