Internship opportunity!
Collections Management Internship Spring 2026
About the NAU Art Museums:
Our internship program provides students interested in the museum field with meaningful, real-world experience working alongside museum professionals at the Flagstaff campus of Northern Arizona University. The Art Museums include the Marguerite Hettel Weiss Museum, which houses a permanent collection of historical artifacts and art, and the Clara M. Lovett Museum, which showcases contemporary works. As cultural leaders in northern Arizona, the Art Museums highlight the myriad voices found in the past and present. As part of a teaching institution, we serve our local communities through exhibitions, events, and educational programs.
Interns contribute to our museums with their enthusiasm and fresh perspectives, helping us fulfill our mission and build impactful relationships within the museums, on campus, and in the community. We believe that our community is enriched through collaboration and inclusion, and we encourage students of all races, cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities to apply for internship opportunities at the Art Museums.
- Unpaid part-time internship opportunities (135 hours during 16-week semesters, equivalent to 3 credit hours). While most of our internships are three credits, one and two-credit opportunities may be available.
- Students may earn credit hours for their degree through their major or minor department.
- Internships are only available during fall and spring semesters.
- Internships are available to students currently enrolled in an undergraduate program with a major, minor, or focus in one of the following fields: art history, studio art, anthropology, public humanities, museum studies, or arts and cultural management.
- Schedules are flexible to meet the needs of the student and the department but require a minimum of 9 hours per week (for three credit hours).
Program Description:
The Collections Management Intern will support the curatorial and registrar missions of the Art Museums in the documentation and management of the collections. The Intern will serve as an integral part of the museum under the supervision of the Senior Curator and/or Museum Specialist. Student interns gain practical skills necessary for work in the museum environment and learn from museum professionals about the essential work of documenting, handling, and managing art and artifacts.
Responsibilities:
- Assist with registrar activities associated with incoming and outgoing exhibition objects.
- Create, maintain, and update digital and print collection records.
- Enter new metadata, maintain existing metadata, and update entries in collections databases.
- Assist in the digitization of physical records, slides, and photographs.
- Assist in the conversion of older digital records to the new collections management system.
- Develop curatorial files.
- Complete all additional requirements determined by the department in which you will receive internship credit (Comparative Cultural Studies, Anthropology, etc.).
Required Qualifications:
- Current enrollment in an undergraduate program with a major, minor, or focus in one of the following fields: art history, anthropology, comparative cultural studies, history, public humanities, museum studies, or arts and cultural management.
- Computer literacy skills in Microsoft Office, Google Docs and Sheets, and Zoom.
- Demonstrated experience in organization, project management, and strong attention to detail.
- A professional work ethic and a positive attitude.
- Ability to tolerate a moderate level of activity. The Intern may be physically active for extended periods, lift and carry a maximum of 45 pounds, and navigate stepstools and ladders. Most work will be performed at a desk and will require extended periods of sitting with short breaks to be permitted.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge or experience using a collections management system or digital collection exhibition platform, Adobe Photoshop, and file conversion software.
- Familiar with operation of a digital SLR camara.
- Basic understanding of collection management practices and procedures gained through coursework (such as MST 250, HUM 195, or HUM 395) or prior experience.
Application Process:
Submit the following documents to Ty Miller, Senior Curator, NAU Art Museums, via email at ty.miller@nau.edu.
Please include all of the following:
- Cover letter describing your interest in the internship, reasons for wanting to work at the Art Museum, desired learning outcomes for the internship, and a summary of your qualifications.
- Sample of your work: This may be a writing sample from a research paper, digital collection, or digital exhibit.
Once we receive your internship packet, we will send you an email with an application and a request for your hours of availability. After we receive these items, your internship packet will be completed and then under review.