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Internships are a tradition at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The Museum has offered students the opportunity to intern with the staff since 1940. The Museum currently offers academic year and summer internships to qualified undergraduate and graduate students interested in gaining practical museum experience and who have a strong interest in a museum career. Undergraduates must have completed their sophomore year to apply.

Interns work under the guidance of Museum staff, and participate in the ongoing work of the department. Internships acquaint students with the challenges and rewards of planning and implementing a variety of projects, programs, and services and introduces them to specific areas of the museum profession.

Internships are generally offered in the following areas depending on present and upcoming projects and needs: art reference library, development office, community engagement, curatorial departments (graduate students only), gallery programs, marketing and public affairs department, membership office, photographic resources department, publications department, registrars office, teen programs, special and traveling exhibitions, statewide media resources (lending library), visitor services, youth and family programs, teacher programs, and statewide programming. The candidate’s relevant study or experience will determine placement. First choice placement will be made when possible, but candidates should also indicate a second and third department/office placement preference. Museum staff review application materials and finalists are contacted for interviews

The academic year offers fall semester internships from September to December, and spring semester internships from February to May. The number of hours varies depending whether or not students are receiving academic credit from their schools for the internship. A minimum of 8-12 hour commitments per week is expected during the fall and spring semesters. No stipends are provided.

Summer internships are offered from late May or early June to August. Weekly hour commitment ranges from 24-40 hours depending on the program, project and staff requirement, or if the student is receiving aca­demic credit for the internship. No stipends are provided.

To be considered for an internship, applicants must submit the following items in an application packet:

• Print, fill out, and mail the cover sheet. This form is a PDF file requiring Adobe® Acrobat® Reader.
• A letter detailing your interest in a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts internship, how such an experience will assist in achieving your education and career goals, and identify the three department/ offices of interest and reasons for your choices.
• A résumé or curriculum vitae.
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty.
• Official copy of most recent undergraduate or graduate transcript.
• A brief writing sample (i.e., a short essay, press release.)

Deadlines for applying*

Fall Semester/August 15
Spring Semester/November 15
Summer/March 15

*Students are placed after the deadlines if internships have not been filled.
Application materials cannot be returned

Internship application materials should be sent directly to the contact person below in the department you would most like to work.

ART REFERENCE LIBRARY
Contact Name: Lee Viverette

COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT
(photographic resources and registration departments)
Contact Name: Phoebe Brooks

CURATORIAL DEPARTMENTS (graduate students only)
Contact Name: Penny Arvin-Arrighi

DEVELOPMENT
(donor and corporate relations, planned giving and membership departments)
Contact Name: Carianne Zomonski

EDUCATION AND STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIPS
(adult/college, gallery, teacher, teen and youth and family programming; and statewide media resources—lending library, and statewide programming departments)
Contact Name: Megan Liles

EXHIBITIONS
(special and traveling exhibitions)
Contact Name: Carol Casstevens

SALES AND MARKETING
(community engagement, marketing, public affairs, publications and visitor services departments)
Contact Name: Felicia Moon

Mail to:

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Attn: place contact name here
200 N. Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007