Website Getty (the Museum, the Research Institute and the Conservation Institute)
2022-2023 Graduate Intern Jon Feldman assisting with the launch of the Getty Research Institute exhibition Alfredo Boulton: Looking at Venezuela, 1928–1978
Photo: J. Paul Getty Trust
Getty Graduate Internships are offered by the four programs of the J. Paul Getty Trust (the Museum, Research Institute, Conservation Institute, and the Foundation), as well as Getty Publications and Getty Digital. Please review the descriptions of graduate internships listed below. Using the online Fluxx application, select two positions in order of preference.
The J. Paul Getty Museum
The J. Paul Getty Museum seeks to inspire curiosity about, and enjoyment and understanding of, the visual arts by collecting, conserving, exhibiting and interpreting works of art of outstanding quality and historical importance. To fulfill this mission, the Museum continues to build its collections through purchase and gifts, and develops programs of exhibitions, publications, scholarly research, public education, and the performing arts that engage our diverse local and international audiences. All of these activities are enhanced by the uniquely evocative architectural and garden settings provided by the Museum’s two renowned venues: the Getty Villa and the Getty Center. A few internships will be located at the Getty Villa. For more information about the Museum, go to getty.edu/museum.
Museum: Antiquities Conservation (Getty Villa)
The department of Antiquities Conservation is responsible for the care of the Getty Museum’s collection of ancient art at the Getty Villa. As part of the conservation team, the graduate intern will participate in the full range of activities of the department, working closely with all departmental staff, curators, and other professional staff across Getty. Activities include the conservation treatment and technical study of a wide variety of ancient artifacts made of metal, stone, ceramics, glass and organic materials as well as preventive conservation, exhibition planning and installation, research, examination and preparation of objects for loan, and mountmaking. The intern will participate in ongoing projects such as the study of ancient polychromy, rigging and treatment of large-scale sculpture, 3-D scanning applications in conservation treatment and mountmaking, exhibitions, and public outreach. The intern is encouraged to conduct a research project in an area of interest to them, such as in in-depth technical study, utilizing the Getty’s analytical and research resources.
Museum: Collection Information & Access
MUST <3 DATA. The Collection Information & Access (CI&A) department aims to expand access to and enhance understanding of the Museum's art collection by managing, safeguarding and disseminating documentary, interpretive, and administrative information about the Museum's art collection. The intern will be introduced to all aspects of the collection information workflow, helping staff translate their research into organized data and preparing it for public presentations. Interns will be provided with opportunities for hands-on experience collaborating on projects with our team as well as colleagues around the Getty. Areas of work may include: data analysis/reconciliation; data integrity management; data transformation; administration/support of The Museum System (TMS), our collection management software; data visualization and statistical reporting. Projects will be assigned to complement the intern's particular skills and interests. The intern should have an interest in information management and an inclination to learn new skills and technologies. The ideal candidate will possess good communication skills, attention to detail, and a curious nature.
Museum: Communications and Public Affairs
The Museum's Public Affairs department offers a special opportunity for a graduate intern to gain hands-on experience in internal and external museum communications activities. Collaborating with a small, dynamic team, the intern will work on an array of external and internal communications for the Museum. The intern will regularly write and edit content, and manage its publication process on our website and external partner sites; support the Museum's social media platforms helping to create and publish content, with a special focus on content supporting the Museum's public programs; help refine mailing lists for exhibition openings; (potentially) play a role in supporting small and large-scale events; and assist with other activities as time permits. The internship will provide a rich learning experience of how a communications department supports a museum's daily operations.
Museum: Curatorial, Antiquities (Getty Villa, Art of the Ancient Mediterranean World)
The Graduate Intern in the Antiquities Department participates in a wide range of departmental activities relating to the research and presentation of the Museum’s collection of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity located at the Getty Villa. Regular activities include researching objects for collection management, developing and leading gallery tours, and contributing to exhibition and publication projects, scholarly programs, and social media platforms. Additionally, the intern joins the curatorial staff in supporting an active schedule of changing exhibitions by assisting with the maintenance of object lists and the preparation of didactic materials. The intern works closely with all members of the department as well as conservators, mountmakers, photographers, registrars, designers, educators, and other professional staff, and will gain experience in diverse aspects of curatorship, collection documentation, exhibition development and installation, museum education, and public outreach.
Museum: Curatorial, Drawings
The Drawings Department intern will work directly with the curators on the study and display of the Getty’s world-renowned collection of European drawings, which includes works by Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Lorrain, Rembrandt, and van Gogh, among many others. The intern will gain a knowledge of how to handle the sheets safely, how to work with and catalogue them, and will assist with the rotation exhibitions through which the works are made available to visitors, also attending the planning and design meetings that typify the collaborative museum working environment. Beyond this, the intern will be deeply involved in a variety of curatorial projects, including researching potential/new acquisitions and creating labels and web content that keep the collection fresh and alive for contemporary audiences. The Drawings Department intern will emerge with an understanding of a wide range of curatorial duties and a rich variety of museum experience.
Museum: Curatorial, Manuscripts
The Manuscripts Department intern will be involved with the study and presentation of one of the foremost collections of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in the country. The intern will become familiar with the permanent collection by undertaking research-oriented projects and will work in a collaborative environment, including departments across the museum. The intern will have the opportunity to work with curators on a future exhibition for the department, which may include concept development, object selection, label writing, and display planning. We welcome an intern who will be eager to develop exhibitions projects that are vital and relevant to modern, diverse audiences, especially ones that engage with our ongoing DEAI work both in and outside of the galleries. The successful candidate will have a proven academic record in medieval art history, with preference for a background in manuscripts, and will also demonstrate how this internship will benefit the individual's development in the field of museum curation.
Museum: Curatorial, Paintings (European, prior to about 1900)
The Internship provides intensive curatorial training by engaging interns with the Getty’s renowned and expanding collection of European paintings. Researching works and writing entries for the Online Catalogue of Paintings, writing gallery texts, conceiving installations, conducting gallery talks, developing content for social media, and assisting curators with exhibition-related research are among the wide range of activities an intern may undertake while working in the department. S/he will further benefit from exposure to the art market and to public and private collections in Los Angeles. In keeping with curatorial practice, much of the work is collaborative in nature and will entail interaction with Paintings Conservation, Education, Design, Collection Info and Access, and other departments. Candidates with prior work experience in a museum, keen interest in objects, and a strong desire to pursue a curatorial career are ideally suited to the graduate internship in the Paintings Department. In order to contribute to the Online Catalogue of Paintings and to the preparation of future exhibition projects, reading knowledge of French, Italian, and/or German will be highly desirable.
Museum: Curatorial, Photographs
The intern in the Department of Photographs will assist the curatorial staff on one or more exhibitions scheduled for 2024-2025. including projects related to African American, Japanese American and LGBTQ photography. He/She/They will conduct research on the permanent collection, catalogue works for display, write label copy, and assist with logistics related to coordinating exhibitions and publications. In addition, the intern will work on acquisition proposals and collections management, and will staff the department’s study room one day a week.
Museum: Curatorial, Sculpture and Decorative Arts
The internship offers a full introduction to the work of the curatorial department devoted to European sculpture and decorative arts dating between around 1200 and 1900 (with a small group of modern outdoor sculpture ranging from 1910-1980). The intern will be provided with opportunities to study the collection, its management and development. He or she will research works of art to update the on-line collection pages, participate in research and development of special exhibition proposals, and assist with planning changes to the display and interpretation of the permanent collection. The work will include the opportunity to pursue research on an independent scholarly project on a theme related to – or object from – the collection.
Museum: Decorative Arts and Sculpture Conservation
The Decorative Arts and Sculpture Conservation Graduate Intern will engage in conservation treatments and technical studies of a diverse range of objects in the Getty Museum’s collections dating from medieval to modern times. Treatment projects may involve works of European sculpture in stone, terracotta, ceramics, bronze and silver, European furniture, or outdoor modern sculpture in bronze, stainless steel or painted steel. In-depth technical studies of collection objects will allow opportunities for the intern to take full advantage of the Getty’s extensive analytical and research resources. Depending on the interests of the intern, a research project leading to publication will be encouraged. Some of the ongoing topics of exploration by department staff include non-invasive dendrochronology, identifying protein-based binding media, new methods for identifying Asian and European lacquer, new designs for structural and seismic mount making and developing a protocol for dating copper alloys. The intern will also participate in exhibition installation and de-installation, special commissions by living artists, as well as preventive conservation activities.
Museum: Design
The intern will join a multidisciplinary team of creative professionals to deliver design solutions for a range of projects related to the Getty visitor experience. Tailored to the individual's skills and career aspirations, the intern could work on a range of projects including: exhibition design, permanent collection gallery design, collection interpretation, digital design, or branding. At the crossroads of creative activity within the institution, work will involve collaborations with many internal stakeholders and departments. The Museum's Design Studio is a fast-paced, deadline-driven, creative environment that develops high quality design solutions.
Museum: Exhibitions
This internship offers a complete, firsthand overview of the Getty Museum exhibition development process and the work of the Museum Exhibitions Department, including general project management, contract development, exhibition budget assembly and oversight, the logistics of exhibition installation and deinstallation, and other special projects as assigned. The intern will work closely with representatives of many Getty departments and will have the opportunity to oversee the development of at least one exhibition from beginning to end.
Museum: Public Programs
The Public Programs internship at the Getty Center Museum invites a graduate student with a passion for art history, museum/curatorial studies and/or public engagement to participate in the overall development, coordination and implementation of an array of programs for different audiences, including lectures, performing arts, and other modes of public engagement. The position will conduct research to support current and future programs and offers hands-on experience to the many stages of program management of online, in-person and hybrid events. During 2024-2025, projects will be focused on the PST Arts: Art + Science Collide initiative as well as exhibition programs featuring contemporary artists. Additional special projects may be assigned based upon the intern’s skills, interests and related areas of study.
Museum: Registrar
The internship in the Registrar’s Office provides a broad overview of the Museum’s collections and exhibitions and the chance to interact with the curatorial, conservation, preparations, and exhibition staff. The intern will be introduced to the work of the Registrar’s Office in the areas of acquisition policies and procedures, collections management, exhibition planning and installation, fine art shipping, insurance, and rights and reproductions. They will also receive specific training for any current projects as well as on-going tutorials regarding general museum and registration best practices.
The Getty Research Institute
The Getty Research Institute (GRI) is dedicated to furthering knowledge and advancing understanding of the visual arts and their various histories through its expertise, active collecting program, public programs, institutional collaborations, exhibitions, publications, digital services, and residential scholars' programs. Its Research Library and Special Collections of rare materials and digital resources serve an international community of scholars and the interested public. The Institute's activities and scholarly resources guide and sustain each other and together provide a unique environment for research, critical inquiry, and scholarly exchange. For more information about the GRI, go to getty.edu/research.
GRI: Curatorial
The intern in the GRI Curatorial Department will gain experience and expertise working on diverse aspects of the multidisciplinary, cross-institutional research and curatorial project pertaining to the work of architect Paul R. Williams (1894–1980), the first African American architect to be licensed by the State of California in 1921, whose archive is jointly held by Getty Research Institute and USC School of Architecture. The intern's responsibilities will primarily involve exhibition planning and management, as well as assistance in managing publication production. This work will entail working closely with the archive, managing the movement of objects through institutional workflows, collaborating with imaging teams, and liaising with key project stakeholders. In many ways, the intern will have the opportunity to work as a project manager for both the exhibitions and the publication, gaining wide-ranging experience in diverse aspects of museum work.
GRI: Conservation and Preservation
The Conservation and Preservation department at the Getty Research Institute is responsible for the care of the GRI’s rare and unique research collections. Dating from the 15th century to the present, the collections include rare books, prints, large photographic holdings ranging from early processes to contemporary photographs, extensive archives, architectural drawings and architectural models, and video and audio recordings. The collection includes significant holdings of two dimensional and three-dimensional contemporary works. The graduate intern will engage in conservation treatments and preventive conservation activities and will participate in exhibition preparation. Depending on the intern’s interests, treatment projects may involve a wide range of materials with a primary focus on paper-based materials. Preventive conservation activities may include construction of unique housing solutions, lighting research including microfading testing, collection surveys, and environmental monitoring. The intern will be encouraged to conduct research related to GRI collections, culminating in a paper, poster, or presentation.
GRI: Director’s Office, Research Projects and Programs (Digital Art History)
The graduate intern of Digital Research Project Management in the GRI Director’s Office will receive on-the-job training in project management, digital humanities, and collaborative research. The intern will be at the center of two significant multi-year digital initiatives—the Pre-Hispanic Art Provenance Initiative (PHAPI) and the Latin American and Latinx Art Initiative (LALAI)—helping to set priorities, designing and managing workflows, and coordinating large project teams. PHAPI is a systematic study of the global market for pre-Hispanic art, and LALAI focuses on developing scholarly and institutional partnerships to generate access to archival materials and help diversify narratives about Latin American and Latinx art. The ideal intern is a self-starter who can work independently and in a collaborative team environment; has a background in museum studies, Library and Information Science, digital humanities, pre-Columbian or Latin American art history, and/or the study of global art markets; is interested in leadership and project development; and is passionate about creatively communicating complex ideas using digital tools to reach scholarly audiences all over the globe.
GRI: Exhibitions
The Exhibitions Department at the Research Institute presents two bilingual (English and Spanish) exhibitions per year in its galleries, organizes tours of exhibitions with domestic and international partner institutions, and assists with the coordination of collaborative exhibition projects in Los Angeles. This internship offers practical, firsthand experience in exhibition development and project management, including scheduling, budget preparation, and planning for the display of rare books, artists’ books, prints, photographs, video works, and archival materials from GRI Special Collections. The intern will work closely with the Head of Exhibitions and Exhibitions Coordinators, and with colleagues from departments across Getty. Ideal candidates are proactive, highly organized, detail-oriented and collaborative, and should possess excellent communication skills and a strong interest in the visual arts. During the 2024–2025 term, the intern will have the opportunity to work on multiple exhibition projects and will participate in planning for the opening and closing of our Spring 2025 exhibition, as well as other exhibitions in earlier stages of development.
GRI: Getty Vocabulary Program
The intern’s responsibilities and learning opportunities will include editorial and technical tasks related to the creation of the Art & Architecture Thesaurus ® (AAT), the Union List of Artist Names ® (ULAN), the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ® (TGN), the Cultural Objects Name Authority ® (CONA), and the Getty Iconography Authority ™ (IA). Activities include evaluating, constructing, revising, and expanding new and existing terminologies for art and architecture, and processing contributions using OpenRefine and other technologies. Candidates will also solicit and develop new content that reflects diverse domains, with a focus on areas that the GRI has identified as enduring commitments, such as the African American Art History Initiative (AAAHI) and the Latin American and Latinx Art Initiative (LALAI), and selected international partners for multilingual expansion. They will receive insight into Linked Open Data and how vocabularies and their associated data are linked broadly in the outside world.
GRI: Publications
The graduate internship in Getty Research Institute (GRI) Publications is focused on producing and editing scholarly art books and the Getty Research Journal (GRJ). The graduate intern will work closely with all GRI editors to learn how books and the GRJ are produced, including copyediting, obtaining art and permissions, proofing typeset pages, and promoting the final product. They will also gain experience with Quire, the open-source software developed by Getty, to produce the journal and digital books. The graduate intern will interact with the designers, production coordinators, and other professionals at Getty Publications as books and the GRJ move through each stage of publication. They will gain the skills they need to be a competitive applicant for jobs in scholarly or museum publishing; thus, applicants who aspire to work in this field are preferred. The projects scheduled for 2024–25 include a born-digital project on the avant-garde score; an essay collection on the history of photography in illustrated magazines; a monograph on the architect Welton Becket; a born-digital publication on Book 12 of the Florentine Codex; and issues of the GRJ. Past interns have obtained publishing jobs at the Rubin Museum of Art, the CMRS Center for Early Global Studies at UCLA, and the GRI, among other institutions.
GRI: Special Collections Management
The Graduate Intern in Special Collections Cataloging will gain hands-on experience with the archives and collections held by the Getty Research Institute, which include the papers of art historians and artists, the records of firms of art dealers, manuscripts from the 16th to the 21st century, and works on paper such as sketchbooks, prints from the 16th to the 21st century, and rare photographs. Primary responsibilities will include processing an archive and cataloging new acquisitions. Tasks will include writing a finding aid in ArchivesSpace and creating records in ALMA and in OCLC Connexion, and may include authority work and born-digital materials. The intern will gain experience in the proper handling of archives, in archival arrangement and description, and principles of cataloging. The specific processing or cataloging project will depend on the department's needs and/or the intern's skills and interests.
GRI: Digital Media & Content Strategy
This internship offers experience in developing digital content for the Getty Research Institute (GRI) and its online channels. Our department works with teams across the GRI to promote their projects, imagining ways to engage audiences through creative storytelling. The intern participates in both the editorial side of content creation—writing articles, social media posts, website text, and more—as well as the digital media side, helping manage website production, preparing assets for upload, gathering and analyzing web traffic data, and participating in UX designing and user testing. The ideal intern is currently pursuing or has recently completed a graduate-level degree in journalism, art history, communications, or a related field; has a broad interest in the visual arts; is an excellent writer; and is passionate about using digital tools to communicate with a global scholarly audience. They should be a self-starter who can work both independently and in highly collaborative environments.
The Getty Conservation Institute
The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) works internationally to advance conservation practice in the visual arts – broadly interpreted to include objects, collections, architecture, and sites. The Institute serves the conservation community through scientific research, education and training, field projects, and the dissemination of information. In all its endeavors, the GCI creates and delivers knowledge that contributes to the conservation of the world’s cultural heritage. For more information, go to getty.edu/conservation.
GCI: Buildings and Sites
Interns in the Buildings and Sites Department will join one or more of its interdisciplinary project teams and undertake work which may include research, field campaigns potentially involving hands-on conservation work, or the development of training programs and workshops and publications. Potential areas of work for 2024-25 interns might include subjects such as climate change and sustainability and involve the following projects:
The Archaeological Site Conservation Initiative strives to advance the field of conservation and management of archaeological sites through a number of interrelated activities involving training, dissemination, network-building, and developing approaches to address priority issues facing archaeological sites, such as climate change. The intern may be involved in a range of activities that contribute to the work at large, including assisting with needs assessments and training courses; helping with the advancement of activities related to climate change and other issues; supporting dissemination efforts and publications; and conducting research. This is a new phase of the Getty’s work on the conservation of archaeological sites. More information about our previous work in the field can be found here.
The Earthen Architecture Initiative (EAI) seeks to advance earthen architecture conservation through model projects that improve the way conservation interventions are carried out; research that addresses unanswered questions in earthen conservation; capacity building; and dissemination of information for appropriate conservation interventions on historic buildings, settlements, and archaeological sites composed of earthen materials. Currently the EAI is engaged in international activities and institutional partnerships through the Seismic Retrofitting Project for historic earthen buildings in Perú and the International Course on the Conservation of Earthen Architecture in the UAE/Oman. The team is also working on the definition of a strategy to guide the GCI's future activities in this field. More information about the EAI can be found here.
To apply for this job please visit www.getty.edu.