Internships at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Job Title: Intern
Location: Amherst, MA
Deadline: March 1, 2024
Administration and Development Internships
Alix Zacharias Internships
Available in the summer
As a former volunteer at The Carle, Alix Zacharias felt the hands-on experience and mentoring she received helped her redefine her career goals. She created this internship program to provide a unique opportunity for others interested in Museum leadership, business administration, or non-profit development and fundraising. The Museum offers two Alix Zacharias internships:
- The Museum Administration & Leadership Intern works closely with the executive director, the special assistant to the executive director, and the director of operations focusing on museum management and grant proposal efforts as well as a specific research project developed in direct consultation with the executive director.
- The Development intern works closely with the director of development and the development & marketing team, focusing on fundraising, membership, and marketing efforts, as well as a specific research project on fundraising trends in museums developed in consultation with the director of development.
The interns participate in managers and all-staff meetings, and gain an understanding of how the various museum departments function within the context of the organization as a whole. Each internship culminates in a final project report and a presentation to Museum staff.
The internships, which include the month of July, run eight weeks beginning with a mutually determined start date and require a 25-hour-a-week commitment. Demonstrated strong research and writing skills and interest in museums are required. Experience with databases are a plus. This program pays $3,000. Applications must be submitted electronically by March 1.
Education and Collections Internships
Trinkett Clark Internship
Available in the summer
Founded to honor the life, work, and vibrant spirit of the late Trinkett Clark, a museum curator and the first wife of H. Nichols B. Clark, The Carle’s Founding Director and Chief Curator Emeritus. This internship provides a unique opportunity for individuals interested in pursuing careers in the arts or museums. Participants get practical experience in curation, collections management, and museum education.
The Trinkett Clark intern will focus on exhibition, collections, and education Department-specific initiatives developed with the chief curator and the director of education. Participants gain familiarity with the Museum’s database and a body of research and written descriptions of artworks. The project outcome of the internship is a thematic book exhibition in the Reading Library.
Interns attend weekly collection department meetings, monthly all-staff meetings, and gain an understanding of how different museum departments function within the organization through specially planned intern sessions.
The internship, which includes the month of July, runs eight weeks beginning with a mutually determined start date and requires a 25-hour-a-week commitment. Demonstrated strong research and writing skills, and experience with databases, are required. A love of picture books is important! This program pays $3,000. Applications must be submitted electronically by March 1.
Art Studio Internship
This internship was last offered in summer 2022 and is not currently available
The Art Studio is a creative drop-in space, where guests of all ages participate in open-ended art projects. Interns play an important role in furthering the aims and values of the Art Studio: to provide a highly accessible space, to celebrate materials through open-ended exploration, to promote collaboration, and to pursue sustainable art-studio practices. Interns work closely with The Carle’s art educators to build their knowledge of the pedagogy and administration that underpins the day-to-day running of the Art Studio.
How to Apply for a Paid Summer Internship
Apply using the online application (applications will be accepted starting in late November of 2023)
Application deadline: March 1, 2024
The application requires the following documents
- A completed Internship Application instead of a cover letter
- Résumé or CV
- Two letters of recommendation (academic or professional, signed on letterhead)
Letters must be received by the deadline and submitted directly by the recommenders to hr@carlemuseum.org or The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Internship Program, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA 01002. Be sure to give your letter writers enough time; we recommend asking them at least one month before the application deadline.
Incomplete applications cannot be accepted. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are not able to receive phone calls. We notify all applicants when a position has been filled.
What if you have an internship grant or scholarship?
If you have secured external funding and are interested in an internship opportunity, at any time of year, within a certain department, please inquire at hr@carlemuseum.org. The Development, Marketing, Collections, Education, and Administration departments have hosted interns previously outside of the museum-funded opportunities, when timing and capacity allowed.