Lunder Summer Curatorial Intern (for Maine Residents/Students)

Museum of Fine Arts • Boston, MA

16d • $17 - $20 • Onsite

About The Position

The MFA is delighted to continue the internship supported by the Lunder Foundation. This is a needs-based paid internship offered to an outstanding student who is a resident of or enrolled in a college in the state of Maine. The criteria for applying for this internship are:

Maine resident or enrolled in a Maine college 
Currently enrolled undergraduate 
Proof of Federal Student Aid eligibility required 

Art of the Americas

The Art of the Americas Department, spanning the Ancient Americas times through the 20th century, is responsible for exhibitions, installations, programs, and a range of initiatives focused on one of the MFA’s largest and most distinguished permanent collections. Encompassing the art of North, Central, and South America, including paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts, the Art of the Americas’ curatorial staff coordinates installations in the permanent galleries, organizes special exhibitions, researches the collection, and supports a range of loan activities to other institutions.

Art of Europe

The Art of Europe department at the Museum of Fine Arts is home to one of the world’s foremost collections of European art, spanning from the Middle Ages to the mid-twentieth century. Our holdings include masterpieces in painting, sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts, with notable strengths in Italian Renaissance relief sculpture, Dutch Golden Age painting, Impressionist works, and English silver.

The Lunder Curatorial Intern will assist both the Art of the Americas and Art of Europe departments with a variety of organizational and administrative tasks in support of these outstanding collections. This internship offers a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in museum operations, especially in the care, management, and documentation of major works of art. The intern will be closely supervised by the Department Coordinators and will work in consultation with the Department Chairs to learn the daily functions of a museum and the intricacies of managing its collections.

During the first half of the internship, the intern will primarily assist with the annual audit of the collection, which provides an in-depth, practical experience with the works in the galleries as well as in storage. This part of the internship will involve direct interaction with objects and will offer valuable exposure to how collections are tracked and maintained. In addition, the intern will become familiar with the museum's collections database system, The Museum System (TMS), and support various administrative tasks such as conducting object research, drafting object labels, refining object files, and assisting with database management. There will also be opportunities to contribute to social media content about the collections, gaining experience in how museums engage with the public digitally.

The Lunder Intern will also participate in behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, gaining insight into the broader operations of a major museum. This includes visiting other departments and attending special learning sessions designed to provide exposure to various aspects of museum work. Over the course of the internship, the intern will collaborate with curators specializing in paintings and decorative arts, and, whenever possible, research projects will be tailored to align with the intern’s own professional interests and goals.

The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, tech-savvy, and able to handle a range of administrative tasks with efficiency and accuracy. A strong interest in museum studies, art history, or a related field is essential, as is a desire to gain practical, hands-on experience in the museum world.

Candidates must be able to work onsite up to 4-5 days per week, for 32 hours, between the 9am-5pm, Monday – Friday workweek from June 15 through August 21, 2026. Additionally, interns must attend orientation on Mon, June 15, (10am-3:30pm), and the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on Thursdays.

The selected intern will be paid at a rate of $ 16.80 per hour, ($19.95 for graduate.) Each intern will receive a $90 per month transportation subsidy, and a $1,500 housing subsidy, (payable in two equal installments.) Both subsidies are subject to taxes.

As we amplify our efforts toward becoming a truly inclusive institution, ensuring that diversity, equity, and access are lived values, we actively encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply to the program.

Requirements

• Must provide proof of Maine residency/enrollment and financial aid eligibility via copy of page one of FAFSA form (Please redact any information indicating your amount of financial aid)
• Enrolled in and returning to an undergraduate program in history, art history, or museum studies, or a related area of study (class of 2027 or 2028 preferred)
• Basic knowledge of art history or museum studies
• Demonstrated interest in learning about curatorial activities.
• Previous office experience or related work
• Familiarity with computer programs, especially databases, is desirable.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and reliability; ability to work independently.
• Ability to work onsite 32 hours per week, within Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm parameters, between June 16 and August 21. Additionally, interns must attend orientation on Mon, June 15, (10am-3:30pm), and the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30—2:30pm on Thursdays.
• Ability to attend orientation on June 15, 2026, from 10am to 3:30pm.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with multiple members of department of Art of the Americas and Art of Europe to ensure hands-on experience with museum curatorial work.
• Assist Department Coordinator with the annual department audit conducted by Price Waterhouse 
• Build object files with artist and artwork information.
• Help with writing object descriptions for our website and uploading the information in MFA’s database, TMS.
• Assist with correspondence, photocopying, and filing as well as other daily activities. 
• Prepare and offer a 3-minute final synoptic presentation of the internship as part of the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course.

Benefits

• Each intern will receive a $90 per month transportation subsidy, and a $1,500 housing subsidy, (payable in two equal installments.) Both subsidies are subject to taxes.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed