Guide Programs Intern-Spring 2023

Museum Overview:
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. We are passionate about transforming lives through experiences that encourage the discovery of new ideas, expanded dreams, and inspired actions. As an intern at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, you will be empowered to think creatively, ask questions, and make suggestions to help move the institution forward.

Position Summary:

The Guide Programs internship with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is designed to provide the intern with an understanding of how to create and offer an engaging, conversational tour and hands-on, facilitated cart experiences in the museums special exhibition galleries.
The intern will gain an understanding of tour pedagogy, learn best practices for researching artworks and creating tours and cart experiences, and offer tours and cart experiences for museum guests. Additionally, the intern will work closely with Guide Programs staff to provide support for guide candidate training sessions.
This is a part-time internship, approximately 20 hours per week based upon intern availability. There is some flexibility in scheduling, though a priority for the position is availability to offer tours and experiences in the galleries multiple times a week and be present for pre-determined guide training sessions. This awesome opportunity is perfect for prospective interns who love interacting with people, are looking to create fun and innovative programming and like to work in team environments.

Areas of Support:

The Guide Programs Intern will learn required elements of researching, creating, and offering tours and cart experiences. The following areas of support in the department will be specifically targeted:

• Research of artworks
• Creation and facilitation of tours
• Development and facilitation of cart experiences
• The Intern will provide support for guide training sessions as needed. The following areas of support will be specifically targeted:
• Prepare classroom spaces for use by setting up refreshments and materials
• Assist with the audio and video recording of training
• Making content available to candidates through the use of the established learning management system (PowerSchool Learning)

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.
If the interns 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.

Diversity Internship Program
Crystal Bridges is committed to a diverse workforce and to providing training for the next generation of non-profit professionals. Recognizing the desire and responsibility to support and develop greater diversity in the professions related to museums and the visual arts, Crystal Bridges will assertively recruit interns from underrepresented demographics to support our organizations and industrys diversity and inclusion strategic initiatives. Students representing ethnically underrepresented groups, students with disabilities and students with veteran status are encouraged to apply.

Intern will be expected to work up to 20 hours per week and will receive a bi-weekly stipend.

• Undergrad: $13 an hour
• Graduate students $14 an hour.

Required Documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Intern Selection Process

• Application closing: February 20, 2023
• Intern Selected by: March 3, 2023
• Internship Start Date: March 13th
• Internship End Date: May 13th

Schedule:

• Spring 2023
• 8 weeks/160 hours total
• Up to 20 hours per week
• Weekly schedule to be arranged with direct supervisor