Curatorial Intern

The Phillips Collection•Washington, DC

12h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Phillips Collection's internship program is open to full-time junior and senior undergraduate students, full-time graduate students, and recent graduates. The purpose of the internship program is to offer students and recent graduates meaningful work, educational experiences, and real-life practice in their fields of academic study and/or interest. Duration: Internships run ten to fifteen continuous weeks at 12-20 hours per week. Internship length and schedule may vary depending on the needs of the department. This internship will run from Monday, June 1st- Friday, August 14th , 2026. This is a hybrid position, but we would prefer this intern to work primarily onsite, with 16 hours minimum per week. This intern will work directly under the Chief Curator. Academic Credit: Depending on the nature of the internship and approval of the student's college or university, academic credit may be granted for internships. Student applicants should consult their academic advisor for additional information. Please submit a résumé, letter of interest, letter of recommendation, complete transcripts, and a writing sample with citations of up to 500 words.

Requirements

Open to junior and senior undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates.
Background in art history or museum studies with a focus on art history.
Strong research skills, including primary research in libraries and archives and online database research.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Exceptional organizational and detail-oriented abilities.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of European late 19th century and early 20th century art desired.
Reading fluency in French language strongly desired.
Previous experience in an art museum setting desired but not required.

Responsibilities

Assist with planning and research for special exhibitions.
Conduct and gather primary and secondary research at area libraries and archives, scan and print research, and compile bibliographies.
Organize physical and digital research and curatorial planning files.
Assist with day-to-day curatorial and/or museum administration operations.
Assist with planning for publications, compiling materials, and proofreading.
Complete data entry.
Gather digital images and prepare PowerPoints.
Take meeting notes and draft correspondence.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Assist at evening events such as Phillips after 5 and other community events as needed.