The John Wilmerding Fund for Education in American Art supports two nine-month hybrid internships: one in American art and one in digital interpretation. The internships provide institutional training to students interested in pursuing a museum career. The John Wilmerding Interns work on projects directed by a National Gallery curator or department head. Biweekly museum seminars introduce interns to the broad spectrum of museum work and to National Gallery staff, departments, programs, and functions.

Interns also learn about the National Gallery’s collection and build upon their research and public-speaking skills by developing and presenting live art talks. They participate in an intensive training program to learn how to talk about works of art in a way that is relevant, engaging, and accessible to diverse audiences. Interns then develop interactive tours, from 10 to 12 minutes in length, that incorporate their own interests and backgrounds.

The internship program features:

• Gallery talks with curators
• Discussions with top-level administrators, including the National Gallery’s director
• Conversations with staff from a wide variety of museum departments and with former interns
• Behind-the-scenes tours and demonstrations
• Presentations on the museum’s history and collection
• An omni-directional mentorship program that builds community, exchanges support and guidance, and develops a network of museum professionals.

The John Wilmerding Internship in American Art and the John Wilmerding Internship in Digital Interpretation are made possible by a generous grant from The Walton Family Foundation.

Eligibility

Although students with a spring 2022 undergraduate degree are welcome to apply, preference is given to applicants who are enrolled in a graduate program or are recent MA or MFA graduates. (A degree must have been received no earlier than 2020) Candidates who are people of color, LGBTQ+, bilingual or multilingual, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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The National Gallery requires all employees, including interns who work with us, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of location or arrangement (e.g., onsite, remote), subject to such exemptions as required by law. If selected, you are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to submit proof of vaccination during onboarding.

Terms

Interns work a hybrid schedule, 40 hours per week, from Monday, September 12, 2022, to Friday, May 5, 2023. A hybrid work model incorporates a mixture of in-office and remote work in an intern’s schedule. Interns should expect to work three days a week onsite but may work more. Interns receive a stipend of approximately $26,000 that is subject to all applicable taxes. They are eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program. Those who use an authorized method of public transportation receive an employer-provided fare subsidy to apply toward monthly transit costs.

Application Timeline and Procedures 

Deadline: February 28, 2022
All application materials must be submitted online, in English, through our portal by February 28, 2022. Applications or related materials submitted via email, postal mail, or in person are not accepted. There is no fee to apply to any of the internships.

The online application requires:

• A letter (single-spaced, about 750 words) to the selection committee stating your reasons for participating in the museum training program at the National Gallery of Art at this point in your education or career. It should include what you hope to achieve from the experience, what you feel you can contribute to the department(s) in which you are interested, and how such an experience would further your education and career plans.
• A writing sample (no more than 20 pages, including footnotes or endnotes, bibliography, and images). An academic paper works best for a research position.
• A résumé or full curriculum vitae of education, professional experience, honors, awards, and publications.
• One copy of unofficial transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended.
• Contact information for two references. One of these references must be someone who knows you in an academic context (either a professor or instructor). After you have submitted the name, title, and email address of your references, they will automatically be emailed instructions for uploading their letters online. We strongly encourage references to submit letters in English.

The deadline for all application materials, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, is February 28, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. (EST).

We recommend that you edit and proofread your application carefully before submitting it, and perhaps ask one of your instructors or professors to look over your personal statement. If you are unsure about how to write a personal statement or are uncertain which writing sample to submit, consider contacting the career services center at your college or university for guidance.

April 4 and 5, 2022
Interviews of finalists are tentatively scheduled for April 4 and 5, 2022. Only finalists for the John Wilmerding Internships are contacted for interviews via telephone or video chat. Finalists do not need to travel to the National Gallery of Art for an interview.

April 22, 2022
Final selection of interns.

Review Process
All applications are reviewed by a selection committee composed of National Gallery staff and external specialists.

Equal Opportunity
All qualified applicants are considered for an internship 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 is committed to diversity and offers equal opportunity and treatment to all who apply.

Internship Projects

Applicants may list up to two projects, in order of preference, on the application.