Mexic-Arte Museum has served as a pipeline for the professional development of emerging Latinx artists and arts administrators, as well as given a spotlight to established artists. Our internship program aims to cultivate the next generation of museum professionals by offering hands-on experience and career-building opportunities.
Interns will gain valuable skills through projects in various departments, working under the mentorship of museum professionals. This program provides the chance to build professional networks, enhance creativity and critical thinking, and apply practical knowledge in a real-world setting.
We are looking for interns who are flexible, organized, self-motivated, and eager to collaborate in a professional environment. Ideal candidates will bring enthusiasm, creativity, and a passion for the arts, and will be encouraged to contribute their ideas to meaningful projects.
*At this time, we are not accepting applications for Summer 2025. Please continue to check our internship page for updates regarding Fall 2025 opportunities.
Program Information
Spring, summer, and fall internships run for ten weeks with a minimum commitment of 10 hours per week during office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-6 pm and Friday 9 am-5 pm).
Pay rate: $22/h
Requirements
Current Undergraduate student
Qualifications and requirements will vary based on the position. Please read the Google Application form thoroughly to see if you are qualified for your desired position.
Internship Program Cycle
How to Apply
Apply by clicking which department you want to apply to and complete the corresponding Google Form.
The application requires:
- Resume
- Letter of interest
- Unofficial transcript
Optional (but encouraged):
- Academic or professional letters of recommendation
If you need an access accommodation or have a question regarding available accommodations, or if you need this application in an alternative format to successfully submit your candidacy, please contact the Internship Coordinator
Curatorial
Through fostering diversity and embracing cross-cultural understanding, Mexic-Arte has created a space by and for Mexican Americans in central Texas. Interns will gain an international, national, and local perspective of traditional and contemporary Mexican and Latinx art through researching artists, helping with exhibition proposals, assisting with exhibition archives, writing for exhibition didactics, writing for various exhibitions and programs, and general departmental support. The position may require travel with the curator for artist’s visits, gallery and museum visits, art discussion panels, etc. Students will need to work in person.
Collections
Working collaboratively with the department’s Registrar, the Collections intern will assist in enhancing and increasing the accessibility of the Mexic-Arte’s Permanent Collection. The intern will gain hands-on experience in cataloging, data entry, photographing artworks, and researching the Permanent Collection. Specifically, the Collections intern will work on standardizing existing records and digitizing new artworks and cultural materials, helping to make the collection accessible to the general public. They will gain experience in the accessioning process, preservation, and the Mexic-Arte’s collections management system, PastPerfect. In addition, the intern will assist in the preparation for upcoming exhibitions.
Digital Media
The Digital Media intern will assist in organizing assets to archive past exhibitions and events. Working closely with the Collections team, interns will learn how to photograph, categorize, and archive high-quality images and put them into Mexic-Arte’s Past Perfect database and the Culture Connect platform. Other tasks include strategizing with the Digital Media Associate to update the website, add past content and build new event pages, improve its accessibility, and create and utilize SEO/marketing trends and management practices.
Education
The Education Intern will assist with in-house activities which include: leading tours, hands-on activities during tours, preparing for and facilitating creative projects, family days, workshops, as well as exhibition/art history related planning/execution and activities. Will assist with educational activities and outreach during large-scale events and scheduled programming. Will learn how to manage and connect with partnered schools to run programs efficiently. Other opportunities include: touring youth groups through exhibitions, developing curriculum, assisting with education outreach, shadowing teaching artists or MAM staff, and helping with program evaluation.
Graphic Design
The Graphic Design intern will assist in designing signage, editorial, illustration, social media graphics, programs, photography, exhibition design, merch for the store and invitations for the Museum’s educational programs, events, and more. Learning to implement graphic projects, and procedures at Mexic-Arte, interns will work under the Museum’s Visual Communicator to develop all designs and text-oriented content.
Preparator
Museum Preparator works closely with the Curatorial staff in the planning and installation of Exhibitions. Preparator is also responsible for logistics and production during special events, routine gallery maintenance, and assisting the Museum Registrar with collections management and preservation. Desired applicants should have an interest in both the technical (gallery prep, installation, lighting, etc.) as well as creative (visual design, logistics, etc.) aspects of exhibition preparation.
Special Events & Marketing
The Special Events & Marketing intern will assist in managing the Museum’s external communications and executing special events. This includes opportunities to help produce advertisements, press releases, newsletters, brochures, email marketing, and social media content. The intern will earn hands-on experience in coordinating the logistics of large scale events. The Viva la Vida Parade & Festival, opening reception for the fall exhibition, and other events will be coordinated simultaneously and require intern support to execute.
Development
The Development Intern will be responsible for helping with data organization, event coordination, and identifying sponsorship opportunities. Viva La Vida, a large-scale Day of the Dead Festival serving tens of thousands take place in the month of October and requires intern support to put on. The Development Intern will work closely with the Development Coordinator and Special Events Coordinator to ensure these events go smoothly. When not working on these events, the intern will work on ensuring contacts are found for potential sponsors and logged in Bloomerang. No previous experience required.
Spring 2025 Highlights
Past
The Spring 2025 internship program at Mexic-Arte Museum comprised dedicated students from The University of Texas at Austin and St. Edward’s University, each contributing to various museum departments. Their collective efforts enriched the museum’s programming and operations, particularly through hands-on contributions to exhibits like Beyond the Shape: El Arte de Chente Rodriguez and cultural events such as La Fete de 5 de Mayo and Mexic-Arte’s 3rd Annual 5 de Mayo Luncheon. From curatorial research and educational content creation to event planning, graphic design and development support, the cohort gained valuable professional experience while advancing the museum’s mission to engage the public with Latino/x/e art and culture. Their behind-the-scenes work helped ensure the success of key initiatives and fostered deeper community connections.
The Fall 2024 internship program at Mexic-Arte Museum comprised dedicated students from Texas State University and the University of Texas at Austin, each contributing to various museum departments. Their collective efforts enriched the museum’s programming and operations, particularly through hands-on contributions to outdoor exhibitions like Las Calaveras at Republic Square: Celebrating Our Shared History and major cultural events such as the Viva la Vida Parade and Festival. From curatorial research and educational content creation to event planning, graphic design and development support, the cohort gained valuable professional experience while advancing the museum’s mission to engage the public with Latino/x/e art and culture. Their behind-the-scenes work helped ensure the success of key fall initiatives and fostered deeper community connections.
The Summer 2024 internship program at Mexic-Arte Museum brought together five University of Texas at Austin, one Texas State University, and one Emory University student interns who made meaningful contributions to projects like creating an interactive map of the Mexican American Culture Corridor, supported Mexic-Arte’s efforts on the Cultural Heritage District designation of the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor — which highlights the cultural organizations and business along 5th St.— assisting the Nuestro Estilo summer camp at Austin Public Library, as well as developing press releases and marketing for a banner reveal event. Their work spanned digital media, education, curatorial planning, and community engagement, reflecting the museum’s mission to foster cultural heritage and creativity.
The Spring 2024 internship program marked the inaugural group of interns in the Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project at Mexic-Arte Museum, where eight talented students, eight from the University of Texas at Austin and one student from the University of London collaborated across departments such as Curatorial, Education, Preprator, Graphic Design, Development and Digital Media, contributing to exhibitions like Mix ‘n’ Mash and Creating Encuentros: Changarrito 2012–2024. Their work included assisting with exhibition design, developing educational materials, and supporting digital content creation, providing them with valuable professional experience in the museum field. The program aimed to advance careers in studying American Latino/x/e life, art, history, and culture, fostering the next generation of museum professionals.