Application Procedure
Please download the application form (PDF), print it, complete it and and forward it with covering letter and CV (curriculum vitae), including course results, to:
Tertiary Programs Co-ordinator
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Domain Sydney NSW 2000
Application Checklist
Have you included the following?
- Completed application form, clearly addressing the selection criteria
- CV
- Two references and contact details (one or more recent or current lecturers or tutors recommended)
- Any other documents from your educational institution supporting your case for internship and detailing internship requirements
Short term, unpaid placements areavailable in the following areas:
Note:
Internships are available only to currently enrolled tertiary level students whose course requirements necessitate formal internships.
A restricted number of short-term placements will be available and this number will fluctuate, depending on the availability of supervision and suitable projects in the Gallery.
Priority is given to students enrolled in museum studies, art history, visual arts, art education or arts administration courses, and in particular to those students who have course requirements for gallery and museum placements.
Preference is given to students enrolled in educational institutions in New South Wales.
Selection criteria are available for some internship vacancies and can be obtained by sending an email to tertiary@ag.nsw.gov.au requesting the documents be sent as an email attachment.
Public Programs / Education
The Public Programs Department is committed to making the gallery's permanent collections and temporary exhibitions accessible to growing audiences. Through wide-ranging education and public programs, museum educators aim to provide relevant information and experiences that stimulate and broaden interest, enjoyment and understanding of works of art, and to provide on-going educational opportunities to all sectors of the public.
Public Programs coordinators develop activities that enhance public appreciation of the gallery's collections and exhibitions including the programming of lectures, performances, workshops and film screenings, the provision of educational programs and the publication and dissemination of educational and information publications.
Internships are usually project specific, focussing on the development and coordination of programs and educational resources.
Please note: Child Protection policies and procedures apply to working in Public Programs.
Curatorial / Collections
Applications will be referred to curatorial departments.
Curators are responsible for the development of specific areas of the collection and for the display and interpretation of that collection. Curators initiate exhibitions and instigate the development of ideas and activities related to the exhibition.
Tasks undertaken by interns may include research, administration assistance and activities related to exhibition planning. Please note, that it is considered highly desirable that applicants have an undergraduate qualification in art history.
General selection criteria for curatorial and collections internships include:
- Degree in Art History or related discipline (preferably studying toward a postgraduate qualification)
- Excellent research and writing skills
- Excellent organisational skills
Exhibitions
Applicants must be able to commit to a minimum of one day per week for a period of three months. Tasks will vary depending upon the current exhibition schedule but may include assisting with: securing quotations, production scheduling, filing, visual documentation, drafting correspondence and assisting with installation tasks such as exhibition design, label information and specific artist installation requirements.
Tasks will spread across the exhibitions program rather than being restricted to one specific project.
Applicants are asked to indicate their level of computer skills with software such as Excel, Word and any graphics, database or design programs.
Interns will report directly to the Exhibitions Manager.
Research Library and Archive
Tasks may include researching works of art in the collection, assistance with answering reference enquiries, assistance with arranging and describing archival resources, research for published archival guides and other related library activities.
Registration
The Registration Department is responsible for managing the permanent collection and artworks borrowed by the gallery. In summary, registration manages the physical and legal aspects of packing, transporting, documenting and insuring all artworks the Gallery acquires, lends or borrows. As well, registration manages the movement and storage of artworks within the building. At the gallery, registration is divided into two areas: collection registrars, who are responsible for the permanent collection, and exhibition registrars, who are responsible for artworks borrowed for the temporary exhibition program.
Available internships with the collection registrars include working within the construction of archival storage and packing materials.
Conservation
(Note: Applications will only accepted from students enrolled in specialist conservation courses.)
The increasing complexity of the science of art conservation has expanded the role and the importance of this essential function within the gallery. Light, heat, humidity and neglect will all take their toll on artworks, even those which are well cared for. More fragile or older works often need extensive treatment in order to be stable enough to exhibit. The Gallery's conservators are recognised as among the best in Australia. Their major projects involve: specific treatments for large oil paintings and their frames; treatments for watercolours and works on paper and their frames; research and treatments for three dimensional objects (varied and mixed media) including outdoor sculptures; Asian art on paper, screens and scrolls and research for the Asian collection; rebinding and boxing rare books. Research is an important part of the conservator's work and with changes in art practice and the use of new materials; on-going challenges are presented to the conservator, particularly in the areas of contemporary art and Aboriginal art.
Tasks undertaken by interns will be project-specific and under the guidance of a gallery conservator who specialises in a specific media area of the collection (e.g. paper).
Brett Whiteley Studio
Managed by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and situated in Surry Hills, the Brett Whiteley Studio was the workplace and home of Australian artist Brett Whiteley (1939-1992). The artist bought the former warehouse in 1985 and converted it into a studio and exhibition space. He lived there from 1988 to 1992, the year he died in Thirroul.
Visitors are offered the unique opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the space - the studio with his unfinished paintings, art equipment, collections of reference books, the graffiti wall covered with quotes and images.
The living area has memorabilia such as photographs, objects, postcards, furniture, music collection and sketchbooks. The Studio has changing exhibitions of the artist's works: paintings, drawings, sculpture and graphics drawn from the Whiteley Estate and Art Gallery of New South Wales.
The Studio is open to the public on weekends and to education groups on Thursdays and Fridays.
Internships are available as:
- Assistant visitor service officers, to assist on weekends with visitors, hosting in the studio, assisting with changeover of drawing classes and general duties (photocopying and maintenance of presentation)
- Assistant administration officers, upkeep of website information, mailing lists update and preparing public programs
- Education assistants on Thursdays and Fridays. Assistance in preparation of classes at the Studio and answering telephone calls, assistance with cleaning and packing up at end of class sessions, assisting in public programs.
Please note: Child Protection policies and procedures apply to working in the Brett Whiteley Studio; security clearances may also be required.
Art Gallery Society
With more than 33,000 members, the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales is the largest organisation of arts supporters in Australia, and one of the largest in the world. The Society runs a very popular membership lounge and a vibrant programme of events which include lectures, concerts, workshops, parties and tours. The Society's monthly magazine Look, presents news, previews and privileged glimpses behind the scenes of the gallery. It has a readership of over 21,000.
Internships are available assisting in the day-to-day running of the various membership activities and services.
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