Exhibition Design Internship

The Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums (COFAM) is offering an 8-week, paid internship in the Exhibition Design department at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

FAMSF values diversity in culture, race and ethnicity, and gender expression. Candidates from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the arts and museum fields are encouraged to apply.

FAMSF is deeply committed to supporting the needs of our immediate community. In line with this objective, our summer internships are designed for those who live or go to school in the nine Bay Area counties.

Internship Program Overview

FAMSF’s Summer Internship program provides an opportunity to work in one of the largest public arts institutions in San Francisco. This program is designed to be an introductory professional experience, typically for students, emerging professionals, and those just entering the workforce, who are interested in a career in museums or the arts and who are passionate about equity and inclusion. This is a paid, full-time eight-week program, where interns will work directly with museum staff to support departmental goals and will be responsible for individual projects. Interns participate in training sessions, professional development, and a weekly Career Insights guest speaker series. They will gain knowledge of museum careers and culture, receive mentorship from full-time staff, hands-on project experience and feedback, and join a network of emerging museum professionals.

Department Description

The Exhibition Design Department is a collaborative team that creates the design and layout of artwork throughout the museums. The Exhibition Design Intern will gain knowledge and experience in museum Exhibition Design as well as exposure to the multi-disciplinary collaborations alongside our museum colleagues and vendors. The Exhibition Design Department includes a Director of Exhibition Design, a Senior Exhibition Designer, two Exhibition Designers, a Senior Exhibition Graphic Designer, an Exhibition Graphic Designer, and an Exhibition Graphics Preparator.

Program Details

• Internship Dates: June 17 - August 9, 2024

• 35 hours per week for 8 weeks at the de Young and Legion of Honor museums. This role will primarily be located at the de Young.

• Compensation is $18.75 per hour.

• The schedule for this internship is Monday-Friday. The intern will be working onsite, mainly at the de Young Museum.

• Professional development sessions take place onsite every Thursday.

• We are happy to work with educational institutions to provide credit for this internship.

Overall Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED with 2+ years of work/volunteer experience; AND/OR some college experience preferred.

• Preference will be given to those who live or go to school in the Bay Area. FAMSF does not provide travel, relocation, or housing assistance for interns at this time.

• Applicants for this position are not required to have previous professional or museum experience.

• Competitive applicants will show a demonstrated commitment to the arts and museums, are passionate about equity and inclusion, and be comfortable communicating with a diverse group of people including museum staff, stakeholders, peers, and the public.

• This internship requires a commitment of 35 hours per week for 8 weeks.

• Candidates must be reliable, self-motivated, enthusiastic, open-minded, and collaborative.

• As this is a paid internship, all applicants must be lawfully eligible or authorized to work In the U.S. without the need for employer-based sponsorship. If hired, Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed prior to the start of employment.

Department Specific Qualifications

• Basic skills in Vectorworks, Rhino, AutoCAD, and Adobe Creative Suite required.

• Knowledge of architectural terms, symbols, and details required.

• Knowledge or interest in art history preferred.

• Interest in new materials and digital fabrication techniques preferred.

• Interest in conservation requirements and standards for the display of art objects preferred.

• Interest in ADA standards and guidelines preferred.

Additional Materials:

• Resume

• Be prepared to answer the following questions when submitting your application:

  • What do you hope to gain from this internship experience? (250 words or less)

  • What is your interest and experience in working for the Exhibition Design department? (250 words or less)

  • Please tell us about your interest in working in museums and the arts. (250 words or less)

  • We are committed to making COFAM a more diverse, inclusive, equitable and accessible institution. Please describe how your past experience and future career goals align with these efforts.(250 words or less)