2026 Indigenous Art Curatorial Intern: Summer (Housing Not Provided)

2026 Indigenous Art Curatorial Intern: Summer (Housing Not Provided)

Position Type: Part-Time/Full-Time

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: Art Management

Reports to: Curator, Indigenous Art and NAGPRA Officer

Position Summary:

This position is for current students and/or career professionals interested in learning, working with, and supporting Indigenous Art within the museum space. The internship will directly support the Curator of Indigenous Art and NAGPRA Officer, providing insight and guidance on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), a federal law implemented in museum spaces, and developing skills to pursue a career in the arts, cultural, and non-profit sectors. The hours for this internship will accommodate the needs of both the intern and Curator. The selected intern will discuss and confirm a schedule with their supervisor to ensure a comfortable and manageable work arrangement. This opportunity will be in person at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, offering hands-on experience and direct collaboration with the Curator and museum staff.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal intern will have a strong interest in curatorial duties and possess soft skills such as time management, critical thinking, and effective communication. Due to the nature of the position, initiative and a willingness to learn and ask questions are strongly encouraged.

Note: Interns that do not submit a resume AND cover letter will not be considered for this opportunity. Please answer the following questions in your cover letter when submitting your application.

In your view, what role should museums play in preserving and presenting Indigenous art and culture?

How do you ensure accuracy and integrity in your research process? If given the opportunity to lead a special project during this internship, what area of arts education or museum-school collaboration would you focus on, and why?

What interests you most about working with Indigenous Art in a museum setting? How does this internship align with your academic or professional goals?

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in the coordination and execution of programs and events related to school partnerships, including arts integration initiatives and teacher workshops.
• Support communication efforts with school partners, including principals, teachers, and district administrators, ensuring timely updates and information sharing.
• Help develop and curate educational resources and materials for schools involved in the Crystal Bridges Arts Integration Partnership.
• Participate in the planning and facilitation of meetings, workshops, and training sessions for educators.
• Conduct research and compile reports on best practices in arts education, arts integration, and school-community partnerships.
• Provide administrative support to the Learning and Engagement team, including data entry, maintaining contact lists, and scheduling.
• Assist in the evaluation and reporting of partnership outcomes, including gathering feedback from school participants.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams at Crystal Bridges to support broader educational initiatives.
• Develop and implement a special project informed by the intern's academic focus and career aspirations, with guidance from the Program Manager.

Qualifications:

Meet with the reporting supervisor at least 2–3 times a week.

Assist with preparations for the museum reinstallation of the permanent collection and expansion.

Research permanent collection objects that will be part of the Reinstallation and Expansion.

Research a minimum of 10 objects on the exhibition checklist.

Review object files.

Catalog cards.

Archive correspondence.

Archive museum publications.

Present object-based research, including provenance statements and text about objects' history, use, and design.

Timeline:

Intern selected by: March 1st

Schedule:

Start Date: June 1, 2026

End Date: July 24, 2026

Weekly schedule to be arranged with direct supervisor. Interns are permitted to work up to 40 hours a week.

To qualify for bachelor's or master's hours, you must be enrolled in an accredited program or have graduated from an accredited program within the last three years. Students will be required to submit a current schedule or official transcript.

Compensation:

• Undergraduate Interns: $13.00
• Graduate Interns: $14.00

To qualify for bachelor's or master's compensation, you must be enrolled in an accredited program or have graduated from an accredited program within the last three years. Students will be required to submit a current schedule or official transcript.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: In the work environment described below, position requires work at a desk, utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time, good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching for filing, and physical stamina to lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a height of at least three feet for file and materials storage as appropriate for the demands of the office. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.

• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment and museum spaces. The noise level in the museum work environment is usually low to moderate.

If the intern's personal equipment is used, the museum accepts no liability for any damage caused to said equipment while being used for museum purposes, nor loss or corruption of electronic files on devices.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.