2026 Art Prep Intern: Summer (Housing Not Included)

Job Description:

Intern Position Title: 2026 Art Prep Intern: Summer (Housing Not Included)

Position Type: Part Time/Full Time

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: Art Management

Intern Supervisor: Collection’s Technician

Intern Classification: Undergraduate or Graduate

Date Reviewed: 12/10/2025

About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, charitable, non-profit organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a ‘living room’ where the community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. The Momentary enriches lives through music, art, and food experiences that inspire creativity, build community, and create joy. You belong here, make the most of this moment.

Position Summary:

This Art Management/Preparation Department internship, taking place over 16 weeks during the fall academic semester, is designed around a range of critical collections care projects.  Under the general supervision of the Collections Technician, in conjunction with the Associate Registrar for Collections, the intern will receive training and provide hands-on assistance to the preparation team in the care and storage of the museum’s collection, while learning about a variety of techniques and materials used to care for various works of different mediums.

Application Materials: 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.

• What interests you most about working in an Art Management/Preparation Department, and why do you want to pursue this internship?
• What skills (technical or organizational) do you bring that will help you succeed in assisting with the care and storage of a museum collection?
• Collections care requires precision and attention to detail. Can you share an example of a time when you demonstrated these qualities in a previous role or project?

Duties and Responsibilities:

Some critical projects include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting with the improvement of housing works on paper, including photographs, prints, drawings, and books. 
• Assisting with routine yearly maintenance of outdoor bronze sculptures.  This includes thoroughly cleaning and waxing the sculptures to protect them from the elements.
• Assisting with the annual collection inventory, which will include exposure to and learning about the variety of different works in the collection.
• We are looking for an Undergraduate Intern seeking an art-related degree, preferably with a background in studio art and a sensibility for methods and materials.

Qualifications:

• College student, with completed coursework in studio art, art history, history, museum studies, or library science. Other majors will be considered.
• Familiarity with complex database systems a plus.
• Experience with data entry and proofreading.
• Sign a confidentiality agreement.

Timeline:

• Intern selected by: March 1, 2026

Schedule:

• Dates: June 1st through July 24th
• Hours: Up to 40
• Weekly schedule to be arranged with direct supervisor

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 Students: $13.00
• Graduate Students: $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.

Required Documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Application Materials: 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. 

Questions:

• What interests you most about working in an Art Management/Preparation Department, and why do you want to pursue this internship?
• What skills (technical or organizational) do you bring that will help you succeed in assisting with the care and storage of a museum collection?
• Collections care requires precision and attention to detail. Can you share an example of a time when you demonstrated these qualities in a previous role or project?

Housing

Housing for internship positions is contingent upon the availability of funding and is not guaranteed. Internships that include housing explicitly state this within the position description. Any housing and/or relocation assistance provided is considered taxable income and will be reflected on the intern’s Form W-2. If housing is provided, priority will be given to students whose primary residence is more than 150 miles or three hours from either Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art or the Momentary.

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 accommodations 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.