Family Programs Intern at the Whitney Museum of American Art

Job Title: Family Programs Intern 

Location: New York, NY

Stipend: $3000

Note: This listing was sent to us by one of out 2023 alum.

The Whitney’s Academic Year Internship program offers a semester-long paid internship for undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited academic program. The internship is hybrid, with some onsite work. For Fall 2024, interns commit between 16–21 hours per week over 10–12 weeks for a total of 200 hours. Interns are assigned to a specific department at the Museum for the duration of the internship.

The Whitney seeks a Family Programs intern for the Fall 2024 semester.

Family Programs are designed to encourage kids of all ages and their grown-ups to observe, discuss, and explore art together while developing a sense of lifelong experimentation, critical thinking, and creative expression. Participants will have the opportunity to work directly with contemporary artists, museum educators, and each other. Family Programs strive to create a family-friendly environment at the Whitney or online, by offering opportunities for parents with a wide age range of children to access the Museum’s programs and resources

Expected Projects & Assignments

  • Support Open Studio, a weekly drop-in artmaking program for families on Saturdays, each Second Sunday, and all other family events.
  • Supporting freelance educators offsite at community partnerships and Community Programs public events.
  • Support with curriculum materials for freelance educators working with community partners and senior centers.
  • Research artists in the Whitney’s collection and current exhibitions.
  • Prepare art materials, organize material inventories, and maintain storage and program spaces.
  • Provide administrative support (e.g. track statistics, create signs and informational materials).
  • Complete a final project connected to community programs and partnerships.

Skills & Qualifications

  • Strong interest in working with kids and families, and experience working with art materials.
  • Passionate about and have knowledge of contemporary art.
  • Interest in organizational projects and preparing large amounts of art materials for museum programs.
  • Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to work on a team.
  • Proficiency in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, or ASL is a plus.

Provided Training

  • Microsoft Office Suite and Outlook.
  • Curriculum development and introduction to new works of art, artists, art materials, and techniques
  • Art material preparation.
  • Opportunities to observe and support programs, tours, guided visits, and artist workshops.
  • Hands-on experience with visitors.

Outcomes

  • Intern will become a valued part of the Family Programs team. They will gain knowledge of how to produce educational programming at a cultural institution. They will learn about museum programming and work with a wide audience of kids, families, grownups, and more.

Compensation
Interns will be paid a stipend of $3,000.

Generous support for Ostrover Family Academic Year Interns is provided by Julie and Doug Ostrover.

How to Apply

Apply on the Whitney Museum site

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

 

About the Whitney:

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement:

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment