Education Programs Intern at ICA
Background
The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) strives to share the pleasures of reflection, inspiration, provocation, and imagination that contemporary art offers through public access to art, artists, and the creative process.
The ICA strives to present outstanding contemporary art in all media, including visual art exhibitions, music, film, video, and performance, that is deserving of public attention and has not been presented in depth to Boston audiences. Additionally, the ICA provides innovative experiential learning opportunities for people of all ages through direct encounters with artists and art-making and designs interpretative programs that provide context for, develop appreciation of, and add meaning to contemporary art and culture.
Education Programs Intern Overview
In partnership with Studio Institute’s Arts Intern Program, the ICA invites qualifying undergraduate students to apply for our nine-week, paid summer internship. The Education Programs Intern will work closely with ICA Education staff on the implementation and evaluation of programs and resources for a range of learners, with a specific focus on family and K–12 audiences. This internship offers a student the opportunity to deepen their understanding of contemporary art and the day-to-day operations of a mid-sized art museum’s education department.
Throughout the summer, the Education Programs Intern will assist with studio programs, tours and group visits, and events for multigenerational audiences including Play Dates and Watershed Block Parties. The Education Programs Intern will also research and develop K–12 teacher resources for the ICA’s fall 2025 exhibition An Indigenous Present, an exhibition that celebrates an increasingly visible and expanding field of Indigenous contemporary art.
Responsibilities
- Work with ICA Education staff to prepare and implement public studio programs for a range of audiences in the Bank of America Art Lab.
- Support visitors of all ages in their artmaking; facilitate artmaking experiences that are inclusive and developmentally appropriate.
- Maintain studio spaces and ensure that materials are accessible, frequently replenished, well organized, and presentable.
- Assist teaching staff during K–12 group visits in the Bank of America Art Lab.
- Greet K–12 groups and provide orientations.
- Research and develop An Indigenous Present teacher resources, including a slide deck, discussion questions, and a bibliography of resources.
- Work with ICA Education staff to collect and update program data.
- Provide support for other education department programs and initiatives, as needed.
Requirements, Qualifications, and Skills
- Currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student (rising junior or senior), studying studio art, arts education, art history, and/or related course of study; knowledge of contemporary art, a plus
- Strong interpersonal skills; background working with family and youth audiences, a plus
- Demonstrated interest in teaching or facilitation, comfort with public speaking, teaching studio-based lessons and workshops in visual arts to a range of audiences
- Strong communication (written and oral), research, and organizational skills
- Experience in customer service; ability to solve problems with creativity and care, a plus
- Ability to work independently as well as on a collaborative team
- Spanish fluency, a plus
- Must have Saturday availability
- Must pass a CORI screening
- Must meet Arts Intern program eligibility requirements
Physical Requirements:
- Possess mobility to move about throughout the museum, office, and Art Lab
- Prolonged periods of standing and/or moving about during programs and events
- Ability to lift up to 15 pounds, pushing and pulling, keyboarding and gripping
- Must be able to exchange accurate information with visitors, staff, departments, and with diverse and multigenerational audiences
- Ability to see, listen and talk for extended periods in person
- Ability to understand printed materials
- Ability to remain calm when working with youth and families
- Travel to Watershed via water taxi requires traveling down a dock ramp and transferring to the boat (boarding boat requires stepping over/on and three steps down)
Compensation
$22.50 per hour
INTERNS WILL WORK 28 HOURS PER WEEK AND ATTEND A MANDATORY OFFSITE PROGRAM DAY ONE DAY PER WEEK WITH THEIR COHORT.
Internship Period: June 9 – August 8
Total Weeks: 9 weeks
Work Hours per Week: 28
Total Hours: 252
Workdays: The Education Programs Internship requires onsite presence at the ICA’s Seaport offices (100 Pier 4 Blvd, Second Floor Boston, MA 02210). The schedule is 9:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Arts Intern program days will take place weekly on Fridays, including site visits and virtual meetings.
PROGRAM DAY:
On Fridays, interns will attend an offsite program day with their cohort.
These hours are separate from the internship hours.
The ICA is located at 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, and is accessible by public transportation Red and Silver Line.
Other Locations:
Seaport Studio:100 Pier 4 Blvd, Second Floor Boston, MA 02210
ICA Watershed: 256 Marginal Street, Boston, MA 02128
How to Apply:
This internship is through the Studio Institute Arts Intern program.
You must first apply to Arts Intern to be eligible for this internship. Once your application has been approved, we will provide you with the next steps to apply for the Education Programs Intern position at the ICA.
Eligibility Criteria:
Please watch our information video below to ensure you are eligible to apply for Arts Intern.
Student Info Session- Arts Intern Summer 2025
Submit Your Application Here:
Arts Intern Summer 2025 - Boston
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