Museum Collection Manager Jobs in Arkansas (NOW HIRING)

Job Description:

Position Title: 2026 Museum Editorial Intern-Fall

Division: Art Management

Department: Art Management

Reports to: Director of Interpretation

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 new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art's role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action.

Position Summary:

The Museum Editorial Intern assists the Content Strategy team, that works in collaboration with curatorial, marketing, PR, creative, design, and learning & engagement teams, in formulating narrative and interpretive strategies for artworks and exhibitions, as well as marketing and communication content in support of brand management strategies for Crystal Bridges and the Momentary.

This internship provides a unique opportunity to learn about and contribute to the research, planning, and implementation of communication tools for the Museum's exhibitions, art installations, and brand campaigns. These include items such as brochures, activity guides, rack cards, labels, audio tours, and other digital tools that encourage guest engagement and learning (in the galleries, on the grounds, and in other museum-related spaces). Other writing and editing assignments for our blog and other content channels are available as well.

The goal is to create an impactful and rewarding experience for our museum guests. This internship offers hands-on training in the museum profession and an overview of museum exhibition operations from the early planning stages through implementation. It also offers insights into brand management strategy and carefully crafted marketing campaigns.

The ideal candidate is passionate about artistic expression, the arts in general, and has interest and skills in critical thinking, creative writing, and on-line and library research. Applicants must be ready to think creatively in unfamiliar situations and be prepared for hands on experience. A diplomatic and flexible disposition, with the ability to collaborate amongst a diverse group of people, is highly desired.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Museum Editorial Intern will actively participate and perform duties in some of the following functional areas:
• Assist the content strategy team in creating interpretive elements for exciting and engaging exhibitions.
• Artist and art object research (online and in library), summarizing findings.
• Writing and editing copy for various projects, including blogposts.
• Engage in creative brainstorming.
• Assist in conducting visitor evaluation and data collection.
• Support editorial and marketing manager in reviewing copy from a wide range of inputs, including programming blurbs, event descriptions, and more.
• Meeting attendance
• Attend project meetings to collaborate with curators, interpretive staff, educators, registrars, preparators and others.

Qualifications:

• Excellent writing skills (a writing sample may be requested upon interview)
• Dependable and punctual
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite is required, and familiarity with library and Web-based search tools is strongly preferred.
• A background check is required.
• Must maintain confidentiality of all non-public Museum information.
• Possible course credit can be negotiated with University departmental supervisor.

Timeline:

• Anticipated Start Date: Week of September 21, 2026
• Anticipated End Date: Week of December 12, 2026

Schedule:

Hours: Undergraduate students: Up to 20 hours a week; Graduate students: Up to 25 hours a week

Weekly schedule to be arranged with direct supervisor. 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 an hour; Graduate Interns: $14.00 an hour

To qualify for bachelor's- or master's-level compensation, applicants must be currently enrolled in, or have graduated within the past three years from, an accredited bachelor's or master's program. Applicants must submit either a current class schedule or an official transcript to verify eligibility.

Required Documents:

Resume

Cover Letter

• Please respond to all three questions in your cover letter.
• Crystal Bridges and the Momentary use storytelling to help guests connect with art and ideas. Describe a time when you communicated a complex idea through writing or another creative medium. What was your approach, and how did you ensure your audience remained engaged?
• This role involves researching artists, exhibitions, and historical context to create content for a variety of audiences. Tell us about a research project or topic you explored in depth. How did you organize your findings, evaluate your sources, and communicate what you learned?
• Imagine you are introducing a first-time museum visitor to an artwork or exhibition. How would you create an engaging experience that encourages curiosity and learning? Share your approach and explain why you believe it would resonate with diverse audiences.

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 accommodations 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.

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 on your first day of work.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans 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.