Curatorial Internship, The Trustees of Reservations, MA, US

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.