Art Bridges Summer Internship

The Department of American Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art seeks a summer intern to fill a fixed-term position supported by the Museum's partnership with the Art Bridges Mid-South Cohort. This position will allow an undergraduate or graduate student in art history or a related field the opportunity to learn about museum work while contributing to exhibition development at the Museum. In the summer of 2026, the intern will complete research and help to manage logistical and administrative tasks related to the museum's upcoming exhibition on Southern food. This work will include research in library and archival collections, expanding the exhibition's checklist through ancillary material culture and ephemera, assisting in developing community relationships related to the exhibition, and drafting labels, among other tasks. It may also include assisting with publication development and working across the museum's teams to implement the project at the BMA.

This is a fixed-term position working twenty hours per week for ten weeks during the summer of 2026, June 9-August 14. These dates and times can be adjusted to accommodate prior commitments or other conflicts. The internship carries a stipend of $3,000, and it does not include a benefits package. The intern will report to The William Cary Hulsey Curator of American Art and the Art Bridges Curatorial Assistant, and will also build relationships with other members of the Curatorial department, colleagues in the departments of Conservation, Preparation, and Registration, and across the museum.

Responsibilities

• Research individual works on the exhibition checklist, expanding cataloguing, artists' biographies, and connecting works to Southern foodways
• Basic cataloguing on objects on the exhibition checklist
• Assist with checklist coordination
• Help with publication management
• Organize and maintain digital files on each checklist object
• Work with Photographer and Curatorial Assistant to coordinate catalog photography
• Other duties as assigned

Ideal Experience

• Pursuing an undergraduate or advanced degree in art history, American studies, or a related field. Recent degree recipients are also welcome to apply.
• Interest in early to mid-twentieth-century Southern art
• Excellent research and writing skills
• Experience with archival research
• Efficiency in using online research databases such as WorldCat, JStor, etc. preferred
• Proficiency with Google Drive
• Strong organizational skills with strict attention to detail and accuracy
• Excellent time management, planning, and teamwork skills
• Ability to work independently

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter describing your interest in this position and relevant experience, a resume, and two references by Friday, March 27, 2026.

Interviews will occur the week of April 27, and applicants will be notified of their status by May 8. We understand that it is unlikely that an applicant will meet all of the criteria outlined for this position. If you have interest and meet some of the requirements, please apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) to provide equal employment opportunity to all applicantsfor employment with the BMA and to BMA staff without regard to sex, race, color, religious belief, nationalorigin, disability, age, or veteran status. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment,including but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotions, termination, leaves of absence, compensation, andtraining.

Commitment to Diversity

The Birmingham Museum of Art is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination. The BMA isa diverse community in terms of race and ethnicity, culture, religion, personal values and traditions. BMA valuesthis diversity recognizing that our differences contribute to our strength as an agency serving a diversepopulation. It is to this end that the BMA is committed to non-discrimination and advocates for an environment oftolerance with regard to cultural and personal differences. It is our belief that every employee has the right tobe treated with dignity, respect, and self-worth and that it is in our best interest as an agency serving thepublic good to act in a manner free of bias, exclusion, and discrimination whether on the basis of faith, race,gender, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political affiliation, or any other personaldifferences.