Internships & Student Opportunities

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 29, 2026 by 11:59 p.m.
Eligibility: Duke University undergraduate student

This summer, the intern will work with museum curators on the reinstallation of the permanent collection galleries, planned for 2028. These galleries hold the museum’s holdings of African, American, ancient American, ancient Mediterranean, and European Art. The intern will primarily assist with research, label writing, development of interpretative materials, and exhibition design. This opportunity is generously supported by Nasher board member Trent A. Carmichael, A.B. ’88, P’17, P’19, P’25.

It is essential that the intern have interest and/or experience in historical art and strong research and writing skills. Students with experience in 3D modeling software, like Sketchup, are encouraged to apply. The internship runs for eight weeks, with a start date of Tuesday, June 2nd (no exceptions) and requires a commitment of 20 hours/week. A stipend of $4,000 will be provided, in addition to Duke Dining funds and a parking pass.

Application Process

All application materials must be submitted by email to gabrielle.tenedero@duke.edu. In the subject line of the email, write “Curatorial Internship – <applicant’s first and last name>”.

To be considered complete, applications must include:

• Resume
• Cover letter outlining relevant coursework and/or experience; explanation of how the internship furthers student’s professional goals and/ or aspirations. Applicants should note in their cover letter and during their interviews any special circumstances that could affect their start or end dates, as well as participation.
• University transcripts to date.
• One letter of reference (academic or professional) sent directly to gabrielle.tenedero@duke.edu. In the subject line of the email, write “Curatorial Internship Reference – <applicant’s first and last name>”.

A candidate will be selected by mid-April. For inquiries concerning the internship or application process, please contact Ellen Raimond at ellen.raimond@duke.edu.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 29, 2026, by 11:59 p.m.
Eligibility: Any undergraduate student who resides or attends college in the Triangle area

In 2019, the Nasher Museum was one of 10 museums selected to host a paid summer internship program through a pilot program launched by the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) with additional funding support from the National Endowment for the Arts. From this beginning step, Duke graduate David Arthur (A.B. ’88, P’21) made a crucial gift allowing this exciting paid internship to continue at the Nasher.

This summer, the intern will join our Education team in creating K-12 education resources, where their main project will be partnering with Durham County Libraries to research and conceptualize themes and activities for the Nasher’s monthly Bilingual Story Time. The intern will develop a working understanding of museum calendars, exhibition checklists, and the Nasher collection to design programming for a specific audience. They will also collaborate with the Education team in reviewing and translating, from English to Spanish, essential resources for K-12 groups and educators. Through this internship, students will gain a better understanding of museum and community partnerships.

The internship runs for eight weeks, with a start date of Tuesday, June 2 (no exceptions) and requires a commitment of 20 hours/week. A stipend of $4,000 will be provided, in addition to Duke Dining funds and a parking pass.

Applicants should:

• Be highly organized and possess strong interpersonal communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Have enthusiasm for art and a strong interest in engaging local communities.
• Possess Spanish language proficiency, ranging from mid to high to bilingual.
• Reside/attend college in the Triangle area.
• Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate (bachelor’s degree program, associate’s degree program, or in a vocational or technical program below the baccalaureate level). Students must have completed at least one academic year of college by June 2026. Students who graduate after April 1, 2026, are also eligible. (Students enrolled in a second B.A. or B.S. program are not eligible).
• Reside permanently in the United States or is a U.S. citizen. Students with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) status valid through the internship period are also eligible.

Application Process

All application materials must be submitted by email to gabrielle.tenedero@duke.edu. In the subject line of the email write, “Education Internship – <applicant’s first and last name>”.

To be considered complete, applications must include:

• Resume.
• Cover letter outlining relevant coursework and/or experience, including Spanish-language proficiency; explanation of how the internship furthers student’s professional goals and/ or aspirations. Applicants should note in their cover letter and during their interviews any special circumstances that could affect their start or end dates, as well as participation.
• University transcripts to date.
• One letter of reference (academic or professional) sent directly to gabrielle.tenedero@duke.edu. (In the subject line of the email write, “Education Internship Reference – <applicant’s first and last name>”).

A candidate will be selected by mid-April. For inquiries concerning the internship or application process, please contact Ellen Raimond at ellen.raimond@duke.edu.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 29, 2026 by 11:59 p.m.
Eligibility: Duke University undergraduate student

This spring, the Nasher Museum of Art and the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library will jointly receive a gift of 3,000 photographs to be divided between the two institutions. The internship involves supporting our Registrar department in processing this gift. More specifically, this will entail accessioning, assigning object ID numbers to individual items, putting numbers on the items, housing and assigning storage locations, and conducting a condition report before cataloguing items. Through this internship, students will gain a hands-on understanding of how objects become part of an institutional collection. This summer, we will have two opportunities available to students thanks to the generous support of Nasher Museum Board member Trent A. Carmichael, A.B. ’88, P’17, P’19, P’25 and the Rubenstein Library.

Applicants should be highly organized and have a strong capacity for working independently, as well as part of a team. The internship runs for eight weeks, with a start date of June 2 (no exceptions) and requires a commitment of 20 hours/week. A stipend of $4,000 will be provided, in addition to Duke Dining funds and a parking pass.

Application Process

All application materials must be submitted by email to gabrielle.tenedero@duke.edu. In the subject line of the email, write “Registrar Internship – <applicant’s first and last name>”.

To be considered complete, applications for the Carmichael Award must include:

• Resume.
• Cover letter outlining relevant coursework and/or experience; explanation of how the internship furthers student’s professional goals and/ or aspirations. Applicants should note in their cover letter and during their interviews any special circumstances that could affect their start or end dates, as well as participation.
• University transcripts to date.
• One letter of reference (academic or professional) sent directly to gabrielle.tenedero@duke.edu. In the subject line of the email, write “Education Internship Reference – <applicant’s first and last name>”.

A candidate will be selected by mid-April. For inquiries concerning the internship or application process, please contact Ellen Raimond at ellen.raimond@duke.edu.

ARTHIST 310 and ARTHIST 311 are internship practicums held at the Nasher Museum designed to provide Duke students professional museum experience and the opportunity to explore the museum and its operations from a variety of viewpoints.

For ARTHIST 310, Duke students must be available for a total commitment of six hours per week: a weekly one-hour seminar and five hours in their assigned department (individual intern schedule to be arranged between the student and supervising staff). Students are evaluated on their completing of tasks as assigned by their internships department, participation in the weekly seminar, contribution to the group project and completion of final reflection. Grades are assigned by the supervising staff in consultation with the seminar instructor.

For ARTHIST 311 (prerequisite, ARTHIST 310: Museum Practicum I), Duke students must be available for a total commitment of eight hours per week. There is no weekly class meeting; students work all eight hours within their assigned department (individual intern schedule to be arranged between the student and supervising staff). Students are evaluated solely on their completing of tasks as assigned by their internship department. Therefore, grades are assigned solely by the supervising staff.

*Applications are reviewed and interviews are scheduled and conducted throughout the application period (i.e., on a rolling basis) so early submissions are strong encouraged. Positions are removed once they are filled.

Before applying, please decide which museum departments best fit your interests and qualifications from the descriptions below; expect that the internship projects assigned will support the responsibilities outlined for each department.

• Academic Initiatives – bridges the museum with the university community, utilizing collections and exhibitions for teaching, research, and scholarly engagement. Fosters, curates, and manages partnerships with faculty, students, and researchers to support experiential learning at the museum.
• Communications & Marketing – manages digital content (websites, social media), public relations (press releases, media relations), and advertising to foster community engagement, keep audiences informed, and ensure consistent, engaging brand voice.
• Community Initiatives – drives social impact of exhibitions and museum’s collection  by fostering engagement, accessibility, and collaboration through outreach programs and partnerships with local groups. Intern will assist in outreach, as well as work with the museum’s program for local high school students. Intern must be available on Thursday evenings, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
• Curatorial – oversees the research, acquisition, and interpretation of artwork; develops and organizes museum exhibitions. Essential that student have an interest and/or experience in historical art and demonstrate strong research and writing skills.
• Education – develops tours, public programming, workshops, and resources that foster meaningful engagement between specific audiences, ranging from pre-school age to adult, and the museum’s collection.
• Programming & Events – ideates, organizes, and executes public programs such as lectures, talks, and performances to encourage audiences’ deeper engagement with the museum’s collection. Intern must be available on Thursday evenings, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
• Registrar – manages the care of objects in the museum’s collection by creating and maintaining detailed records (object files, databases) for every item, overseeing logistics related to object’s movement, and coordinating the safety of artwork on display.

Questions? Please send inquiries to ellen.raimond@duke.edu.

This internship program is a special opportunity for Duke juniors and seniors who study art, art history, or related disciplines — and are able to converse in English and Italian. Students will gain first-hand experience while immersing themselves in an amazing collection of modern art at this unique museum, housed in an 18th-century palace on the Grand Canal. Activities include managing the galleries during public open hours, assisting visitors, staffing the ticket office, cloakroom, and other visitor facilities, supporting the museum staff in various departments and participating in the educational activities of the museum, including presentations to the public, guided tours and workshops with children. The program includes educational activities such as seminars, conferences, educational trips, and guided tours for interns.

Application deadline: by 11:59 p.m., December 5, 2025

Application process

To apply for the Nasher-Duke-sponsored two-month (June & July) summer internship at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy, students must meet the following criteria:

• be a Duke junior/senior by Spring 2026
• be studying art, art history, or related area
• be able to converse in English and Italian; for applicants with limited Italian, please show evidence in your application of previous Italian coursework or exposure and continued efforts to learn the language. For example, coursework as demonstrated on transcripts and/or a supplemental letter from a language instructor that testifies to your language ability.

For consideration, please submit:

• Cover letter explaining interest and reasons for participating in the internship program at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
• CV including internships and work experiences, a list of relevant academic courses, and language abilities (English and Italian).
• University transcripts to date.
• Two letters of reference (academic and/or professional reference).

PLEASE DO NOT submit your application to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

More information about the Internship Program at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

Buona fortuna!

The Nasher Museum is hiring a Graduate Teaching Assistant to provide support for the Academic Initiatives department for the 2026-2027 academic year. The Teaching Assistant’s primary responsibility is organizing and leading tours for university classes visiting temporary exhibitions and the permanent collection at the Nasher Museum. Leading tours outside regular museum hours may be required. Applicants should be graduate students, currently enrolled at Duke, with experience teaching undergraduates. The anticipated start date is August 24, 2026. Continuation into spring semester is dependent on performance.

Time Commitment: 7 to 10 hours per week
Rate of Pay: $20 per hour

To apply, please email a CV, cover letter with your interest in the position, experience teaching and/or working in museums and the names of two references (no letters of recommendation are required) to Julia McHugh, Ph.D., Trent A. Carmichael Director of Academic Initiatives & Curator of Arts of the Americas at julia.mchugh@duke.edu.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Responsibilities

• Attend Nasher training sessions on tour development, in-gallery teaching and object-based teaching and learning.
• Communicate expectations and develop lesson plans with faculty prior to visit.
• Follow up with faculty for evaluation/feedback post-visit.
• Attend lectures and tours related to exhibitions.
• Develop tour content and deliver it to class visits.
• Research and identify Duke semester course offerings in which students/faculty would benefit from visiting upcoming exhibitions and/or engagement with objects in permanent collection.
• Provide outreach to student groups and other university entities.
• Attend weekly Academic Initiatives department meetings to assign, plan, and debrief class visits with the team.
• Other administrative duties as necessary.

Skills/experience needed:

• Be a currently enrolled Duke graduate student able to commit the necessary time to working in the Nasher’s Academic Initiatives department for an entire academic year (approximately 7-10 hours per week, scheduled around the TA’s course and/or research schedule). Before applying, please consult with your advisor.
• Experience teaching undergraduate students in some capacity is required.
• Museum experience or experience working with art objects is not required but preferred.
• Organized, reliable, responsible, and flexible.
• Comfortable with public speaking (presentation to groups ranging from 5 to 20 people); must convey interest and energy while leading groups.
• Excellent communication skills and a demonstrated ability to work collegially in a professional environment.