Internships

Short-term, unpaid placements are available in the following areas:

• Public Programs / Education
• Curatorial / Collections
• Exhibitions
• Research Library and Archive
• Registration
• Conservation
• Marketing
• Brett Whiteley Studio
• Art Gallery Society

Please note: This internship program is available only to tertiary students whose course requirements necessitate formal internships. A restricted number of short-term placements will be available, and this number will fluctuate depending on the availability of supervision and suitable projects in the Gallery.
 

Public Programs / Education

The Public Programs Department of the Art Gallery of NSW is committed to making the Gallery's permanent collections and temporary exhibitions accessible to growing audiences. Through wide-ranging education and public programs, museum educators aim to provide relevant information and experiences that stimulate and broaden interest, enjoyment and understanding of works of art, and to provide ongoing educational opportunities to all sectors of the public.

Public Programs coordinators develop activities that enhance public appreciation of the Gallery's collections and exhibitions, including the programming of lectures, performances, workshops and film screenings, the provision of educational programs and the publication and dissemination of educational and information publications.

Internships are usually project specific, focusing on the development and coordination of programs and educational resources.

Note: child protection policies and procedures apply to working in Public Programs.

Curatorial / Collections

Curators are responsible for the development of specific areas of the collection and for the display and interpretation of that collection. Curators initiate exhibitions and instigate the development of ideas and activities related to the exhibition.

Tasks undertaken by interns may include research, administration assistance and activities related to exhibition planning.

Requirements:

• completing a degree in art history or related discipline (preferably studying toward a postgraduate qualification)
• excellent research and writing skills
• excellent organisational skills

Applications will be referred to the Gallery's curatorial departments.

Exhibitions

Applicants must be able to commit to a minimum of 1 day per week for a period of 3 months. Tasks will vary depending upon the current exhibition schedule but may include assisting with securing quotations, production scheduling, filing, visual documentation and drafting correspondence, and assisting with installation tasks such as exhibition design, label information and specific artist installation requirements.

Tasks will spread across the exhibitions program rather than be restricted to one specific project.

Applicants are asked to indicate their level of computer skills with packages such as Excel, Word and any graphics, database or design packages.

Interns will report directly to the Exhibitions Manager.
 

Research Library and Archive

Tasks may include researching works of art in the collection, assisting with answering reference enquiries, assisting with arranging and describing archival resources, research for published archival guides and other related library activities.
 

Registration

The Registration Department is responsible for managing the permanent collection and artworks borrowed by the Gallery. In summary, registration manages the physical and legal aspects of packing, transporting, documenting and insuring all artworks the Gallery acquires, lends or borrows. As well, registration manages the movement and storage of artworks within the building. At the Gallery, registration is divided into two areas: collection registrars, who are responsible for the permanent collection, and exhibition registrars, who are responsible for artworks borrowed for the temporary exhibition program.

Available internships with the collection registrars include working within the construction of archival storage and packing materials.
 

Conservation

Applications accepted only from students enrolled in specialist conservation courses.

The increasing complexity of the science of art conservation has expanded the role and the importance of this essential function within the Gallery. Light, heat, humidity and neglect will all take their toll on artworks, even those that are well cared for. More fragile or older works often need extensive treatment in order to be stable enough to exhibit. The Gallery's conservators are recognised as among the best in Australia. Their major projects involve: specific treatments for large oil paintings and their frames; treatments for watercolours and works on paper and their frames; research and treatments for three-dimensional objects (varied and mixed media) including outdoor sculptures; Asian art on paper, screens and scrolls and research for the Asian collection; rebinding and boxing rare books. Research is an important part of the conservator's work and with changes in art practice and the use of new materials, ongoing challenges are presented to the conservator, particularly in the areas of contemporary art and Aboriginal art.

Tasks undertaken by interns will be project specific and under the guidance of a Gallery conservator who specialises in a specific media area of the collection (eg paper).
 

Marketing

The Marketing Department is responsible for generating awareness about specific exhibitions, as well as the Gallery, in order to increase visitation. It works closely with the Sponsorship and Public Relations Department and there may be opportunities to gain experience in these areas. Tasks will vary depending upon the current exhibition schedule, but may expose interns to the advertising process, direct marketing activities, strategic development, research and administrative tasks, and to both general marketing activities and project-specific tasks.

Applicants must be able to commit to a minimum of 1 day per week for a period of 3 months.

Applicants are asked to indicate their level of computer skills with packages such as Excel, Word and any graphics, database or design packages.

Requirements:

• completing a degree in marketing, visual arts or a related discipline
• excellent interpersonal skills
• excellent research and writing skills
• excellent organisational skills
   

Brett Whiteley Studio

Managed by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and situated in Surry Hills, the Brett Whiteley Studio was the workplace and home of Australian artist Brett Whiteley (1939-92). The artist bought the former warehouse in 1985 and converted it into a studio and exhibition space. He lived there from 1988 to 1992, the year he died in Thirroul.

Visitors are offered the unique opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the space - the studio with his unfinished paintings, art equipment, collections of reference books, the graffiti wall covered with quotes and images.

The living area has memorabilia such as photographs, objects, postcards, furniture, music collection and sketchbooks. The Studio has changing exhibitions of the artist's works: paintings, drawings, sculpture and graphics drawn from the Whiteley Estate and Art Gallery of NSW.

The Studio is open to the public on weekends and to education groups on Thursdays and Fridays. Internships are available as:

• assistant visitor service officers (assist on weekends with visitors, hosting in the studio, assist changeover of drawing classes and general duties such as photocopying and maintenance of presentation)
• assistant administration officers (upkeep of website information, mailing lists update and assist with preparing public programs)
• education assistants (on Thursdays and Fridays, assist in preparation of classes at the Studio and answering telephone calls, assist with cleaning and packing up at end of class sessions, assist in public programs)

Note: child protection policies and procedures apply to working in the Brett Whiteley Studio; security clearances may also be required.
 

Art Gallery Society

With more than 33,000 members, the Art Gallery Society of NSW is the largest organisation of arts supporters in Australia, and one of the largest in the world. The Society runs a very popular membership lounge and a vibrant program of events including lectures, concerts, workshops, parties and tours. The Society's monthly magazine, Look, presents news, previews and privileged glimpses behind the scenes of the Gallery. It has a readership of over 21,000.

Internships are available assisting in the day-to-day running of the various membership activities and services.

Email enquiries

Use the Contact Form and select "Tertiary education - Internships" from the pop-up menu.