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Curatorial & Collection Intern

New York, NY

Curatorial & Collection Intern
Robert Rauschenberg Foundation
381 Lafayette Street, New York, NY
Employment Type: Temporary; Part-time (30 hours per week); In-person

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation builds on the legacy of artist Robert Rauschenberg, emphasizing his belief that artists can drive social change. Rauschenberg sought to act in the “gap” between art and life, valuing chance and collaboration across disciplines. As such, the Foundation celebrates new and even untested ways of thinking.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation is seeking a Curatorial Intern to support the Curatorial andCollection departments in exhibition preparation, public engagement initiatives and research that highlight the scope and impact of Rauschenberg’s work. This hands-on internship provides experience in research, collections management, and digital content creation. The intern will assist with preparing artwork documentation materials (internal talking points and short descriptions) and conducting research on Robert Rauschenberg, while learning about the Foundation’s collection, research processes, and documentation standards. They will also help draw connections between Rauschenberg’s multidisciplinary practice and contemporary artistic and cultural dialogues. This role is ideal for candidates pursuing careers in the arts, including the commercial art market or public art museums. The internship offers hands-on opportunities to work directly with digital asset management software (FileMaker Pro), gaining practical experience in organizing, maintaining collection materials, as well as exposure to a catalogue raisonné and collections research that builds foundational skills for future work in museums, galleries, artist foundations and related cultural institutions.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Recurring/Regular Duties:

  • Draft artwork “talking points” for museums, galleries, auction houses, and collectors that include exhibition history, bibliography, provenance, art historical analysis, and source imagery investigation
  • Track contemporary press mentions of the artist and synthesize noteworthy articles for related research and archiving
  • Assist Collections Manager in conducting catalogue raisonné examinations of artworks.
  • Draft art- and artist-related social media content under the guidance of the Curatorial, Collection and Communications departments
  • Provide support with artwork and exhibition research
  • Assist with logistics and on-site support for Foundation-hosted events as assigned

Project-Based Work:

  • Locate, research, and digitize archival artwork images to inform the Foundation’s database of Rauschenberg’s artwork in our digital asset management system (FileMaker Pro)
  • Assist with general research and contribute to the development of content for the Foundation’s in-house installations as needed

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS

  • Excellent time management skills: ability to work independently and meet deadlines
  • Fastidious attention to detail
  • Familiarity and ease with Mac OS, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office suite
  • Experience with FileMaker Pro or similar relational database and Adobe Photoshop a plus, but not required
  • Excellent written and oral communication, research, and organizational skills
  • Highly motivated, with a strong enthusiasm for working with the Curatorial team
  • Interest and ideally experience in digital media production and/or digital humanities
  • Current graduate students or those with undergraduate degrees with a focus in art history are preferred
  • Familiarity with post-war art history
  • The Foundation encourages all candidates to apply who believe that they would succeed in this role even if they do not meet 100% of the desired qualifications indicated here

ADA SPECIFICATIONS

  • Requires the ability to sit, stand, speak, and hear, sometimes for extended periods
  • Requires the ability to use a computer and standard office equipment
  • Requires the ability to climb stairs; the Foundation is located in a historic building with 13 steps to the office
  • Reasonable accommodations will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions

TERM AND COMPENSATION

  • Approximately Feb–June 2026; 30 hours per week; in-person
  • $20–$25 per hour based on skills, experience and academic level

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND DEADLINE

The application deadline is February 6, 2026.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Foundation is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive work environment. As an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity in all its forms and actively seek to attract talented individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented in arts organizations. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the hiring process and employment.

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