Frequently Asked Questions: Internships
Please read through the following list of frequently asked questions (FAQ). If your question is not addressed by the list, please submit it by clicking "I Still Have a Question," and you will receive a response as soon as possible. Thank you.
- Are non-U.S. citizens eligible to apply for internships at the National Gallery?
- If I apply for more than one internship program, do I need to send separate applications?
- If I do not have a bachelor's degree, may I still apply?
- Is the deadline for applications "received by" or "postmarked by"?
- I need to send my application via an express delivery service (such as Federal Express). What mailing address do I use?
- May I deliver my application in person?
- If my application advances to the second round of consideration, how will I be notified?
- When and how should my references send their recommendations?
- Do you offer housing?
- What is the weekly museum seminar?
- What is the difference between volunteer internships, research assistantships, and apprenticeships?
- Can I apply to the internship programs through external Web sites?
- Why can I not complete the application on my computer?
1. Are non-U.S. citizens eligible to apply for internships at the National Gallery?
Non-U.S. citizens are welcome to apply for all of our internships. If you are accepted into a program, the Gallery will assist you with the required visa paperwork.
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2. If I apply for more than one internship program, do I need to send separate applications?
Yes. Please fill out a separate application form for each internship program to which you are applying.
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3. If I do not have a bachelor's degree, may I still apply?
No. The minimum requirement is a bachelor's degree, with preference given to graduate students, but please keep us in mind for the future.
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4. Is the deadline for applications "received by" or "postmarked by"?
Applications must be received by the deadline. We regret that applications received after that date will not be accepted.
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5. I need to send my application via an express delivery service (such as Federal Express). What mailing address do I use?
All mail, including applications sent by United States Postal Service, Federal Express, and United Parcel Service, must be sent to the following mailing address:
Department of Academic Programs
Division of Education
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785
phone: (202) 842-6257
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6. May I deliver my application in person?
You may leave your completed application with the security officer at the Study Center in the East Building of the National Gallery of Art. Please ask the security officer to notify the department of academic programs that your application has been delivered.
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7. If my application advances to the second round of consideration, how will I be notified?
You will be notified via e-mail. If you do not receive an e-mail, your application did not advance to the second round of consideration.
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8. When and how should my references send their recommendations?
For paid internships: If your application advances to the second round, your references will be notified directly by the Gallery. References will be asked to e-mail or fax their recommendations directly to the department of academic programs.
For unpaid internships: Please send three letters of recommendation with your application packet. For more information, please visit the volunteer internship Web page.
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Neither paid nor unpaid internships at the National Gallery of Art offer housing. It is the responsibility of the intern to find accommodations during the term of the internship. However, there are plenty of options for long- and short-term housing in the Washington metro area, and previous interns have had little difficulty finding affordable accommodations.
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10. What is the weekly museum seminar?
The museum seminar introduces the interns to the staff, departments, programs, and functions of the Gallery. Seminar speakers include curators, event planners, conservators, and representatives from the personnel office and office of protection services, among others. Besides learning about how the Gallery functions as a whole, the weekly seminar allows interns to connect with one another and discuss their experiences and current projects in a collegial atmosphere.
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11. What is the difference between volunteer internships, research assistantships, and apprenticeships?
Volunteer internships at the Gallery are similar to the graduate and summer internships: candidates contribute to ongoing Gallery projects and programs, are supervised by a curator or head of a department, and are invited to participate in the museum seminars (see #10, above).
Research assistantships are geared toward advanced graduate students in art history and concentrate on a specific project relating to an exhibition or the permanent collection under the supervision of a Gallery curator.
Apprenticeships are designed for graduate students whose areas of focus involve acquiring knowledge through hands-on experience and on-site training. Examples of departments that accept apprentices are: conservation, design, facilities management, and horticulture. Neither research assistants nor apprentices attend the museum seminars.
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12. Can I apply to the internship programs through external Web sites?
Although internships at the National Gallery of Art are advertised on external Web sites, we do not accept applications in the online format used by other organizations. To complete the internship application, applicants must follow the procedures listed on the Gallery's internship program Web page.
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13. Why can I not complete the application on my computer?
For security and authenticity reasons, the Gallery has locked the PDF application form so that applicants are unable to fill it out using computer software. It is fully acceptable to print the application form and complete it either by hand or using a typewriter.
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For questions pertaining to one of the topics below, please click on the specific link to see our listings of frequently asked questions. For questions or comments on other topics, please Contact Us using the appropriate e-mail address or phone number. We will get back to you as soon as possible. page for an appropriate e-mail address or phone number.
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