2026 Indigenous Art Curatorial Intern: Summer (Housing Not Provided)
Company: Crystal Bridges Museum
Location: Bentonville
Posted on: April 1, 2026
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Job Description:
The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to
welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that
unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by
philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a
public non-profit charitable organization. Job Description:
Position Title: 2026 Indigenous Art Curatorial Intern: Summer
(Housing Not Provided) Position Type: Part-Time/Full-Time FLSA
Classification : Non-Exempt Department: Art Management Reports to:
Curator, Indigenous Art and NAGPRA Officer About Crystal Bridges &
The Momentary: Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located
in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America
by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving
outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and
artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum
opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization
with free admission. The Momentary is a contemporary art space that
opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville,
Arkansas. The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of
our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An
extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a ‘living room’
where community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. You
belong here: make the most of this moment. Position Summary: This
position is for current students and/or career professionals
interested in learning, working with, and supporting Indigenous Art
within the museum space. The internship will directly support the
Curator of Indigenous Art and NAGPRA Officer, providing insight and
guidance on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation
Act (NAGPRA), a federal law implemented in museum spaces, and
developing skills to pursue a career in the arts, cultural, and
non-profit sectors. The hours for this internship will accommodate
the needs of both the intern and Curator. The selected intern will
discuss and confirm a schedule with their supervisor to ensure a
comfortable and manageable work arrangement. This opportunity will
be in person at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in
Bentonville, Arkansas, offering hands-on experience and direct
collaboration with the Curator and museum staff. Ideal Candidate
The ideal intern will have a strong interest in curatorial duties
and possess soft skills such as time management, critical thinking,
and effective communication. Due to the nature of the position,
initiative and a willingness to learn and ask questions are
strongly encouraged. Note: Interns that do not submit a resume AND
cover letter will not be considered for this opportunity. Please
answer the following questions in your cover letter when submitting
your application. In your view, what role should museums play in
preserving and presenting Indigenous art and culture? How do you
ensure accuracy and integrity in your research process? If given
the opportunity to lead a special project during this internship,
what area of arts education or museum-school collaboration would
you focus on, and why? What interests you most about working with
Indigenous Art in a museum setting? How does this internship align
with your academic or professional goals? Duties and
Responsibilities: · Assist in the coordination and execution of
programs and events related to school partnerships, including arts
integration initiatives and teacher workshops. · Support
communication efforts with school partners, including principals,
teachers, and district administrators, ensuring timely updates and
information sharing. · Help develop and curate educational
resources and materials for schools involved in the Crystal Bridges
Arts Integration Partnership. · Participate in the planning and
facilitation of meetings, workshops, and training sessions for
educators. · Conduct research and compile reports on best practices
in arts education, arts integration, and school-community
partnerships. · Provide administrative support to the Learning and
Engagement team, including data entry, maintaining contact lists,
and scheduling. · Assist in the evaluation and reporting of
partnership outcomes, including gathering feedback from school
participants. · Collaborate with cross-functional teams at Crystal
Bridges to support broader educational initiatives. · Develop and
implement a special project informed by the intern’s academic focus
and career aspirations, with guidance from the Program Manager.
Qualifications: Meet with the reporting supervisor at least 2–3
times a week. Assist with preparations for the museum
reinstallation of the permanent collection and expansion. Research
permanent collection objects that will be part of the
Reinstallation and Expansion. Research a minimum of 10 objects on
the exhibition checklist. Review object files. Catalog cards.
Archive correspondence. Archive museum publications. Present
object-based research, including provenance statements and text
about objects' history, use, and design. Timeline: Intern selected
by: March 1st Schedule: Start Date: June 1, 2026 End Date: July 24,
2026 Weekly schedule to be arranged with direct supervisor. Interns
are permitted to work up to 40 hours a week. To qualify for
bachelor’s or master’s hours, you must be enrolled in an accredited
program or have graduated from an accredited program within the
last three years. Students will be required to submit a current
schedule or official transcript. Compensation: Undergraduate
Interns: $13.00 Graduate Interns: $14.00 To qualify for bachelor’s
or master’s compensation, you must be enrolled in an accredited
program or have graduated from an accredited program within the
last three years. Students will be required to submit a current
schedule or official transcript. Physical Demands and Work
Environment: The physical demands described here are representative
of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the
essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may
be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the
essential functions. Physical demands: In the work environment
described below, position requires work at a desk, utilizing a
computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time, good
eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching for filing, and
physical stamina to lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a height of at
least three feet for file and materials storage as appropriate for
the demands of the office. Visual acuity to review written
materials is required for this job. Work environment: Work will be
performed in an office environment and museum spaces. The noise
level in the museum work environment is usually low to moderate. If
the intern’s personal equipment is used, the museum accepts no
liability for any damage caused to said equipment while being used
for museum purposes, nor loss or corruption of electronic files on
devices. All offers of employment are contingent on your successful
completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality
agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to
provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in
the United States. Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer
committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of
discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all
qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants will
receive consideration for employment without regard to race,
religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the
laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.
Keywords: Crystal Bridges Museum, Fort Smith , 2026 Indigenous Art Curatorial Intern: Summer (Housing Not Provided), Design, Graphic Design & CAD , Bentonville, Arkansas
