CURATORIAL INTERNSHIP FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Title: Curatorial Internship for Photography (June 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026)

Department: Curatorial

Reports To: Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art

Job Type: Temp. 1099 Contractor, 30-40 hours per week

Pay: $18-$20/hour, commensurate with experience

Position Summary:

The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) seeks a current or recent graduate student to further the interpretation and advancement of its photography collection and support a comprehensive review of its photographic holdings, to be conducted by distinguished experts in the field. SAMA’s Curatorial Intern for Photography, a temporary contract position, will assist SAMA’s Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art in researching and stewarding the Museum’s photography collection, offering a unique perspective into both the department’s day-to-day and long-term responsibilities. The Internship also offers the opportunity to learn from two visiting photography curators over the course of two week-long evaluation sessions in July 2025.

The internship is funded by a grant from the Luce Foundation and structured to consist of 500 hours of work completed between June 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. Intended to be flexible with a combination of full-time and part-time work periods to accommodate the intern’s graduate studies, the intern will work a proposed full-time, 10-week schedule over the course of summer 2025 with additional part-time work during the 2025-2026 academic year. The initial work period and photography collection reviews will take place at SAMA, but further research may also be conducted remotely. The intern will receive a $500 allowance for related research/travel expenses.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Assist in preparation for and facilitation of two comprehensive collection evaluations conducted by external photography scholars.
• Conduct general research on SAMA’s photography collection; maintain and update records in the collections database (TMS); build curatorial research files.
• Utilize scholars’ reports from collection evaluations to conduct focused research; assist Associate Curator in developing plans for growth of the collection along with future opportunities for interpretation, display, and related programs.
• Collaborate with SAMA Education and Marketing teams to develop content related to the photography collection.

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a graduate program (or a recent graduate) with a focus on art or art history.
• A strong interest and experience in the photographic arts and history of photography is preferred.
• Previous museum, archives, or research experience preferred.
• Possesses a strong work ethic.
• Excels at working independently/within a flexible schedule.
• Highly organized and self-motivated.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative team environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (especially Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook); experience with museum collection databases preferred.

Physical Requirements: 

The physical requirements of the position described here are representative of those that must be met to perform successfully.     

• Walking, bending, climbing, stooping, and lifting up to 35 pounds.
• Must be able to sit and stand for long periods of time.
• Physical ability to climb stairs and work in a multi-level building.

Deadline to apply is May 15, 2025.

About the San Antonio Museum of Art:

The San Antonio Museum of Art serves as a forum to explore and connect with art that spans the world’s geographies, artistic periods, genres, and cultures. Its collection contains nearly 30,000 works representing 5,000 years of history and is particularly strong in arts of the Americas; ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman art; Asian art; and contemporary art. The museum also has an ever-increasing collection of photography. Spanning the mid-nineteenth century to the present, SAMA’s nearly 3,000 photographic works have depth in twentieth-century documentary, street photography, and photojournalism. Recent acquisitions by contemporary artists including Laura Aguilar, Christina Fernandez, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, LaToya Ruby Frazier, and Wendy Red Star have complemented and expanded the museum’s photographic holdings. Highlights from the collection can be viewed on its website.

San Antonio is the nation’s seventh-largest city and is consistently listed as one of its fastest-growing. The Museum is housed in the historic Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of San Antonio’s River Walk and is committed to promoting the rich cultural heritage and life of the city. It hosts hundreds of events and public programs each year, including concerts, performances, tours, lectures, symposia, and interactive experiences. As an active civic leader, the Museum is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the city and the region, and to supporting its creative community.

EEO Statement:

San Antonio Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We recognize that it is highly unlikely that an applicant meets 100% of the qualifications for a given role.  Therefore, if much of this job posting describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role. 

SAMA is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.