Intern, Collections – Fall 2026

The Newark Museum of Art•Newark, NJ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Newark Museum of Art (NMOA) is seeking two interns for the Collections department for Fall 2026. This internship is part-time and onsite, requiring 3 days per week for ten consecutive weeks from September to December 2026. The internship is generously supported by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education’s Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program. NMOA, founded in 1909, is New Jersey's largest museum and ranks twelfth nationally in collection size, with over 130,000 artworks spanning global and diasporic cultures, science, and natural history. The museum is committed to an era of transformation, reimagining the role of the art museum for the 21st century and fostering inclusive experiences that spark curiosity and community. The internship offers practical, hands-on experience in object handling, preventative conservation, and proper storage, along with structured programming to engage with museum professionals and peers.

Requirements

Current NJ undergraduate student
Current NJ graduate student
Recent NJ college graduate: Must have graduated less than one year prior to start of internship experience
A current undergraduate student who is permanent NJ resident
Major or focus in collections management, art history, conservation, museum studies, or other related fields preferred.
Ability to remain in a stationary period for extended periods of time, move about, access, and operate computer equipment.
Ability to occasionally lift and move up to fifteen (15) pounds.
Ability to move throughout the Museum’s offices, galleries, facilities, and meeting spaces.
Ability to navigate accessible public and administrative areas of the Museum, including use of elevators.

Nice To Haves

Collections database interest or experience a plus.
Costume and textile collection interest or experience a plus.
Photography skills or experience a plus.
Creative thinking and growth attitude.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Good presentation facilitation and written communication skills.
Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook) preferred.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Collections team on a large-scale project to rehouse and rehang approximately 1,000 period garments, improving storage safety and appropriate hanging systems and dust protection.
Remove garments from hanging systems in existing storage, assessing their condition, and selecting the appropriate hanger size and protection covers.
Produce and attach visual identification tags for each garment, including photographs and key object information.
Accurately document all rehousing and rehanging activities in the Museum’s collection database, TMS, ensuring accuracy and thorough record-keeping.
Observe or assist with collection-related activities across departments (e.g. exhibitions, conservation, loans) as opportunities arise.
Participate in departmental meetings or behind-the-scenes tours related to collections management.
Present a summary of internship experience and project outcomes to museum leadership, including the Director/CEO, at the end of the internship.
Support the Registrar department with additional collections-related tasks as needed.