Job Description:

Position Title: Havner Curatorial Intern

Position Type: Part Time

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: Curatorial

Reports to: Senior Manager of Research and Scholarship and Assistant Archivist

Date Reviewed: December 2025

About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a ‘living room’ where community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. You belong here: make the most of this moment.

Position Summary

The Havner Curatorial Summer Internship at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a paid, residential opportunity designed to provide first-hand experience within a curatorial department and meaningful exposure to the operations of a major American art museum. Havner Interns work one-on-one with a member of the Curatorial team and support a variety of projects, including exhibition development, object research, interpretive writing (such as object labels), and initiatives related to the full scope of the museum’s collection, which spans the 18th century to today.

As part of Crystal Bridges’ robust summer internship cohort, Havner Interns will join a vibrant community of colleagues across multiple departments. Through orientation, scheduled conversations, and cross-departmental engagements, interns will develop a broad understanding of museum practice while expanding upon their academic training and applying their knowledge in professional, real-world contexts.

This internship is open to current undergraduate juniors and seniors, as well as first- and second-year graduate students. The 8-week internship runs from June 1 through July 24, 2026. Interns are expected to work 35–40 hours per week. The stipend is paid biweekly, with undergraduate interns earning $13/hour and graduate interns earning $14/hour. Housing near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is provided.

Crystal Bridges is committed to fostering an equitable, inclusive, and diverse intern cohort and to supporting the next generation of museum professionals. Students from ethnically underrepresented groups in the curatorial field are strongly encouraged to apply.

How To Apply

Application Materials: Interns that do not submit a resume AND cover letter will not be considered for this opportunity. Please answer the following questions in your cover letter when submitting your application.

Please include the following attachments with your application

• Submit a current CV/resume
• Submit a one-page cover letter answering the following:
  • Tell us about a time you encountered a work of art or creative expression that changed how you saw the world. What made that experience meaningful for you?
  • Share an example of how you approached learning something new outside of your comfort zone.
  • How does your background, culture, or lived experience influence how you engage with art or storytelling?
  • Museums often hold many stories in one place. Whose stories do you think are still missing, and how might they be told?

Qualifications (at time of application)

• Undergraduate: enrolled juniors and seniors
• Graduate: enrolled in the first or second year of graduate school (typically MA student)
• Interest in and/or experience with American art history, architecture, visual and material culture, American studies, craft, Native American art, Latin American art, and contemporary art.
• Completion of at least one American art history course
• Detail-oriented
• Must maintain confidentiality of sensitive information

Work Environment

The notes on the work environment described here are intended to outline internship expectations that enable the intern to perform the essential functions of this position.

• The position requires verbal and written conversation with others, work at a desk and utilizing a computer for prolonged periods of time.
• Each week, interns will have several required meetings.
• In addition, interns will meet regularly with their supervisor.
• While much of the work is self-guided, interns are expected to pro-actively update their supervisor regarding progress on projects and challenges faced. Interns are expected to actively participate in talks, meetings, and other opportunities.

Housing

Housing for internship positions is contingent upon available funding and is not guaranteed. If housing is included for a specific internship, it will be clearly stated in the position description. Any housing or relocation assistance provided is considered taxable income and will appear on the intern’s Form W-2.

When housing is available, priority is given to students whose permanent residence is located outside a three-hour radius (approximately 150 miles) of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art or the Momentary.

The applicant selected for this position will receive an $800 relocation allowance, issued 3–5 business days after completing the first week of the internship program. All relocation assistance and housing support are considered taxable income and will be reflected on the following year’s W-2.

Timeline:

• Intern selected by: March 1st

Schedule:

• Start Date: June 1, 2026
• End Date: July 24, 2026
• Weekly schedule to be arranged with direct supervisor. Interns are permitted to work up to 40 hours a week.
• To qualify for bachelor’s or master’s hours, you must be enrolled in an accredited program or have graduated from an accredited program within the last three years. Students will be required to submit a current schedule or official transcript.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: In the work environment described below, position requires work at a desk, utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time, good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching for filing, and physical stamina to lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a height of at least three feet for file and materials storage as appropriate for the demands of the office. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.

• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment and museum spaces. The noise level in the museum work environment is usually low to moderate.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate