Curatorial Research Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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.

Job Description:

Position Title: 2026 Performance and Artist-in-Residence Intern: Summer (Housing not Provided)

Position Type: Part Time/Full Time

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: Performance

Reports to: Curator of Performance

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:

The Intern, Performance & Artist-in-Residence is a member of the Curatorial team who supports the programmatic vision through curatorial and administrative support as well as the multiple initiatives of the Artist in Residence Program. Reporting to the Curator, Performance and Director, Artist-in-Residence the Intern, Performance & Artist-in-Residence supports an active team in the research, planning and implementation of Performance and Artist-in-Residence activities across Crystal Bridges and the Momentary, including but not limited to: exhibitions, festivals, artist talks, special projects, and Artist-in-Residency visitors and programs.

Through curatorial research, producing, administration, planning and hosting, the Intern, Performance & Artist-in-Residence will support communication with artists and their representatives, external contractors, and community partners. This position requires being knowledgeable of all programs under the purview of Performance and the Artist-in-Residence program and acting as a bridge between idea generation, practical production, audience experience and artist relations. A strong collaborative spirit and interest in and experience with performance and artist relations is required.

Application Materials: 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.

What interests you most about supporting performance programming and artist-in-residence initiatives in a museum setting?

This position involves supporting logistics for visiting artists, including housing and transportation. What strategies would you use to ensure these arrangements are handled efficiently and thoughtfully?

This internship requires balancing curatorial research, administrative tasks, and event support. How do you prioritize and manage competing responsibilities in a fast-paced environment?

Duties and Responsibilities:

Performance:

• Support research and content development for the ongoing program of performances, presentations, commissions, and artist residencies
• Support writing, including program notes, program descriptions, marketing copy, wall texts, content guides for use internally, and catalogue entries
• Support artist led, public facing opportunities under the supervision of Curator
• Support design, development and presenting of internal and external share outs
• Support development, maintenance, and monitoring of Performance budget in collaboration with collaborating departments
• Support venue tours and brief staff and volunteers on program details
• Provide organizational support for Performance projects, including scheduling project meetings, booking meeting rooms, preparing agendas and sending out notes focused on next steps
• Support review and execution of contracts
• Support the coordination Performance and Artist-in-Residence interns and volunteers
• Support organizing, maintaining, and archiving project files and documentation
• Support project management of Performance projects, working closely with the Curator, Production team, internal departments, and various outside vendors

Artist-in-Residence:

• Support the daily operations of the Artist-in-Residence program
• Support Curatorial Assistant, Performance & Artist-in-Residence Coordinator in arrangements for artists-in-residence, including housing, transportation, community connections, and in-studio/on-site needs.
• Work closely with Curatorial team to support the growth and improvements of the developing program

Additional Responsibilities

• Work closely with the other members of the Curatorial team, as well as with team members in Operations, Guest Experience, Brand Strategy and Communications, Learning & Engagement, Special Events
• Perform duties in a consistently professional, approachable, proactive manner and be able to organize and balance multiple tasks, including administrative tasks that are complex in nature and require considerable discretion and confidentiality.
• Work across multiple, overlapping timelines to ensure all external and inter-departmental communications are clear, timely, and documented.
• Answer inquiries in a prompt, professional manner and ensure all inter-departmental communications are clear, timely, helpful, and documented
• Provides suggestions to improve processes and for keeping projects on time and within budget
• Keep supervisor informed as to any issues or changes in project scope
• Helps foster team creativity, collegiality, timeliness, and mutual respect, to create experiences that engage and delight guests
• Generates and contributes solutions as challenges crop up
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Focus on Arts Administration, Curating, Art History or equivalent experience preferred.
• Knowledge of Performance including music, theater, dance, performance art, time-based media preferred.
• Knowledge of Visual Arts preferred but not required
• Experience working with Artists preferred but not required
• Proven experience and success in project coordination and in meeting deadlines within fast-paced working environments
• Willingness to learn specialized software systems is preferred, including TMS, EMS, Workday
• Ability to work independently, as well as within a team
• Ability to maintain the highest ethics as they relate to all aspects of curatorial endeavor and to understand and maintain the highest levels of confidentiality and discretion

Timeline:

Intern selected by: March 1st

Schedule:

Start Date: May 4th, 2026

End Date: August 1, 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.

Housing

Housing for internship positions is contingent upon available funding and is not guaranteed. If housing is included for a specific internship, it will be clearly stated in the position description. Any housing or relocation assistance provided is considered taxable income and will appear on the intern's Form W-2.

When housing is available, priority is given to students whose permanent residence is located outside a three-hour radius (approximately 150 miles) of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art or the Momentary.

The applicant selected for this position will receive an $800 relocation allowance, issued 3-5 business days after completing the first week of the internship program. All relocation assistance and housing support are considered taxable income and will be reflected on the following year's W-2.

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.