Summer Internships

Through intensive one-on-one work on substantive projects with members of the Museum of Art staff, internships offer a unique way for students to acquire purposeful work experience. Interns will gain and apply knowledge and skills that are fundamental to work in museums and galleries. The work interns perform is often collaborative and interdisciplinary and serves the evolving priorities of the Museum. 

The Bates College Museum of Art Summer Interns work in the museum during regular museum hours 35 hours/week for 7-8 weeks June-August. 

Shelbie McCormack examines a Vietnamese ceremonial dagger while cataloging objects for Bates College Museum of Art

Shelbie McCormack examines a Vietnamese ceremonial dagger while cataloging objects for Bates College Museum of Art

Olin Arts CenterThe museum's educational intern will learn how to maintain art. Will hopefully take place in the big room where the museum's thousands of items are kept

Corie Audette, Assistant Registrar/Collections Manager, studying works in the collection with intern Gene Chen ’22

Olin Arts CenterThe museum's educational intern will learn how to maintain art. Will hopefully take place in the big room where the museum's thousands of items are kept

Interns Bridget Thompson ’22 and Helen Pandey ’22 study objects in the collection with Education Curator Anthony Shostak

Eliza Pyne '13, right, and Irem Ikilizer speak during a gallery tour on March 15, 2013. Pyne and Ikilizer were interns for the artist Fransje Killaars as she installed her exhibition.

Irem Ikilizer ’15 and Eliza Pyne ’13, interns, leading a tour of the exhibition Fransje Killars: Color at the Center

Museum Interns Cara Garcia-Bou 13 and Nell Wachsberger 13

Museum Interns Cara Garcia-Bou 13 and Nell Wachsberger 13

Theodore Martin, 4, of Durham shows his mom, Valeska Martin, the print he made during the family printmaking workshop at Bates College in Lewiston on Monday. Bates College Museum of Art intern Hannah Gottlieb showed examples of prints from the museum's collection. She provided materials to make prints with items such as broccoli, toy cars, spinach and bubble wrap. Martin's 6-year-old brother, Elliott, also attended the workshop with about 15 other children and their families.

Hannah Gottlieb, intern, celebrating a successful image with a participant in a family printmaking workshop

Olin Arts CenterThe museum's educational intern will learn how to maintain art. Will hopefully take place in the big room where the museum's thousands of items are kept

Education intern, Helen Pandey ’22, learns from Education Curator Anthony Shostak how to maintain art (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)

Successful Candidates

  • Have general knowledge of art history and/or studio practice;
  • Are strong communicators, both written and verbal, and work harmoniously with co-workers and peers in a collaborative environment; 
  • Are reliable, responsible, and punctual; and
  • Work well independently and can co-create/follow a work plan
Olin Arts CenterThe museum's educational intern will learn how to maintain art. Will hopefully take place in the big room where the museum's thousands of items are kept

Learning Objectives

  • Curatorial
    •  Develop skills in art historical research and interpretation to draft exhibition labels, didactics, and/or catalog entries that are accessible to a general audience.
    •  Learn the logic behind “visual storytelling” by assisting in stages of exhibition development.
  • Education
    • Participate in event planning and delivery.
    • Create or assist with creating educational materials, such as Two-Minute Tours, gallery guides, or digital assets, that translate complex curatorial themes into object-based learning experiences
  • Collections Management
    • Gain proficiency in using museum database software to scan/photograph objects, catalog, update provenance, artist biographies, or exhibition histories.
    • Learn to perform detailed inspections of artworks to identify and document stability, damage, or environmental wear.
    • Understand the standards of museum registration, including the tracking of locations within a permanent collection and organizing storage spaces.
  • Administrative
    • Engage in planning processes and contribute reports  at staff meetings.
    • Assist in the coordination of museum marketing and engagement, with a particular focus on developing opportunities for student engagement.
    • Learn basics of project management.
    • Contribute research for projects related to strategic planning.
Former curator Bill Low shows visitors artwork from the collection
Artists in a studio
Interns examine art
Application Details

Interested applicants should send a cover letter describing their interest specifically in Bates College Museum of Art and relevant experience, resume, two letters of reference, and a writing sample (such as an academic paper). 

Please address your cover letter to museum@bates.edu, with the subject line “Summer Internship Application [Your Name]” e.g. Summer Internship Jane Doe.

Intern Testimonials