Guggenheim

Please see below for a description of Museum departments that currently offer internships at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

ABU DHABI PROJECT

The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, designed by Frank Gehry, has begun construction and is slated to open in December 2013. All Abu Dhabi Project internships are based in New York. No travel is expected or required.

Abu Dhabi Project – Architecture/Exhibition Design

The Architectural Manager for the Abu Dhabi Project, responsible for the design and construction of the building on behalf of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, works with all the various departments of the Guggenheim, including very closely with the Project Director of the Abu Dhabi Project and the Curatorial Department. The Architectural Intern for the Abu Dhabi Project will work closely with the Architectural Manager on the future development of the building and the facilitation of future site specific art commissions for the museum and building.  The scope of work will include design work, analytic work, graphic work, 3D work, and presentation work. Candidates should have knowledge in the following programs: Rhino, rendering programs, AutoCad, Photoshop, Illustrator, PowerPoint, and Excel. Bachelor’s degree candidates accepted but master’s candidates preferred.

Abu Dhabi Project - Curatorial

Curators for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, currently under development, focus on collecting research for potential exhibitions and acquisitions programs. An expertise in modern and contemporary art is essential, and an interest in the Middle East is preferred.

ART SERVICES PREPARATION

The Art Services Preparations Department (ASAP) is responsible for all aspects of exhibition planning and installation. Its work includes preparatory drawings of exhibitions that detail construction, layout, and material specifications as well as assistance with transportation, installation, and final exhibition inspection. ASAP also locates and retrieves artworks for other museum departments, in addition to performing its own periodic inventories.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The Business Development department is responsible for retail development, licensing, publications, and traveling collection exhibitions for the museum. This encompasses product development for the Museum Store, management of the museum's publishing arm, licensing the Foundation's intellectual property assets to third parties, and preliminary planning for traveling collection exhibitions.

CONSERVATION

The Conservation Department is responsible for the treatment, safety, and maintenance of the museum’s vast collection of artworks, ranging from Impressionist paintings to Minimalist sculptures. A background in art conservation is not required for this internship.

CURATORIAL

Curators are responsible for the collection, exhibition, and interpretation of artworks. Drawing upon art-historical expertise, the curators decide what artworks to acquire for the museum's permanent collection and work with the conservators and registrars to oversee their proper care and maintenance. They research or oversee research of these artworks, maintain detailed records on them, and interpret them for the public through exhibitions and publications. As exhibition organizers of both artworks in the permanent collection and works on loan from other institutions or private collections, the curators have wide-ranging responsibilities: they conceive of the theme of an exhibition, select the artworks, secure loans as needed, determine the placement and presentation of the artworks, prepare wall texts and other didactics, and work with Education to develop public programs such as lectures and symposia. Curators also work with the Publications Department to produce collection and exhibition catalogues, as well as member magazines and website content. Finally, curators cultivate and maintain relationships with artists, galleries, and colleagues at other institutions, as well as trustees, acquisition-committee members, and other donors and supporters of the museum.

Curatorial–Asian Art

In 2006, the Guggenheim Museum became the first modern and contemporary art museum in the West to establish a curatorial program dedicated to Asian art. Since then, the Asian Art curatorial team lead by Samsung Senior Curator of Asian Art, Alexandra Munroe, has organized Cai Guo-Qiang: I Want to Believe; Anish Kapoor: Memory; The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia, 1860-1989; Being Singular Plural: Moving Images from India; and the 2011 exhibition Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity. Curators working within this program are responsible for the intellectual and strategic development of the Guggenheim’s exhibitions, collections, and educational initiatives dedicated to modern and contemporary art from across Asia, as well as Asian-born artists working outside the region.

DEVELOPMENT

The Development Department is responsible for raising a significant part of the museum’s budget through contributions, memberships, grants, and sponsorships. The department has several branches: Individual, Institutional, Corporate, Special Events, and Operations.

Individual Development cultivates individual donors through personal relationships, events, and written communication. Donations are made toward specific groups, committees, or projects. Applicants should have an interest in the museum’s programming and strong interpersonal and organizational skills. Interns will work on researching prospects, assist in planning and staffing events, and communicating with and stewarding donors. Interns in individual Membership will, in addition, assist with processing and handling contributions from the museum’s largest donor base.

The Institutional Development team raises funds from foundation and government sources to support general operations, exhibitions, education and public programs, conservation, capital projects, and the library and archives, among other areas of activity at the Guggenheim. Focus is placed on written proposals and reports, so strong writing skills are imperative for applicants, as well as an interest in the arts and good organizational and business skills.

Corporate Development builds partnerships with various corporations through sponsorships and memberships. They work closely with corporations to develop innovative local and global partnerships, and offer customized platforms that allow partners to provide their employees and clients exclusive access into the Guggenheim experience.

The Special Events team is responsible for the planning, coordination, and administration of various fundraising and rental events at the museum and off-site, including receptions, parties, galas, exhibition openings, and music series. Candidates must have strong interpersonal and organizational skills and keen attention to detail.

The Development Operations team supports the work of the entire Development Department through its database and filing system, research projects, list and
mailing management, event administrative support, financial processing, donor stewardship and recognition, and statistical and analytical reporting. People with a financial, research, or administrative background or interest might consider an internship with this team.

DIRECTORS' OFFICE

The Directors' Office has a dual function: the Museum Director’s Office is responsible for the overall direction and administration of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, establishment of goals, and the planning and development of policies for the museum; the Foundation Director’s Office manages the museum within the scope of the Guggenheim Foundation, including its relationship with the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project, and the Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin.

EDUCATION

The Education Department offers placements in the development, implementation, and administration of programs for a range of museum audiences including adults, schools, families, children, and general gallery visitors, as well as across a variety of learning interests including art, history, literature, art/museum education, film, new media, and much more. Program areas include Learning Through Art, School & Family Programs, Public Programs, Adult Interpretive Programs, and Internships. Education interfaces with many museum departments including visitor services, security, curatorial, library, marketing, public affairs, finance, design, and more. For more information, please see Education. 

Education-Public Programs

The Public Programs staff is responsible for the design, management, implementation and evaluation of a wide variety of learning experiences for adults including scholarly lectures/panels, artist talks, thematic symposia, private tours, literature readings, film screenings, workshops, and site specific performances. The programs are often closely tied to the changing exhibition schedule, the permanent collection, and the Frank Lloyd Wright building and seek to draw a diverse audience of general museum visitors, students/scholars, artists and art world professionals. The staff works closely and collaboratively with many museum departments including curatorial, theater, marketing, website, visitor services, design, IT, media relations and more. As an intern, a candidate also has the opportunity to be part of a dynamic team of art and education professionals onsite the Guggenheim Museum.

EXHIBITION DESIGN

The Exhibition Design Department designs and oversees the installation of exhibitions in all Guggenheim museums and outside venues for traveling exhibitions. The department is a repository for architectural information: museum drawings and models, and a library of maquettes of the collection. The department works with curators to determine the layout of exhibitions and designs aspects necessary for the installation of artwork. Interns in this department usually come from an architecture background and must be fluent in 3D-imaging software such as CAD or Vectorworks.

EXHIBITION MANAGEMENT

The Exhibitions and Collections Management Department oversees the planning and effective execution of exhibitions as well as exhibitions that travel to non-Guggenheim sites.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS 

External Affairs guides the branding, marketing, and communications strategy for the Guggenheim Foundation including Special Projects and SRGM, and supports the efforts of the network museums. The department leads efforts to cohesively position, convey and protect the Guggenheim's strong international image and reputation to a diverse range of constituencies including: the media, Trustees, staff, members, visitors, and prospective visitors worldwide.

 FINANCE

The Finance Department is responsible for the planning, control, and administration of the financial operations of the museum.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Graphic design is an integral part of the image of the museum. The Graphics Department is responsible for the design and installation of the museum’s building and exhibition signage, as well as the design and production of various printed materials, including exhibition-related ephemera (e.g., invitations, educational guides, and direct mail), informational brochures, and publications for all museum departments.

HUMAN RESOURCES

The HR Department is responsible for the recruitment and hiring of all staff, evaluation of compensation, and administration of all health benefit programs and the retirement plan. The HR Department also develops and implements museum policies and procedures, provides employee relations guidance to managers and staff, and oversees the annual performance appraisal process.  In addition, the department is responsible for compliance with all federal and state employment legislation.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The Information Technology Department designs, implements, and maintains the information technology infrastructure and applications that enable the museum staff to effectively and efficiently accomplish their goals. The IT department produces the strategies and tactics for introducing new technologies and solutions to further enhance staff productivity. It also responds to user requests for technology assistance on a daily basis and explores new technologies that enhance the visitor experience in the museum itself.

Interactive

Interns in this department are exposed to and assist with all areas of website management including design, editing, and content production. Interns will also be involved with special projects and exhibition-related initiatives such as exhibition sites, gallery touch screens, and mobile apps. Interns will interface with many museum departments, including Curatorial, Membership, Marketing, and External Affairs, to ensure their projects are completed successfully. Ideal candidates will have academic coursework in Art History, English, or related fields, and coursework in web design or development. Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, basic HTML/CSS, and Microsoft Office Suite is required.

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES

The library consists of published resources focused on modern and contemporary art, architecture, and photography, with an emphasis on the museum’s international collections and exhibitions, and serves the research needs of museum staff. The archives contains primary-source documentation that reflects the museum’s history, exhibitions, and collections, and is open to museum staff and qualified researchers. Library and Archives staff are responsible for the maintenance and management of the archives and library holdings.

LEGAL

The Legal Department is responsible for all legal matters of the museum. Departmental responsibilities include drafting and evaluating legal contracts, evaluating internal museum policies, preparing for contract negotiations, and performing legal research on art-law issues. This internship is intended for candidates who are currently enrolled in or have completed law school programs or the international equivalent.

MARKETING

The Marketing Department is responsible for creating and maintaining museum, exhibition and program brand awareness and identity, as well as for building audiences and supporting revenue generation both onsite and online through paid advertising, media sponsorships, social networking sites, and no cost collaborative promotions with partners.

PHOTOGRAPHY 

The Photography Department is responsible for photography of all art objects in the Guggenheim’s collections. The museum’s photographers also create architectural views of the Frank Lloyd Wright building, photograph installation views of all exhibitions shown at the Guggenheim, New York and take on a variety of special projects, often related to the Guggenheim’s exhibition program.   All current photography is created digitally and the department also manages a substantial archive of historic Guggenheim images on film.  The images created and managed by the Photography Department support a wide variety of institutional needs across many departments, including Curatorial, Conservation, Publications, Public Affairs, Licensing, Retail and Development.  Interns in this department often come from a background in photography and will need to be fluent in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom image handling software. Interns with experience in photography archiving and digital asset management will also be considered.

MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

The Media and Public Relations Department is responsible for the transmission of information to both the press and the public. The Media and Public Relations interns’ responsibilities include creating press materials, communicating with the media, maintaining press files, and assisting during media previews and other public-relations events. The Press Office also maintains a press archive and circulate relevant clips internally.

PUBLISHING AND DIGITAL MEDIA

The Guggenheim is unique among American museums for its ability to simultaneously publish books and catalogues in several languages. The Publishing and Digital Media Department designs and edits exhibition catalogues and collection books of the highest quality and scholarship, and working with international distributors, it insures their availability in bookstores on every continent. The museum's catalogue Zaha Hadid was the 2007 best-in-show winner in the American Association of Museums annual Museum Publications Design Competition, the most prestigious juried event of its kind.

REGISTRATION

The Registrar Department is responsible for the maintenance of records relating to the collections of the museums, and oversees the movement, packing, transportation, and storage of objects in the museum’s collections. The Registrar Department communicates with all exhibition lenders and oversees all loan agreements, developing and implementing policies and procedures pertaining to the acquisition, management, and disposition of collections. The Registrar department also handles arrangements for accessions, loans, shipping, customs, and insurance.

RETAIL

The Retail Department is responsible for the museum’s retail stores, direct mail and wholesale operations, and product development. Individuals with an interest in or previous experience in museum stores strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates who have taken coursework in business administration, retail administration, merchandising, or arts administration may be interested in an internship in this department. Knowledge of Excel, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign are desired, familiarity with POS systems and Yahoo Store interface a plus.

VISITOR SERVICES

The primary function of the Visitor Services Department at the Guggenheim Museum is to ensure a positive experience for all museum visitors. The goal of our policies, procedures, and programs is to encourage initial and repeat visitation, ultimately leading visitors to become members. The department’s activities include: providing superior customer service to visitors, selling museum admission, promoting membership as well as ongoing public programs, handling group sales, coordinating events, handling box-office requests, and researching and implementing effective visitor communications techniques.