Collections Intern

Collections Intern at the South Dakota Art Museum

South Dakota Art Museum – Paid Summer Internship Program

Position Type: Part-time
Duration: 15 weeks, 20 hours per week (schedule & exact dates negotiable) between May 11, 2026 and August 21, 2026
Compensation: $14.00 per hour
Location: Brookings, SD (on-site)

Position Overview

The South Dakota Art Museum (SDAM) is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Collections Intern to support the management and care of the museum’s permanent collection. This paid internship offers hands-on, behind-the-scenes experience in museum collections, registration, and exhibitions, and is ideal for students pursuing museum studies, art history, public history, or related fields.

The intern will work closely with the Collections & Exhibitions Curator to assist with cataloging, research, documentation, and exhibition support while gaining a comprehensive introduction to professional museum practices.

Key Responsibilities:

Assist with cataloging and researching recent acquisitions, including:

• Condition reporting
• Preventive preservation practices
• Provenance research
• Registration and collections management tasks

Learn the full cataloging workflow, including:

• Data entry and database management
• Textual and photographic documentation
• Creating and maintaining physical and digital object files

Support exhibition turnover, including:

• Proper art handling techniques
• Packing, movement, and installation of artworks
• Participate in ongoing collections care and organizational projects as assigned

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

All applicants who are considered college juniors or seniors, are enrolled in graduate programs, or have recently graduated are eligible to apply. Interns are responsible for arranging academic credit with their sponsoring institutions, if applicable.

The South Dakota Art Museum seeks applications from undergraduate juniors and seniors and recent graduates majoring in Visual Arts, Art Education, Museum Studies, Education, History, Graphic Design, Consumer Affairs, Marketing, Journalism, and related fields, as well as those interested in pursuing a museum career.

Qualifications

• Excellent research, writing, communication, and computer skills
• Strong attention to detail and organizational abilities
• Ability to follow procedures and handle objects carefully
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Ability to lift and move objects weighing 40 lbs. or more
• Interest in collections management and museum operations
• Previous museum experience helpful but not required

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the internship, the Collections Intern will have gained practical experience in museum cataloging systems, object handling, registration procedures, and professional standards for collections care—providing a strong foundation for future work or graduate study in the museum field.