Winter/Spring 2024 Internship

Seasonal / $16 hourly / Swiss Institute / New York, NY

Internship Opportunity

Organization Summary:

Swiss Institute (“SI”) is an independent non-profit contemporary art institution dedicated to promoting forward-thinking and experimental art making through innovative exhibitions, education, and programs. Committed to the highest standards of curatorial and educational excellence, SI serves as a platform for emerging artists, catalyzes new perspectives on celebrated work, and fosters appreciation for under-recognized positions. Open to the public free-of-charge, SI is committed to being an organization that is diverse, equitable, accessible, environmentally conscious, and sustainable in its work, structure, and programming.

Job Summary:

SI is seeking a reliable and motivated intern with an interest in contemporary art, development, and administration. The intern will work closely with the development and curatorial departments, allowing them to experience the full cycle of putting together an exhibition from start to finish. They will be able to hone in on their skills in research and writing that pertain to both departments. Being involved with multiple departments, interns will uniquely experience the whole spectrum of roles/jobs that exist within the art ecosystem. Working with a smaller team allows interns to work on projects with greater responsibilities and high impact. Most importantly, interns will learn and experience the tasks– big and small– that make a midsize, contemporary arts nonprofit function on a daily basis. Upon successful completion of their internship, interns will be able to return to the SI team for advice, consultation, and letters of recommendation.

Specific supervision will vary depending on the project the intern is assigned, but they should expect to work alongside members of SI’s development, curatorial, and education departments. As many projects are interdepartmental, the intern should expect to report to all staff members.

Requirements

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

o General administrative duties (ie. filing, email correspondence, answering phones, running errands, packaging and shipping webstore orders, and maintaining an organized office space)
o Assisting with development research and outreach, fundraising events, and database entry
o Archiving, inventory, and library maintenance
o Assisting with short-term curatorial projects, exhibition production, and educational research
o Assisting with image descriptions and alt text for Instagram and website accessibility
o Assisting with openings and public programs, as needed
o Assisting with event planning for SI’s cultivation events including its annual gala
o Opportunities for interns to be involved in community engagement and education

Qualifications:

o Passionate about contemporary art
o Minimum completion of one year of college and must be able to commit to at least three days per week, Monday-Friday
o Excellent interpersonal communications skills, both verbal and written
o Fluent in Mac OS, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Creative Suite
o Experience with any fundraising database is a plus, but not necessary
o Language skills in Spanish, French, German, or Italian are a plus, but not necessary
o Attention to detail and organizational skills
o Must be proactive with a proven ability to work independently, as well as prioritize and work on multiple assignments simultaneously

Compensation:

Interns are paid $16 on an hourly basis.

Additional Requirements:

Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background and reference check, which will include verifications of employment and educational records. You must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer.

SI is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from BIPOC, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented applicants. SI considers all candidates for employment regardless of race or color, religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, sexual and reproductive health decisions, or any other characteristic protected by law.