Careers
Registration and Art Preparation Intern
Position
Registration and Art Preparation Intern
Reports To
Registrar
Term
June 1st to August 7th, 2026
Work Schedule
Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. The Registration and Art Preparation Intern is expected to be on-site every day.
An Introduction to Glenstone Museum
Founded with the mission to seamlessly integrate art, architecture, and nature, Glenstone is a world-class contemporary art museum in Potomac, Maryland. Opened in 2006 and expanded in 2018, the museum welcomes visitors to a unique experience of indoor and outdoor spaces enveloped by 300 acres of organically maintained meadow and woodlands. Admission is always free.
The work culture at Glenstone is dynamic and team oriented. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we are proud to foster a workplace where associates feel valued, respected, and accepted. We leverage our collaborative and enriching culture to provide abundant opportunities for all associates to develop new skills, feel connected to our mission, and actively participate in advancing their careers.
The work culture at Glenstone is dynamic and team oriented. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we are proud to foster a workplace where associates feel valued, respected, and accepted. We leverage our collaborative and enriching culture to provide abundant opportunities for all associates to develop new skills, feel connected to our mission, and actively participate in advancing their careers.
Position Overview
The goal of the internship program at Glenstone is to cultivate the next generation of the workforce by exposing interns to various professional pathways in the museum world. In collaboration with their department, interns can expect to gain professional experience by supporting specific departmental initiatives and projects. Interns are encouraged to connect with fellow team members throughout the organization to gain knowledge and build lasting relationships.
The Registration Department at Glenstone oversees the Foundation’s superlative collection of post-World War II artworks and works on loan to the museum. This includes accessioning, collections care, shipping, packing, crating, art movement, storage, outgoing loans and exhibitions, incoming loans and exhibitions and ensuring the safe handling, installation and security of the collection.
The Registration and Art Preparation Intern will work in both aspects of our Registration Department. They will gain understanding and experience in collections management best practices and the physical nature of handling artwork. The intern will be exposed to a highly collaborative department of Registrars and Preparators during daily collections management activities and exhibition planning. Working within the Registration team will provide the opportunity to collaborate across many departments within the organization, especially with Collections, Engineering and Maintenance, Grounds, and Facilities.
Desired Attributes & Characteristics
The Registration and Art Preparation Intern should have an interest in art, architecture, nature, sustainability, innovative technology, and/or other focus areas important to the museum. An ability to be flexible and adjust accordingly to new circumstances is critical for success in this role. The ideal candidate must possess a high-level of professional conduct, discernment and confidentiality.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist with annual collection inventory and data reconciliation.
- Manage Registration artwork files, manuals, and hardware.
- Catalog art crates into Glenstone’s museum database, Collective Access.
- Prepare artworks for Glenstone’s 2027 exhibition rotations.
- Pack and unpack artworks in support of Glenstone’s outgoing loan and acquisition programs.
- Assist with recycling of art crates in support of Glenstone’s sustainability mission.
- Assist in outdoor sculpture cleaning.
- Participate in exhibition planning meetings and complete exhibition-related tasks, as needed.
- Attendance at Registration Department, Collections Division, and all-staff meetings.
- Attendance at all intern check-in meetings scheduled by the Learning & Development department.
- Creation and delivery of an all-staff presentation at the end of the internship.
Required Skills & Experience
The ideal candidate should have an interest in art, architecture, nature, sustainability, innovative technology, and/or other focus areas important to the museum. An ability to be flexible and adjust accordingly to new circumstances is critical for success in this role.
- A background in studio art, art history, museum studies, or other related education or experience.
- A self-starter, able to take direction, run with a task, ask good questions, and enhance a project.
- Willingness to collaborate with peers, associates, and work successfully both as an individual and as part of a team.
- Strong intercultural competence, communication, planning, and organizational skills.
- Desire to learn and implement best practices, including those unique to Glenstone.
- Adaptability and adherence to Glenstone’s core values.
- A positive spirit of service.
- Experience working in Microsoft Office applications.
- Adaptability and adherence to Glenstone’s core values.
- Reliable transportation to and from Potomac, MD and offsite storage in Lanham, MD.
- A valid driver’s license.
- Ability to lift 50 lbs and stand for long periods of time.
Preferred Qualifications
- Genuine interest in art, architecture, and nature.
- Hands-on experience with and/or coursework in collections management.
- Experience with museum collections databases or other relational databases.
- Museum object handling or art making experience.
- Experience with inventory of museum collections.
- Basic hands-on experience or comfort with drills, blades and measuring tools and a willingness to develop these skills.
Application Materials
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Short essay (300–400 words)
Essay Prompt
With your understanding of Glenstone’s mission and values, what kind of intern would be most useful to the department you are applying to? How do you align with that standard?
Salary & Benefits
As part of our compensation philosophy at Glenstone, all internships are paid. To promote collaboration and show appreciation to associates, Glenstone provides a weekly staff lunch, health and wellness reimbursement, and paid volunteer opportunities. Benefits include a 401(k)-retirement account with a matching contribution.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Wage: $21.18 per hour