McDermott Intern for Contemporary Art
Reports to: Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art; Lupe Murchison Curator of Contemporary Art; Nancy and Tim Hanley Curator of Contemporary Art
Department: Curatorial
Classification: Full-time, Non-Exempt
Term: August 30, 2021–May 20, 2022
Compensation: $13.50/hour (approximately $18,000)
Benefits: Full benefits including medical and dental insurance and paid personal, holiday, and sick time
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, 35 hours per week
Format: In-person and/or hybrid, depending upon the status of the pandemic
Scope of Position
The intern will complete extensive research on Contemporary art subjects related to the Museum's collection, assisting with exhibition preparation, acquisition proposals, and collection management, particularly in the areas of postwar art of East Asia, the Americas, and the African diaspora, as well as emerging artists and time-based media. The intern will draft didactic texts and review interpretive material for use in gallery and online, and compile documentation on works in the Museum’s permanent collection. The intern will support curatorial projects by attending interdepartmental meetings and working collaboratively with staff across the Museum. The intern will support logistical planning for upcoming exhibitions, including working with object files and artist representatives to determine site-specific installation specifications.
Internship Goals
- Expand art historical and object-based research skills, including the use of TMS collections database software
- Successfully collaborate within a team to plan and implement engaging content on a deadline
- Gain experience with writing in a museum context, including didactic texts, labels, and acquisition proposals
- Understand the museum exhibitions process from research to logistics to installation
- Develop professional communication and interpersonal skills through collaboration with museum colleagues
- Understand the relationship between all the departments within the Dallas Museum of Art and how they function together to comprise the organization
Requirements
- Completion of at least an undergraduate degree in art history or a related field prior to the start of the internship in August 2021
- Proficiency in Portuguese, Spanish or Japanese encouraged
- Interest in global, transatlantic, diasporic and post-colonial contexts and ideas highly desirable
- Demonstrated research and writing skills
- Ability to juggle multiple assignments
- Ability to work successfully within deadlines