At International Arts & Artists, we support the development of arts and nonprofit professionals through our internship program which offers hands-on experience under the mentorship of seasoned staff. Students currently enrolled in museum studies and arts programs, as well as in related fields, have the opportunity to contribute to a variety of projects that support the advancement of cross-cultural understanding in the arts, both nationally and internationally.
Meet Erin, Traveling Exhibition Service Intern at IA&A. Erin is currently studying art history at University of Maryland, College Park and has recently curated an exhibition on campus focused on domestic art practices. Keep reading to hear more about Erin's internship experience at IA&A and plans for her future career.
How has art impacted your life?
Growing up between Baltimore and Washington, DC, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by art in more ways than one – my parents took me to museums and art festivals relatively often when I was young and many of the people in my family either paint, draw, or sculpt. As a result, I’ve been interested in creating and experiencing art for most of my life. I’ve met a lot of friends either through taking studio classes together or bonding over museum trips, and I think that art has played a major role in shaping my career interests and expanding my world view.
Why were you interested in working with us at IA&A?
I was initially drawn to IA&A after visiting your gallery, IA&A at Hillyer, during a DC Art Walk last year. As an art history major with an interest in museum studies, I hope to pursue exhibition development as a career. I thought that the internship opportunity with IA&A’s Traveling Exhibition Service would be a wonderful way to get hands-on experience working with exhibition managers, all while learning more about traveling exhibitions specifically. I also wholeheartedly support IA&A’s philosophy of developing and circulating a diverse range of exhibitions both throughout the US and abroad. I think accessibility to art is incredibly important, and I was deeply interested in supporting an institution that values bringing art from a variety of cultures and time periods to communities around the world.
What projects did you work on during the internship?
I had the opportunity to assist on a variety of projects, including identifying potential exhibition venues for Spirited Things: Sacred Arts of the Black Atlantic, researching themed exhibitions that could be developed for travel, updating exhibition venue and contact databases, and brainstorming ideas for possible anniversary exhibitions that could be developed in the future. In addition to these exhibition-related projects, I also got the chance to work with primary sources relating to IA&A’s Hechinger Collection. One of my favorite aspects of this internship was reading old letters and combing through archived notes written between artists and collector John Hechinger. Using these materials in combination with online research, I was able to update some of the biographies for artists in the collection.
What was an important skill you learned during the internship?
Something concrete that I’ll definitely take away from this internship is the ability to navigate large exhibition databases. Learning how to use Access in relation to organizing and researching visual art venues was an invaluable experience, and I’ll be able to transfer this skill to a multitude of art-oriented internships and job opportunities in the future.
How will your internship experience at IA&A influence your academic goals or career?
Interning with IA&A this summer has helped solidify my desire to work at a small visual arts-oriented non-profit organization. I’ve always been interested in museum and gallery work, but interning at IA&A has made me appreciate the value of being part of a smaller arts organization, as opposed to a larger institution.
What will you be taking with you from this experience?
One of the most important things I’ll be taking away from this internship is an understanding of how much individual time and effort goes into the “behind the scenes” of planning and marketing traveling exhibitions. Before starting at IA&A, I only had experience working with exhibitions that were designed for a specific venue. I knew of traveling exhibitions, but I didn’t have a well-rounded understanding of the differences between planning and executing a one-venue exhibition and one that would travel to multiple locations. Interning at IA&A has made me appreciate how much effort goes into preparing an exhibition “for the road,” whether it be the amount of marketing and outreach, the logistics of shipping and crating, or the work that goes into drafting and editing all of the materials that are associated with each show.
What’s next for you after the internship?
Following my internship at IA&A, I’ll be starting my final year as an undergraduate art history major at the University of Maryland, College Park. I’ll be writing my honor’s thesis and serving as the Student Gallery Manager for the University of Maryland’s Stamp Gallery, where I had the opportunity this summer to curate Radical Threads, an exhibition focusing on domestic art practices. I’m also beginning the process of applying for Master’s programs focusing on art history and museum studies, and I’m looking forward to pursuing a career in the museum/gallery sector!
What advice would you give to someone interested in interning with a nonprofit organization?
Definitely do your research – familiarize yourself with the overarching goals and philosophy of the organization, look into any permanent collections they hold, and don’t be afraid to ask questions! The easiest way to learn about what to expect from an organization or their internship opportunities is to talk to the people who work there.