Seattle Art Museum

SAM Staff Emerging Arts Leader Intern, Curatorial

Curatorial - Seattle, WA - Internship

Emerging Arts Leader Staff Internship

Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 Quarters

Applications Due Date: May 3, 2024

Position Start Date: July 8, 2024 (Estimated)

 

TITLE: SAM Staff Emerging Arts Leader Intern

DEPARTMENT/LOCATION: Curatorial, African & Oceanic Art

SUPPORTING STAFF: Curator of African & Oceanic Art, Collections Associate

 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

SAM is dedicated to strategically investing in its own staff, and we recognize that many employees are already deeply invested in the arts and their communities. This Emerging Arts Leader internship is one opportunity for us to offer on-the-job training and help existing staff further build skills, develop professional relationships, and become more competitive applicants for future roles at the museum.

While most internships at SAM are open to internal applicants, this opportunity is specifically reserved for SAM employees working in Facilities, Security, and Visitor Experience.

 

SAM STAFF EMERGING ARTS LEADER, CURATORIAL

Over 15 weeks, the selected employee will complete a departmental project, connect with staff across the museum, and develop content showcasing their unique perspectives on work at SAM.

Focusing on several objects from SAM’s African Art collection, this intern will assemble research, transcribe provenance information, and build out detailed object records for eMuseum, SAM’s online collections platform. This project will have a strong focus on art historical research and some knowledge of African Art, repatriation, or collections records management is recommended.

 

ELIGIBILITY

This internship is reserved for internal staff candidates at SAM, Seattle Asian Art Museum, and Olympic Sculpture Park. Applicants must be:

  • Non-exempt, hourly employees with Full Time, Part Time, or Temp/On Call status.
  • Have at least 1 year of work experience at SAM, or equivalent combination of time as a SAM volunteer, intern, or employee.

 

PAY RANGE: The hourly rate for this role will match the employee’s current hourly rate, from $19.97 up to $33.40.

 

FSLA STATUS & COMPENSATION:

This will be a temporary internship role for non-exempt employees. No changes will be made to the intern’s existing employment status or benefits.

This intern will be eligible for the following benefits (at minimum):

  • Paid sick time accrued at a rate of 0.0385 per hour worked, estimated at 5.75 hours total for a 15-week intern.
  • SAM Savings & 403(b) Retirement Plan, with Roth option available.
  • Fringe benefits including two free guest passes to SAM, Tier III AAM membership, and a subsidized ORCA card.

 

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT:

This intern will continue their current role at SAM, shifting an equivalent of one full day (8-10 hours) per week to their internship work.

  • FT employees will shift up to 10 hours of their regular weekly schedule to their internship work.
  • PT and On-Call employees may add 8-10 internship hours to their regular weekly schedule, up to 40 hours per week, with supervisor approval.

Intern project work will fall within SAM’s standard office hours of Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM.

 

EDUCATION

Candidates are not required to have previous professional or museum experience. Competitive applicants will show a demonstrated commitment to the arts and specific career interest in the department for which they are applying.

This internship is not just for students and young professionals—candidates who are older, recently immigrated, or changing career paths are welcome to apply.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  1. Working with host departments, complete departmental projects as assigned. This may include research and content development, program support, and administrative support.
  2. Connect with other departments at SAM. This may include informational interviews, participating in department meetings, or attending museum events.
  3. Develop and deliver a 30-minute presentation, gallery tour, or other activity showcasing your perspective as an arts and museum professional.
  4. Complete a 2 hour job shadow with frontline volunteers during open hours.
  5. Complete a one-page reflection, blog post, or interview about your internship experience.
  6. Attend workshops, informational interviews, and check-ins as available.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

  1. Demonstrated interest in and experience with the arts. Competitive candidates will also be able to show how this internship supports their professional goals in museums or the wider arts industry.
  2. Clear interest and enthusiasm for art historical research, ideally about African Art or repatriation.
  3. Some experience with African Art, collections records, or provenance research is recommended.
  4. Strong writing and communication skills, and ability to clearly articulate goals, progress, and outcomes to a professional audience.
  5. Understanding of issues related to social justice, race, and intersectionality.
  6. Demonstrated proficiency in general computer use, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the internet.
  7. Ability to ask for help and accept supervision and evaluation of your work.
  8. Ability to work with others professionally and tactfully.
  9. Ability to adhere to museum policies and support management decisions in a positive, professional manner.

 

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.

 

OTHER EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Centering equity, diversity, and inclusion as an organization, and as individuals, Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is committed to ensuring that all employees and volunteers enjoy a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. SAM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, caste, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, political ideology, gender identity or expression, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status, use of Section 8 certificate, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other class protected by federal, state or local laws. 

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

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

 

APPLICATION PROCESS (APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 3 AT 5 PM)

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

Each application should include:

  • Application Form (completed online)
  • A Personal Statement of no more than 700 words detailing:
  • How your background, culture, or artistic/professional experiences inform your perspective on museum practice, 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 experience you believe is relevant to this internship and your professional goals. This may include professional experience, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, community service, academic projects, and more.
  • 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.

 

Questions & Requests?

Find out more about our internships program at https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/about-sam/careers/internships.

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

Apply: SAM Staff Emerging Arts Leader Intern, Curatorial
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