2024 IDEAL Internship Grants Awarded to Four Institutions
The Decorative Arts Trust is pleased to announce the four institutions that will receive IDEAL Internship Grants in 2024: The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA; MassArt in Boston, MA; San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum in Lodi, CA; and The Wolfsonian in Miami Beach, FL.
The objective of the IDEAL Internship Initiative is to improve access to curatorial careers and mentorship for students of color as a path toward achieving comprehensive change in the museum field. Students completing internships will gain consequential experience while contributing to curatorial projects and to meaningful discussions about inclusion, diversity, and equity.
The Clay Studio
The Clay Studio, a leader in the field of contemporary ceramics, will welcome an intern for a comprehensive experience in gallery management and artistic programming. The student will work under the guidance of Jennifer Zwilling, Curator and Director of Artistic Programs, and select a capstone project that aligns with their specific academic and professional goals. The Studio’s aim is to equip the intern with the necessary expertise and confidence to thrive in a professional artistic setting while offering a rewarding and enriching experience.
A one-of-a-kind collaboration between Resident Artists Kevin Snipes and Ruth Easterbrook. Courtesy of The Clay Studio.
The MassArt Art Museum
The MassArt Art Museum created the Catalyst Fellows program for undergraduate BIPOC students to gain experience in three core areas: education, exhibitions, and operations. Over a full academic year, they will help museum staff to realize exhibitions and programs, participate in a mentorship program with local BIPOC arts leaders, and have special opportunities for leadership and professional training. The interns will be involved with a cross-departmental team, including Brian Hone, Curator of Education; Erin Gallagher, Student and Program Manager; Joy Feasley, Exhibitions Manager; and Jenneifer Nguyen, Museum Coordinator.
Exterior, MassArt Art Museum (MAAM). Photo by Peter Vanderwarker. Courtesy of MassArt Art Museum.
The San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum
The San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum will hire two interns to document, catalogue, and inventory the artifacts contained in 25 trunks owned by Filipino farm laborers. Under the mentorship of Collections Manager Julie Blood and Archivist Gail Erwin, the interns will assist the Museum’s interpretive staff to contextualize the rich material culture preserved within the trunks. The interns will collaborate with community organizations to produce a public-facing event that shares their findings and will distribute the inventory through the Museum’s website.
Objects from the Little Manila Rising Collection of Filipino Farm Labor Trunks. Courtesy of the San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum.
The Wolfsonian
The Wolfsonian, an interdisciplinary museum and research center affiliated with Florida International University, will hire an undergraduate student for a two-semester internship gaining critical experience studying and interpreting the Wolfsonian’s heralded collection of late-19th- and early-20th-century decorative and visual arts. The intern will assist the museum’s Content + Interpretation department, headed by Meg Floryan, and the Student Success Team, led by Isabel Brador, by creating impactful and accessible object-focused stories for the benefit of visitors and online communities alike.
The “frozen fountain” from the Norris Theater in Pennsylvania and Lawrence Weiner’s installation (LO & BEHOLD) (MIRA & VE) in the lobby at The Wolfsonian–FIU. Photo by Lynton Gardiner. Courtesy of The Wolfsonian–FIU.
For updates about applying for these internship opportunities, visit the institutions’ websites and follow them on social media.
We invite institutions interested in applying for grant funding to check the IDEAL webpage for upcoming grant deadlines.
Thank you to the members and donors whose dedication to the Decorative Arts Trust’s Emerging Scholars Program supports the IDEAL Internship Program.
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Formerly known as the "blog,” the Bulletin features new research and scholarship, travelogues, book reviews, and museum and gallery exhibitions. The Bulletin complements The Magazine of the Decorative Arts Trust, our biannual members publication.
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