Student Opportunities

The Museums at W&L welcome applicants with little to no prior museum experience who want an immersive experience working with fine and decorative arts. Internship opportunities are available through a paid eight-week summer program at the Reeves Museum of Ceramics. The work schedule is from 9 AM – 4 PM, beginning June 10 to August 24, 2024.

DEADLINE FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024

Send a cover letter detailing your interest, resume, and writing sample to museums@wlu.edu.

Dive into a unique internship experience at the Museums at W&L, where you can gain purposeful work experience through hands-on projects with dedicated museum staff. Interns acquire and apply fundamental knowledge and skills relevant to museums and galleries. Prospective interns can apply to three categories: Collections Management, Exhibitions, and Educational and Programming.

Internships:

Collections Management: Learn the skills of preserving and preparing for exhibitions, rehousing objects, evaluating the condition of objects, including:

• Collection imaging and photography in support of collections access to support research by students, faculty, and the public.
• Object record data entry to ensure accurate and complete collection records.
• Collection inventory to update records on the physical condition and location of collections.

Exhibitions: Develop skills in researching artists, artworks, media, and techniques to support the development of exhibitions, including:

• Exhibition design
• Installation planning
• Writing object and exhibition labels

Education and Programming: Learn to design engaging experiences for visitors through public programs and exhibition guides, including:

• Developing plans to connect to student organizations and groups.
• Proposing student events and activities such as lectures, films, gallery talks, and hands-on activities for all ages.

• Grace McCurdy, Class of 2026, 2023 Collections Summer Intern
• Peyton Quimby, Class of 2024, 2023 Engagement and Interpretation Summer Intern
• Hailey Neaman, Class of 2025, 2023 Curatorial Summer Intern

Past Summer Interns

• Hailey Neaman, Class of 2025, 2022 Collections Summer Intern
• Kaylin Jury, Class of 2024, 2022 Collections Summer Intern
• Amelia Lancaster, Class of 2022, 2021 Collections Summer Intern
• Laurel Myers, Class of 2020, 2019 Collections Summer Intern
• Virginia Laurie, Class of 2022, 2019 Collections Summer Intern
• Charlotte Cook, Class of 2019, 2019 Collections Summer Intern
• Matthew Richards, Class of 2019, 2019 Collections Summer Intern
   

The Art and Art History Department offers a Minor in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies. In support of the minor, the Museums at W&L offer ARTH 398: Seminar in Museum Studies and ARTH 348: Chinese Export Porcelain and the China Trade, 1500 to 1900, instructed by museum staff.

• About the Minor

This annual award is named in honor of Thomas V. Litzenburg Jr., Class of 1957, and former director of the Reeves Center. The award recognizes a graduating student who demonstrates outstanding achievement in research, creativity, and curatorial work with the museum's collections.

Past Recipients

• 2023 Merrill Dowdy
• 2022 Amelia Lancaster
• 2020 Kassidy Strosnider
• 2019 David R. Salchert
• 2018 Julie Ruth Malone
• 2017 Arianna India Dial
• 2016 Hannah Tyler Wilson
• 2016 Kendall Christine Knoll
• 2013 Ellen Margaretta Archie
• 2012 Rachel Elyse Denniston
• 2011 Kathryn Bradley Gephart
• 2010 Lauren Frances Sturdy
• 2008 Madeline Lilia Gent
• 2007 Anne Taylor Tipton
• 2005 Michael David Letournea
• 2004 Clay Tillman Jackson, Jr.

During the academic year, the Museums at W&L provide a mix of art, food, and entertainment programs, both virtually and in person. Including lecture series, interactive experiences, mindfulness workshops, gallery talks, and much more. Follow us on social media for event updates.

• Discover current exhibits and upcoming events.

The Museums at W&L wishes to help each student grow into engaged and change-making citizens. It’s essential that Washington and Lee students know that they are seen, heard, and valued by the Museums. Incorporating student reflections into exhibitions and programming is a continued goal. Below are just a few ways in which students engage with and reflect on Museums collections.

• Discover student reflections.

Throughout the year the Museum at W&L offers various paid employment opportunities for WLU undergraduate students. These can include curatorial work and museum education, and positions in the Museums Shop. Student employees contribute to, and experience, diverse areas of Museum work. It is an exciting opportunity for someone with a passion for art, business, culture, history, and/or museums. Work schedules for student staff are flexible to accommodate class schedules and include some evening and weekend hours.

Positions include:

• Museum Administrative Aids serve as organizers and "behind-the-scenes" support for the Museums. Aids facilitate interdepartmental communications and work one-on-one with the Museum Administrator to address the clerical and operational needs of the Museums and their staff.
• Museum Assistants serve as liaisons between the Museums and the university and work one-on-one with the Curator of Academic Engagement on education, exhibition, and/or collections research, contributing to upcoming shows.
• Museum Attendants serve as front-line ambassadors to University Chapel & Galleries, the Reeves Museum of Ceramics, and the Watson Galleries. Attendants are directly responsible for setting the tone of every museum visit by welcoming each visitor. Museum Attendants work with the Visitor Services and Retail Manager to provide excellent visitor services while maintaining a safe and secure environment and protecting the museum’s collection.

The Museums at W&L is forming our first-ever student-focused organization this fall. As a founding member, you and your peers will have a direct impact on the mission of the committee. You'll help us:

• Promote the museum as a welcoming space through events and exhibitions
• Plan social activities and events inspired by the art collection
• Serve as an advisor to the Museums
• Collaborate with student groups to promote the Museums

We are looking for students from ALL majors and disciplines! Bring a friend to an info session to learn more:

• Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Leyburn 128
• Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Leyburn 128
• Thursday, October 26, 2023, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Leyburn 128

Pizza provided!

For more information, contact Elizabeth Spear at espear@wlu.edu.