In-House and Traveling Exhibitions Intern

In-House and Traveling Exhibitions Intern - Fall 2025

The Exhibitions Department of the MFA oversees the Museum’s exhibition and display program. Each year the MFA presents over 20 temporary, in-house and traveling exhibitions. The Exhibitions Department generates the annual exhibition budgets and the schedule for temporary exhibitions and rotations. MFA traveling exhibitions share the Museum’s deep collections and curatorial expertise with audiences around the globe. Ranging in subject from ancient to contemporary, MFA traveling exhibitions travel to partner institutions domestically and internationally. In the last decade alone, our traveling exhibitions have reached more than 15 million visitors worldwide, as many as visited the MFA in Boston in the same period. 

Mentored by the Director of Collections Partnership (Traveling Exhibitions) and the Project Manager for Exhibitions (In-House) alongside the Exhibitions Department as a whole, the Exhibitions Intern will gain an understanding of the planning, marketing, collaboration, coordination, production, and documentation of in-house exhibitions and traveling exhibitions from proposal to opening. The Intern will observe and contribute to projects with collaborators across the Museum and with partner institutions around the globe.

The ideal candidate must be able to work onsite 16-18 hours per week (within Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm parameters), from September 12 through December 12, 2025, including attendance at the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on the following Fridays: Sept 19, Sept 26, Oct 3, Oct 10, Oct 17, Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14, Nov 21, and Dec 5.

The selected intern will be paid at a rate of $ 16.80 per hour. Each intern will receive a $90 per month transportation subsidy. (This subsidy is subject to taxes.)

As we amplify our efforts toward becoming a truly inclusive institution, ensuring that diversity, equity, and access are lived values, we actively encourage candidates from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply to the program. 

Essential functions:

Observing and assisting with day-to-day operations of the Exhibitions program including: 

• Understanding collaborations required to produce Exhibitions—internally, domestically and internationally between departments including Curatorial, Conservation, Collections, Registration, Rights & Licensing, External Relations, Development, Marketing, and Financial 
• Learning Project Management and documentation skills—including use of The Museum System (TMS) and other digital platforms including Trello, Smartsheet and Excel
• Learning process of reviewing incoming correspondence, interpreting requests, and coordinating with MFA staff to compile input 
• Learning to coordinate and proof Brand-related materials produced by partner institutions—including collaboration with internal Rights & Licensing department 
• Researching global happenings & new scholarship in the field
• Assisting with the preparation and installation of Exhibitions, including Martin Puryear: Nexus; Of Light and Air: Winslow Homer in Watercolor; and One Hundred Stitches, One Hundred Villages: The Beauty of Patchwork from Rural China
• Completing special projects as assigned
• *Prepare and offer a 3–5-minute final synoptic presentation of the internship on Fri, Dec 5, as part of the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course

Qualifications:

• Enrolled in an undergraduate program concurrent with the internship period, preferably in Museum Studies, Art History, or International Affairs.
• Completion of at least 12 college credit hours 
• Strong interest and curiosity regarding Museums in the global marketplace
• Ability to work in fast paced environment and demonstrated attention to detail
• Ability to perform tasks in professional manner and handle confidential information with care and discretion
• Facility with Microsoft Word, Excel, and database programs (training in use of the Museum’s database system (The Museum System) and Project Management system (Trello) will be provided)
• Ability to commit to work onsite 16-18 hours per week (within Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm parameters), from Sept 12 through Dec 12, 2025, including attendance at the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on the following Fridays: Sept 19, Sept 26, Oct 3, Oct 10, Oct 17, Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14, Nov 21, and Dec 5.  
• Ability to attend orientation on Fri, Sept 12, 2025, 10am to 3:30pm. 

How to Apply 

• DO NOT INCLUDE any document, (e.g., transcripts, writing samples, or even recommendations), that is not specifically requested within this description.

1. Combine your cover letter and resume into a single document, (Word or PDF). The cover letter must include all of the following: 
   1. the title of the internship for which you are applying (one internship per application)
   2. how the named internship fits into your academic and/or career goals
   3. why your specific skills/experience/interests qualify you for the internship
   4. any periods when you are not available for an in-person interview 
   5. your contact information including e-mail and daytime phone 
2. Save your document file as (LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_POSITIONTITLE_Fall2025)
3. Candidates may apply for no more than two internships per season and must submit a separate cover letter/resume document for each position.  
4. **Direct any/all questions to: intern@mfa.org before submitting your application. Applications not conforming to these guidelines may be deemed ineligible.   
5. Upload the single document as your resume via the ADP portal Internships | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston ASAP before August 11, 2025.