Cincinnati Art Museum Internships: A Gateway to Art and Culture

The Cincinnati Art Museum provides a variety of internship opportunities, offering invaluable experiences for students and recent graduates seeking to delve into the world of art and museum operations. These internships span various departments, from curatorial roles to education and administration, providing a comprehensive overview of museum functions. The museum is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. Let's explore some of the internship opportunities available.

Curatorial Internships

Collection Intern for Photography

This internship provides direct experience working with the museum's photography collection. The primary responsibility involves participating in a departmental initiative to re-catalog the photography collection within the museum’s database. The intern will gain practical knowledge of collection documentation and care practices. Ideal candidates are undergraduates or recent graduates studying art history, photography, or a related field.

Curatorial Responsibilities

Beyond internships, the curatorial department at the Cincinnati Art Museum is responsible for generating special exhibitions, whether from concept or assignment. This involves organizing, researching, writing, supervising, and coordinating details such as lectures, catalogues, brochures, labels, installation, photography, gallery tours, publicity, fundraising, presentations, loan selection and negotiation, hosting lenders and artists, and budget management. Curators also lecture and write on works of art in the museum’s permanent collection for scholarly meetings, publications, and general programs. They offer consultation and advice on art matters to other museums and collectors.

Conservation Internships

The Cincinnati Art Museum established a Conservation Department in 1935, making it one of the oldest in America. Conservation is dedicated to preserving cultural heritage through examination, analysis, and treatment of artworks.

The Role of a Conservator

Conservators investigate the materials and techniques used in creating artworks through technical and material analyses. They use ultraviolet and infrared light, x-radiographs, microscopes, micro-chemical testing, and micro-sampling to gather information that informs treatment decisions. Conservators also practice preventative conservation, managing environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and light levels to protect the collection. They address pest control, gallery layout, handling, packing, and storage methods.

Education and Interpretation Internships

Summer Camp Intern

The Cincinnati Art Museum offers Summer Camp Intern positions, providing opportunities to work closely with Summer Camp Instructors and high school volunteers. The intern helps facilitate a fun and educational art summer camp for children ages 6-12. This position reports to the Assistant Director of Gallery and Accessibility Programs, and Assistant Director of Adult & Studio Programs within the Learning and Interpretation Division.

Responsibilities

The Summer Camp Intern communicates with volunteers, engages children, creates art-making lesson plans, assists with supplies, and helps during studio time. They also demonstrate respect to co-workers, parents, students, and visitors, maintain confidentiality, and follow museum protocols.

Requirements

Applicants should be working towards a degree in art education, fine art, museum education, arts administration, or a related field. Ability to lead and manage children ages 6-12 is essential, and previous education, art, or museum experience is an advantage.

Summer Camp Instructor

Summer Camp Instructors work in teams to create and facilitate engaging art summer camps. They write art education lesson plans, co-teach, and engage children in creative activities. These instructors lead interactive activities in the museum galleries and facilitate art-making activities in the art studio for children ages 6-12, based on predetermined camp themes such as Myths and Monsters, Wild Places, Wearable Wonders, and Time Travelers.

Horticulture/Garden Internship

The Cincinnati Art Museum seeks a Horticulture/Garden Intern to assist in improving garden spaces, increasing plant diversity, and maintaining the outdoor environment. The intern will gain experience in grounds maintenance, operation of landscape tools, and basic principles of garden design, installation, and maintenance. Applicants should be enrolled in a horticulture program or have practical experience in horticulture or a related field. This position requires flexible workdays, including a Saturday or Sunday shift, and the ability to lift and move 50 lbs.

Read also: Affording CCM: A Tuition Breakdown

Philanthropy Communication and Administration Internship

This part-time internship within the Philanthropy department focuses on communication strategies. The intern will conduct research and analysis on current communication strategies to members/donors, comparing them to those of other museums and non-profits to recommend improvements. They will use the museum’s customer relationship management (CRM) database, Altru, and other software like WordFly and Social Good.

Graphic Design Internship

The Cincinnati Art Museum seeks a motivated Graphic Design Intern to support production-focused design projects across exhibitions, marketing, philanthropy, and institutional initiatives. This internship offers hands-on experience creating a wide range of visuals, including digital graphics, print items, signage, and environmental visuals. It provides an excellent opportunity for an emerging designer to gain practical experience in a fast-paced museum environment, collaborate across departments, and build a strong portfolio.

Other Opportunities

Line Cook/Back of House Employee

The Cincinnati Art Museum also hires for positions such as Line Cook/Back of House in the Terrace Café and museum kitchen. This role involves assisting the kitchen team in preparing food for the café and catered events, cleaning dishes, and maintaining the dish room. A high school diploma or equivalent is required, with a degree in culinary arts, hospitality, or restaurant management highly desired.

Japanese Prints Internship (Example from 2017)

In the past, the museum has offered specialized internships, such as one focusing on Japanese prints. This hands-on experience involved working with Japanese prints dating from the 1760s through the twentieth century. A reading knowledge of Japanese and a background in Japanese print history, history, and literature were desirable.

General Internship Application Information

To apply for an internship at the Cincinnati Art Museum, applicants typically need to submit:

A cover letter describing their interest in the internship program, museum work, and reasons for applying.
Two reference contacts (professional or academic only).
A completed application packet.

Interested candidates should monitor the Cincinnati Art Museum's career page for specific internship postings and application deadlines.

Additional Information

Donation Requests

The Cincinnati Art Museum considers requests for donations to events or organizations that are educational, artistic, or children-related. Recipients must be non-profits or businesses hosting a charity, and only one donation request per year is granted. Organizations must be based within 150 miles of the museum. Requests for individual or family fundraisers are not granted.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Cincinnati Art Museum is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where a variety of backgrounds, cultures, orientations, ideas, and talents can flourish.

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