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Internship Description | Intern, Conservation – Summer 2026

Division | Collections & Curatorial Strategies

Department | Registrar

Reporting Relationship | Conservator

Application Deadline: Must apply by March 26, 2026

This internship is supported by the Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program

About The Newark Museum of Art:

We acknowledge the traditional homelands of the Lenape, also known as the Delaware, upon which The Newark Museum of Art resides.

We welcome everyone with inclusive experiences that spark curiosity and foster community.

Founded in 1909 and located in New Jersey, The Newark Museum of Art (NMOA) is the state's largest museum and ranks twelfth nationally in terms of collection size. Global and diasporic, the collection includes more than 130,000 artworks, as well as significant holdings of science and natural history. From the ancient world to the art of today, NMOA boasts exceptional quality and depth in the Arts of Global Africa; Arts of Global Asia, featuring a renowned Tibetan collection and Buddhist altar; Arts of the Americas, with particular strength in Native American art; Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean, and Decorative Arts.

Visitor-and community-centered, NMOA responds to the evolving needs and interests of the diverse publics it serves by offering exhibitions, programming, a research library, paid internships, and local and global partnerships. A four-acre campus includes the National Historic Landmark Ballantine House (1885); the Ward Carriage House (1868); the Old Stone School House (1784); and the Alice Ransom Dreyfuss Memorial Garden. NMOA has launched an era of transformation to create an engaged citizenry by reimagining the role of the art museum for the 21st century.

Internship Summary: The Intern, Conservation works directly with the Conservator to gain hands-on experience in the care, preservation, and treatment of works at the Museum. The intern supports conservation activities through object examination, documentation, research, and supervised treatment, while also assisting with lab organization and preventative care efforts. This internship offers an introduction to professional conservation practice and insight into how conservation supports exhibitions, collections care, and public programs. As part of a summer internship cohort, the intern also participates in structure professional development opportunities, including lunchtime sessions, staff meetings, and other museum programs.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this internship, the intern will:

Develop hands-on experience in conservation practices within a museum setting.Learn methods of examining, documenting, and photographing artworks for conservation.Gain experience researching artworks and conservation materials.Understand how conservation supports exhibitions, collections care, and public-facing museum programs. Build foundational professional skills through collaboration with conservation staff and participation in cohort-based programming.Begin developing a professional conservation portfolio. Contribute to the Museum’s commitment to a culture of inclusive excellence.

Responsibilities:

Assist with the examination and documentation of the collections at the Museum.Photograph objects for condition reporting and treatment documentation.Conduct research on artworks, artists, materials, and conservation techniques.Perform entry-level conservation treatments under the direct supervision of the Conservator.Assist with laboratory maintenance and organization.Design and create appropriate housing or supports for artworks as needed.Attend conservation, department, and internship-related meetings. Present a summary of internship experience and key takeaways to museum leadership at the conclusion of the internship. Support the Registrar Department with collections care and related tasks as needed.

Work Schedule & Duration: This internship is a part-time, onsite position, required to work onsite three (3) days per week. This position runs for ten (10) consecutive weeks, from June to August 2026.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes:

Undergraduate or graduate student; recent graduates (within one year of graduation) required.Residency in the State of New Jersey required. Major or focus in art history, arts administration, museum studies, studio art, or related fields preferred. Strong attention to detail and ability to follow precise procedures.Interest in pursuing a career in art conservation a plus.

Creative thinking and growth attitude.Ability to work collaboratively with staff in a laboratory environment. Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Good presentation facilitation and written communication skills. Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook).

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

Ability to remain in a stationary period for extended periods of time, move about, access, and operate computer equipment.

Ability to occasionally lift and move up to fifteen (15) pounds.

Ability to move throughout the Museum’s offices, galleries, facilities, and meeting spaces.

Ability to navigate accessible public and administrative areas of the Museum, including use of elevators.

Rate: $20/hourly

The Newark Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Upholding this commitment, we prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This commitment applies to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, promotion, placement, transfer, layoff, recall, leaves of absence, and termination.

We embrace a culture of inclusive excellence, ensuring that people of all backgrounds, identities, or abilities are empowered to explore, learn, contribute, and engage with the arts. Since its founding in 1909, the Museum has been grounded in the belief that art and learning are for everyone. The Museum reaffirms its dedication to this inclusive vision, which has shaped its aspirations, actions, and policies for over a century. More information on the Newark Museum of Art’s commitment to a culture of inclusive excellence can be found here.

The Newark Museum of Art is dedicated to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As an integral part of this commitment, reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants and employees to support them in performing the essential functions of their roles, unless doing so would cause undue hardship on the organization. For inquiries regarding reasonable accommodation, please contact accessibility@newarkmuseumart.org.

Intern - Conservation

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Intern - Conservation in Newark, New Jersey at The Newark Museum of Art

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