2026 Community Programs Intern: Summer (Housing Not Provided)

Job Description:

Position Title: 2026 Community Programs Intern: Summer (Housing Not Provided)

Position Type: Part Time/Full Time

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: Community Engagement

Reports to: Community Programs Manager

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, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. 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 community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. You belong here: make the most of this moment.

Position Summary:

The Community Programs Internship in the Learning and Education department at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is designed to provide an overview of the skills and responsibilities needed for community building, socially engaged arts practices, arts administration, and production for a range of audiences for a museum setting and in local communities. The internship will include administrative, arts producing, and teaching experiences with diverse audiences. 

The intern will assist with several programs including the CB to You: Mobile Art Lab that travels to libraries, afterschool programs, and neighborhood festivals, as well as supporting audience outreach and community group visits. The intern will assist with organizing kits from assembly, ordering supplies and contacting community partners to arrange delivery to the organization’s location. They will conduct online research about community programs at other museums and enhance accessibility across the institution by writing and reviewing verbal descriptions of artworks and captions for videos.   

The intern is part of the Community Engagement department and team, which may require additional program assistance as needed for the four pillars, as well as participation in team meetings and ideation sessions. There are several professional development opportunities throughout the summer cohort and opportunities to learn about various museum departments through lunch and learns and other programs with fellow interns. 

Note: 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. 

• The CB to You: Mobile Art Lab travels to various community locations. How comfortable are you with facilitating programs in different settings, and what strategies would you use to engage participants?
• What interests you most about community engagement or/and socially engaged arts practices?
• Accessibility is an important part of this internship. How would you approach making artmaking more inclusive?

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Community Programs Intern will actively participate and perform duties in some of the following functional areas: 

• Administrative, Research and Writing 

• Research Community Engagement and socially engaged programs at other museums  

• Assist in writing reports and marketing descriptions for Community Engagement 

• Audience outreach includes special invitation email writing and surveys to specific groups.  

• Program Support 

• Facilitation and set up of programs that travel to locations around NWA.  A vehicle will be needed to meet staff members at the location. 

• Supporting art kit outreach and organization of deliveries and assembly.  

• Administrative assistance on organizing reports and evaluation data. 

• The intern will assist with organizing kits from assembly, ordering supplies and contacting community partners to arrange delivery to the organization’s location. 
• The intern is part of the Community Engagement department and team which may require additional program assistance across the four pillars as needed as well as participation in team meetings and ideation sessions.    

Qualifications:

• College student, sophomore or above 

• Experience or interest in teaching in museums or informal learning environments 

• Experience or interest in working with diverse audiences including individuals with disabilities 

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills 

• Ability to work independently, as well as within a team 

• Dependable and punctual.  

• Intern will require access to a vehicle for events located within the Northwest Arkansas Region.  

• Intern MUST work flexible hours that will include some nights and weekends.  

• A background check is required 

• Must maintain confidentiality of all information 

Timeline: 

Intern selected by: March 1st

Schedule: 

Start Date: June 1, 2026 

End Date: July 24, 2026 

Weekly schedule to be arranged with direct supervisor. Interns are permitted to work up to 40 hours a week. 

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 Interns: $13.00
• Graduate Interns: $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. 

Housing

Housing for internship positions is contingent upon available funding and is not guaranteed. If housing is included for a specific internship, it will be clearly stated in the position description. Any housing or relocation assistance provided is considered taxable income and will appear on the intern’s Form W-2. When housing is available, priority is given to students whose permanent residence is located outside a three-hour radius (approximately 150 miles) of 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 accommodation 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.