Internships and Off-Campus Studies

There are numerous intern opportunities and apprenticeships available through the New York Arts Program, sponsored by the Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA). Students may obtain practical experience in museums and galleries, or spend a studio semester working with artists involved in printmaking, photography, painting, graphic design, medical illustration, architecture, art therapy and other specialties.

Through GLCA programs in Philadelphia, Britain, France, Germany, Mexico, Africa and Asia other opportunities to study off-campus are available.

Internships - Within Michigan

Thompson House, Hudson, MI

Assistant to the Curator at the Thompson House, an historic home in Hudson, Michigan. Built in the 1890s, the house was the long-time home of the Thompson family. The architecture has been maintained or restored to perfect Victorian authenticity and the house is filled with fine and decorative art objects. The collections are especially strong in Asia objects, including carved jade and Oriental carpets, Victorian and Edwardian furniture, nineteenth century paintings, and Tiffany glass.

Interns will undertake one or more projects designed in consultation with the Thompson House curator and an Albion College faculty member. Such projects may include accessioning objects and writing condition reports, researching groups of objects and writing reports or informational panels, helping with publicity for the museum, assisting with preparing exhibitions, or web page design and maintenance. In order to receive credit for this internship, students will keep a journal of their experiences and responses to them, they will prepare a semester-end paper, the subject of which will be determined by the student in consultation with the faculty supervisor and the Curator.

Contact: Bille Wickre, Department of Art and Art History ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ). This internship is available over the summer as well as during the academic year. Housing adjacent to the Thompson house may be furnished in some cases.

Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History

The Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History, an accredited institution, is firmly committed to providing educational experiences in professional museum practices for the young professional. Internships are available during the summer and during the academic year. Most interns are enrolled in a related academic program at an university or community college but independent applications are accepted. Academic credit and a stipend are provided in many cases. Interns generally work 10-15 hours per week depending on their academic schedule. Summer interns may work longer hours depending on their specific project.

While interns are specifically assigned to a department and generally to a specific project, all interns receive regular training in collections management and artifact handling. Visit The Ella’s website, www.ellasharp.org, for an overview of the museum and its programs.

Opportunities

Andrews Gallery of Wildlife Art – Exhibit Specialist

An intern in this department will learn the specifics of how to design, fabricate, interpret, and install an exhibition of wildlife art from the renowned Andrews Collection of Wildlife Art. Specific activities will concentrate on curatorship, visual communication, and program development. Additionally, interns will learn inventory control, collections management including artifact handling, and professional practices in museum management.

Education Department – Education Specialist

The Education Department is in charge of all public programming as well as the interpretation of exhibits. An intern in this department will learn the specifics of program design and planning as well as the implementation of outreach programming and school relations. Related activities will center on learning artifact handling and professional practices in program development.

Marketing and Visitor Services Department – Marketing Specialist

An intern in this department will learn the specifics of developing and implementing a marketing plan in a nonprofit organization. Specific activities will center on crafting press releases, media advertising, radio/TV copy, promotions, and special event coordination.

Requirements:

Interested candidates must submit the following: a cover letter describing their level of interest, a resume or academic transcripts, and an example of creative or expository writing. Any questions pertaining to applications should be directed to the intern coordinator.

Inquiries may be made to:

Dean Adkins, Intern Coordinator
Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History
3225 Fourth St.
Jackson, MI 49203
Phone: 517/787-2320
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Internships - Within the United States

New York Arts Program (Bille Wickre) Internship/Credit (4 units of college credit)

ASITAW (Art Studies in The American West) (Doug Goering) Credit Summer photo and art history program

Chicago-Urban Semester (Len Berkey) Internship

Washington DC - Washington Center (Marcy Sacks) Internship/Credit
Washington Semester Internship/Credit

Philadelphia (Trisha Franzen) Internship/Credit
Art Therapy, arts internships, museum work

Internships in Europe

London-Educational Programme Abroad (Marcy Sacks) Internships Art Therapy, arts internships, museum work

Art Schools

Europe and Australia: Italy
SACI Studio Art Centers International (Anne McCauley)
Credit
Fall/Spring/Summer

Ireland
Burren College of Art (Lynne Chytilo)
Credit
Fall/Spring

Scotland
Glasgow School of Art (Lynne Chytilo)
Credit
Fall/Spring

France
Marchutz School (Lynne Chytilo)
Credit
Fall/Spring/Summer

Universities

This is not an inclusive list—there are many more programs available.

Greece
College Year in Athens
Credit

United Kingdom
University of Aberdeen, Scotland (Bille Wickre)
University of Sussex, England

Please consult with the Center for International Education for more information and application forms.