Internship Term: Spring Quarter 2025

Applications Due: January 31, 2025, 5pm PST

Position Start: April 14, 2025 (Estimated)

Position End: June 20, 2025 (Estimated)

TITLE: Emerging Arts Leader, School & Educator Programs

DEPARTMENT STAFF MENTOR: Manager for School & Educator Programs

FLSA Status: Temporary, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $20.77 per hour

Benefits: SAM Interns have access to an onsite fitness facility and SAM’s museum library, can access a no-cost Employee Assistance Program resource, enjoy a 20% discount at the SAM Museum Shop and a 10% discount at SAM’s MARKET cafe, as well as member rates for ticketed events at SAM, receive 2 SAM guest passes per quarter worked, have a Tier III membership to the American Alliance of Museums, can access 8 Home Free Guarantee cab rides home per year, can opt into a 50% subsidized unlimited Orca card, and accrue paid sick leave at a rate of .0385 per hour worked.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Seattle Art Museum connects art to life. SAM strives for its employees, volunteers, and interns to reflect the community in which it exists. Emerging Arts Leader internships are intended to open career pathways for individuals who bring dynamic backgrounds and perspectives to their work in art, museums, or community engagement.

While diversity can embody many characteristics, this internship program is intended to engage with historically under-represented groups in the museum field including, but not limited to, individuals of African American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander descent.

EMERGING ARTS LEADER, SCHOOL & EDUCATOR PROGRAMS

Partnering with SAM’s Education team, this intern will focus on a review and update to SAM’s Artistic Elements outreach suitcase program.

Outreach Suitcases contain artifacts and books students and educators can handle, examine, and discuss. Each suitcase has an Educator Resource Guide complete with relevant Washington State standards-based curriculum and activities that can be adapted to students K-8. Though this program is currently on hiatus at SAM, we are hoping to relaunch this resource at our satellite location for outreach suitcases.

The intern will be responsible for reviewing the previous Artistic Elements outreach suitcase and updating its contents and curriculum. This includes connecting the different elements of art and Washington State learning standards to select objects at the museum, as well as using SAM supplies and sourcing supplies to assemble two physical suitcases with contents geared towards visual and tactile learning.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This intern will learn to navigate a multi-department organization, form meaningful professional relationships, and apply their own perspectives and leadership experience to work at the museum. In addition, this intern will:

• Develop a clear understanding of SAM’s current strategies in developing educational programs and engaging a broad range of audiences both within and outside of our galleries.
• Learn to collect, organize, and summarize information from multiple sources.
• Refine a writing style that clearly articulates program goals, learning outcomes, and impacts for K-8 student audiences.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT:

15 hours per week, for 10 weeks. Schedule is flexible within Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm office hours. Start and end dates may also be flexible depending on intern needs and academic schedule.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Research artwork and educational strategies used in past School & Educators outreach programs.
2. Learn about key concepts related to arts education and learning, such as Visual Thinking Strategies, multimodal communication, and relevant WA curriculum standards.
3. Develop an updated Artistic Elements outreach suitcase, containing relevant books, hands-on activities, and other learning materials appropriate for K-8 students.
4. Develop and deliver a presentation related to your internship work or professional interests.
5. Complete a job shadow with frontline volunteers during open hours.
6. Complete a one-page reflection, blog post, or interview about your internship experience.
7. Attend Enrichment Sessions, informational interviews, and check-ins as available.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

1. Demonstrated interest or experience in the arts, education, or public arts programs. Competitive candidates will be able to articulate why this Emerging Arts Leader Internship supports their professional goals in museums or the wider arts industry.
2. Familiarity with engaging multilingual learners and differentiating educational approaches for student needs is preferred. Candidates with in-classroom instructional experience are well-positioned to get the most out of this internship experience.
3. Some familiarity with Visual Thinking Strategies or engaging audiences as a teacher, docent, or guide is preferred, but not required.
4. Clear understanding of concepts related to racial equity, intersectionality, and social justice.
5. Demonstrated proficiency in general computer use, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the internet.
6. Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive and proprietary information.
7. Ability to independently take initiative, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
8. Ability to work accurately with close attention to detail.
9. Ability to ask for help and accept supervision and evaluation of your work.
10. Ability to work with co-workers, vendors, and volunteers professionally and tactfully.
11. Ability to adhere to museum policies and support management decisions in a positive, professional manner.

EDUCATION & REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Applicants are not required to have previous professional or museum experience. Competitive applicants will show a demonstrated commitment to the arts and leadership in community building. At minimum, a high school diploma or equivalent is required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Exposure: Work areas are primarily inside, in a climate-controlled environment with light background noise. Work is occasionally performed at other indoor and outdoor sites. 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES REQUIRED FOR ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Stationary Work:  Approximately 80% of time is spent stationary while working at a desk. Balance of time (approximately 20%) is spent moving around the work area. Occasional extended periods of standing may be required when assisting at Museum events.

Communication:  Clear and effective communication with volunteers, donors, members, the public, and co-workers is necessary.

Moving:  The ability to move up to twenty pounds on occasion is necessary for moving files, equipment, and supplies. Must be able to regularly position self to access files.

Office Work:  Ability to effectively and regularly operate a computer, keyboard, and other office productivity machinery, such as copy machines and printers, and ability to inspect, prepare, and use paperwork, files, equipment, and supplies is necessary.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.

Please be aware that SAM does not sponsor work or study visas for interns at this time.

APPLICATION PROCESS (APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 31 AT 5 PM)

Applications are only accepted via the online form at https://seattleartmuseum.applytojob.com/apply.

Application materials in PDF format may also be sent to [email protected].

Each application should include:

• Application Form (completed online)
• A Personal Statement of no more than 500 words detailing:
  • How your personal background or academic/professional experiences inform your perspective on education and learning in museums, community, and the arts.
  • How questions of equity and inclusion shape your personal and professional goals.
  • What you hope to gain from this experience and how it might enhance your education and career plans.
  • How you consider yourself as meeting the specific criteria set out in the job description for this internship.
• Resume, which describes experiences you believe are relevant to this internship and your professional goals. This may include professional experience, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, community service, and academic projects.
• At least one Letter of Recommendation, ideally from a teacher, supervisor, or mentor. References should be emailed directly to [email protected], with the applicant name noted in the Subject line.

For additional information or to request reasonable accommodations for the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (206) 654-3188 or at [email protected]

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Celebrating difference. At Seattle Art Museum, our members, visitors, and local community come from all walks of life, and so do our employees, volunteers, and interns. The plurality of our identities and experiences strengthens our mission: connecting art to life. Our mission and vision call us to be responsive to a multitude of cultural contexts and lived experiences, and as such, our Strategic Plan directly addresses the role art plays in empowering and elevating social justice movements, and promoting structural change to further equity in our society. SAM is particularly dedicated to racial equity in the workplace, because we know that people of color are the most impacted when it comes to both historical and present inequities. We know that equity is not a single fixed destination, it’s ongoing reckoning. As SAM continually strives to be a more inclusive and equitable workplace, we are particularly interested in engaging with those who have been historically underrepresented in the museum field. We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace, and a sense of belonging for each and every employee, because we know our organization is at its best when we celebrate difference.

SAM is an equal opportunity employer. We are an equal opportunity employer, and consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, sensory, physical, or mental disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship or immigration status, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. SAM is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures, and will consider candidates for employment who may need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the job. Please contact the Human Resources Department at HR@seattleartmuseum.org for additional information, or to request reasonable accommodations for the application or interview process.

We encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace, and a sense of belonging for each and every employee, because we know our organization is at its best when we include, celebrate and embrace difference. We encourage you to submit an application, even if your experience doesn’t feel like a 100% match with the position. We know applying for a job can be intimidating, and research tells us that womxn and folks of color are less likely to apply if they don't see themselves meeting or exceeding every single qualification listed. We encourage you to apply, even if you feel unsure about whether you meet every requirement in this job post. You could very well be a great fit for this role or others.

Criminal background check. Employment at SAM is contingent upon successful clearing of both a federal and state criminal background check.

Want to learn more? If you haven't already, check out our Careers page for more on working at SAM.

Though we'd love to be able to reply to every question that crosses our desk, due to the high volume of applications we receive, our HR team is unfortunately unable to offer a response to inquiries requesting search status updates, inquiries about hiring timeline, or requests to be put in touch with directly with the Hiring Team. If your experiences and capabilities are well suited to an open role, our Recruiter or the Hiring Manager will reach out directly to schedule an interview. Thanks for your understanding!