Since 1964 the National Gallery of Art has offered professional museum training to candidates from all backgrounds through a variety of internship programs. In addition to the Gallery's paid internships and fellowships, a number of unpaid internships and research assistantships are available. Interns work in various Gallery departments, supervised by a curator or other department head. Interns contribute to ongoing Gallery projects and programs and are invited to participate in the weekly seminar that introduces the staff, departments, programs, and functions of the Gallery. Research assistants concentrate on specific projects and do not attend the weekly seminar.

Eligibility

Positions are open to graduate students currently enrolled in a degree program and to recent recipients of a relevant advanced degree. Preference will be given to graduate students with an award from a granting institution other than their home institution. For postgraduate participants with a master's degree, the degree must have been conferred within one year of the proposed start date; for PhD recipients, the degree must have been conferred within two years of the proposed start date.

Terms

Eligible applicants may request participation for a period between 3 and 11 months. Both full-time and part-time opportunities are available. Part-time hours vary, but a commitment of 24 hours per week is expected from unpaid research assistants. For unpaid interns, 28 hours per week is expected. Interns and research assistants are encouraged to begin their appointments on one of the following dates: Winter—January 14, 2013; Spring—March 11, 2013; Summer—June 10, 2013; Fall—September 16, 2013; full academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring)—September 16, 2013. Please note the number of hours per week you are willing to work in your application.

Application Timeline and Procedures

Rolling Schedule

Unpaid interns and research assistants will be accepted throughout the year on a rolling application schedule. Applications need to be received at least a month before the proposed start date.

Application Packet

Complete application packets must include:

1. Completed application form.
2. Full résumé or CV.
3. A writing sample. The sample should be approximately 20 pages, including footnotes, endnotes, bibliography, and images. If the sample is an excerpt from a longer paper, please include a short paragraph indicating what portion you are submitting and what the paper goes on to address.
4. Three letters of recommendation; one must be from the chair or dean of your department, one from your advisor, and one is of your choosing. Letters must be in sealed envelopes with the signature of your reference across the seal.
5. Transcripts (for applicants at institutions that issue transcripts): send us copies of transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution you have attended.

Transcripts

Note: Should you have difficulty in securing transcripts, you may request that the records officer or registrar from each institution send the transcripts directly to the National Gallery via fax or e-mail. The fax number is (202) 842-6935, attn: Department of Academic Programs; the e-mail address is intern@nga.gov. 

For applicants at institutions that do not issue transcripts: send copies of comparable documents. If you have a question about what might be considered a comparable document, please contact intern@nga.gov.

Review Process
All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of Gallery staff and outside specialists. Please note that materials submitted in your application packet will not be returned.

Equal Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for an internship, fellowship, or research assistantship without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, or any other protected status. The National Gallery of Art offers equal opportunity and treatment to all who apply and is committed to diversity.

Current Opportunities

Department of Audio Visual Services

The intern will assist in the production and post-production of video projects that occur on or around the campus of the National Gallery of Art and include live event capture for lecture programs, and editing for podcasts. Duties include assisting the videography crew to plan, prepare, shoot, and edit scripted productions and live lecture programs. Activities will include writing, capture, sound, and various post-production tasks including reviews and delivery on various formats. Required: knowledge of fundamental videography principles and practices, and post-production editing tools such as Final Cut Pro. Knowledge of operational elements of pro-level cameras, lighting, sound, lensing, and motion principles. Background in video or film production and post-production is essential.  

Gallery Shops Division

The Gallery Shops of the National Gallery of Art seek an intern with experience in photography, imaging, and website graphic design to participate in the re-launch of its web store, which is scheduled to occur in October 2013. Duties include helping define the web image style guide, shooting 3D products, scanning flat art, and editing and sizing images for web use. Required: experience photographing 3D objects, especially products, and proficiency in Photoshop. Experience designing fine art museum web graphics is a plus.

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