Peter A. Krueger Internships | Summer 2024

Accessibility and Inclusion Intern
Learning and Audience Engagement Department

The Learning and Audience Engagement Department makes design accessible to all and helps audiences see the value of design in their lives through programs, initiatives, and resources. Expanding beyond the department, Cooper Hewitt has a strong commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and equity for visitors with disabilities, creative professionals, and staff across all areas of the museum.

This internship provides a holistic education on the many ways that accessibility must be considered in every aspect of museum work. Working alongside the Accessibility and Inclusion Manager, the Accessibility and Inclusion Intern will be introduced to concepts and practical skills related to accessibility in a museum setting, and will collaborate with various museum departments to advocate for and implement accessible practices. The intern will get hands-on experience on projects such as reviewing exhibition plans, writing image descriptions, supporting disability-specific public programs, and more.

Conservation Intern
Curatorial Department

Housed within the Curatorial Department, the Conservation Department is responsible for the preservation of the collection. Conservation activities include assessing the condition of collections, advising on how best to handle and display these objects, treating these objects if/when needed in order to stabilize them, providing technical study of the collections including materials-science based inquiries, and ensuring proper storage requirements are met. The team works cross-departmentally to fulfill these obligations.

The Conservation Intern will spend time within each of the conservation department laboratories (objects, digital, textiles, and paper) as well as learn from the department’s matting/framing and mount making studios. Projects may also include preparation of digital materials to be uploaded to the museum’s website, focused on conservation projects; this work would include liaising with other museum departments. The intern will also shadow staff at exhibition preparatory meetings to learn how museums organize shows and what individual staff members do in this arena. Introductory conservation tasks not requiring prior experience will be assigned.

Digital Media Intern
Cross-Platform Content Department

The Cross-Platform Content Department is involved in the development and workflow for books (print and digital), video (web, gallery, and social media), exhibition didactics, digital interactions, website, and museum interpretation. The department works cross-departmentally, collaborating with the curatorial, learning, communication, and exhibitions teams.

This internship provides a unique opportunity to blend technical proficiency with creative storytelling, contributing to the museum’s mission of delivering compelling and immersive experiences to our audiences. The Digital Media Intern will contribute and assist in capturing captivating visuals as a camera person during events and exhibits, while also utilizing editing skills to craft engaging content that enhances Cooper Hewitt’s digital presence. The intern will have first-hand experience in the processes of creating accessible content across all platforms ensuring that audiences of all abilities will be able to engage and interact with all of the museum’s video offerings.

Graphic Design Intern
Communications and Marketing Department

The Communications and Marketing Department raises public awareness about Cooper Hewitt’s exhibitions and public programs through public relations, social media, marketing, and advertising initiatives.

As a Communications and Marketing team member, the Graphic Design Intern at Cooper Hewitt will engage in collaborative projects across various departments, gaining firsthand experience in the design process from conception to execution. This internship provides an opportunity to create graphic design materials to promote Cooper Hewitt as a contemporary design hub on local, national, and international scales. The intern will actively contribute to the implementation of design systems and guidelines for visual communications, ensuring consistency with the Cooper Hewitt brand identity across all digital and print platforms.

Socially Responsible Design Intern
Curatorial Department

The Curatorial Department generates the content that fills Cooper Hewitt’s galleries and can be experienced by walking through exhibitions, reading museum publications, and perusing online. Curatorial practice is centered on ideas and research, using objects, themes, and people to tell stories. Curators are responsible for studying objects in and acquiring new objects for the museum’s permanent collection, exploring design themes and processes, and engaging with living and historic designers. In doing so, curators build narratives that offer distinct perspectives, new contexts, and seek to generate meaningful dialogue and experiences.

The Socially Responsible Design Intern will work with the museum’s Curator of Socially Responsible Design on research exploring landscape architecture and ecology. This enquiry considers how landscape architecture can engage natural systems to address the multitude of challenges caused by a warming planet. The intern will work with the curator on researching design work around the world, exposing them to new and innovative contemporary design solutions.