Curatorial Intern na The Trustees of Reservations

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the Massachusetts' premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org.

Posting Information:

Salary/Hourly Rate:  $2000 Stipend

Hours per week: 16 (1 day onsite, 1 day remote per week)

Job Classification: Seasonal

Job Type: Hybrid

Duration: 12 weeks, Fall 2025

Location: deCordova Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

As a Curatorial Intern at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, you will be involved in a diverse range of dynamic projects within the curatorial department, gaining experience in the daily operations of a contemporary art museum and sculpture park. Embedded within The Trustees, a non-profit land preservation organization, deCordova’s artistic program has a special focus on the intersections of contemporary art and the natural world. 

The Role:

Working with the Director/Chief Curator and other museum staff, you will contribute to researching works in the permanent collection, assist in updating object labels and website content, support the planning for outdoor installations and other commissions, and provide departmental support. Additionally, you will play a role in developing engaging curatorial content for deCordova’s social media platforms.   You will also attend and participate in departmental and cross-departmental meetings, gaining insight into the strategic and operational decisions that shape the museum’s exhibitions and programming. 

Specifically, you’ll: 

• Review Artwork Labels for Consistency: 
• Ensure that all artwork labels throughout the Sculpture Park are accurate, consistent, and adhere to the museum’s interpretation standards. 
• Support the process of updating labels to guarantee content is engaging, informative, and enhances the overall visitor experience and understanding of the artwork in the Sculpture Park. 
• Curatorial Website Review and Content Updates: 
• Review and update the artwork and Sculpture Park listings on the museum's website, ensuring all descriptions, images, and artist information are accurate and up-to-date. 
• Collaborate with curatorial, museum staff, and communication teams to support consistency across online content. 
• Curatorial Research: 
• Conduct and compile research on the permanent collection as well as ecology and natural history of deCordova 
• Social Media Content Creation: 
• Assist in developing creative and engaging content for the museum’s social media platforms 
• Capture and organize photos, videos, and stories from exhibitions, behind-the-scenes activities, and special events. 
• Work with museum staff to craft posts, captions, and visuals that align with deCordova’s mission as well as its role within The Trustees. 
• Ongoing Research & Future Projects: 
• Participate in ongoing research related to art history and exhibition planning 
• Assist with planning for future exhibits or educational programs, contributing creative ideas or supporting research efforts. 
• Attend museum meetings to learn about the planning, design, and execution of exhibits and events. 

This is a seasonal position [16 hours per week] reporting directly to the Museum Director & Chief Curator.

Requirements

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience: 

Required: 

• Bachelor's degree and/or Master’s Degree in Art History, Art, Museum Studies, or a related field, or equivalent experience preferred. Current students are welcome to apply.   

• Solid foundation in art history with experience in conducting research and writing or a background in the arts. 

• Ability to work collaboratively, as well as independently on projects as assigned. 

• Strong writing, editing, and communication skills. 

• Ability to perform tasks professionally with discretion when working with confidential records.  

Preferred:

• Familiarity with social media platforms and the ability to create visually compelling content are a plus.
• Familiarity with collection management practices and exhibition planning is a plus.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment.
• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check.

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Questions? Contact our People team at [email protected]

Benefits

Your Benefits: 

• Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.   

• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns.  

Equal Opportunity and Diversity: 

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.    

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity. 

 It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.  

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at [email protected].