Contemporary Curatorial Undergraduate Intern

Museum of Fine Arts • Boston, MA

15d • Onsite

About The Position

The MFA’s Department of Contemporary Art presents, collects and fosters access to and understanding of contemporary art, loosely defined here as work made after 1955 in painting, sculpture, time-based media, installation, and performance. The Department advocates for the importance of contemporary voices in the context of a global and trans historical museum, continually exploring opportunities to hear the voice of artists. With an eye on local, national, and international artists and communities, the Department creates a varied program for a range of audiences, working closely with colleagues from across the institution. The quickly evolving collection increasingly represents contemporary art in all of its iterations, transcending traditional boundaries and hierarchies of media, movements, and chronology.

The Department of Contemporary Art is seeking an undergraduate level intern with demonstrable interest in a curatorial and/or museum career. The internship will provide experience in exhibition planning, logistics, and research related to a retrospective of Suzanne Jackson (opening Fall 2026), and a forthcoming Banner Project (opening Spring 2027). In addition, the selected candidate will conduct collection-related research and assist with the administrative functioning of the department. Tasks will include participating in the creation and organization of object records for the contemporary collection; coordinating the imaging and transportation of collection objects; researching existing collection objects to bolster the Department’s files and online web texts; assisting with the annual collections audit by visiting onsite storage locations and conducting a detailed inventory, and other special projects related to the Department’s varied activities and the intern’s interests. While the intern will work closely with the Contemporary Art team and colleagues across the Museum, the Curatorial Assistant of the department will provide primary supervision and mentorship.

Ideal candidates must be able to commit to work onsite 14 to 16 hours weekly, mostly between 9am-5pm Monday-Friday between June 15 – Aug 21, including undergraduate attendance at the undergraduate Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on the following Thursdays: June 18, June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13, and August 20.

The intern will be paid at a rate of $16.80 per hour and will receive a $90 per month transportation subsidy as well as a $1,500 housing subsidy, (paid in two equal payments. (Both subsidies are subject to taxes.)  

As we amplify our efforts toward becoming a truly inclusive institution and fostering the next generation of museum staff, the MFA actively encourages students from all backgrounds to apply to the program.

Requirements

• Enrolled in and returning to an undergraduate program immediately following the internship period.
• Demonstrated keen interest in museums.
• Strong curiosity and interest in, and at least some knowledge of, contemporary art.
• Excellent organizational skills with keen attention to detail.
• Demonstrated excellent written and communication skills with strong research abilities.
• Proven ability to work as part of a team as well as comfort to work independently.
• Ability to work onsite 14–16 hours per week, within Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm parameters, between June 15 and Aug 21. Additionally, interns must attend the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on the following Thursdays: June 18, June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, Aug 6, Aug 13, and Aug 20.
• Ability to attend orientation on Mon, June 15, 2026, 10am to 3:30pm.

Responsibilities

• Assist with reviewing exhibition labels for the Suzanne Jackson exhibition and conduct research and documentation for the Banner Project.
• Research existing collection objects and update object and artist records in the MFA’s database, TMS, and help reorganize departmental files.
• Help with creating a more robust presence for relevant works on our website by writing object descriptions.
• Research and write new content for the Department’s newsletter.
• Assist staff with the annual collections audit by conducting an inventory of all contemporary objects housed onsite in storage spaces and galleries across the Museum.
• Assist in the imaging of collection objects by helping to arrange for their transfer to the MFA Photo Studio.
• Accompany supervisor and/or departmental colleagues on studio visits and museum visits within the Boston area.
• Work directly with multiple members of the Department of Contemporary Art to ensure substantial first-hand experience in Museum curatorial work.
• Prepare and offer a 3-minute final synoptic presentation of the internship as part of the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed