Through ART-930: Community Internship, students gain professional experience in a gallery setting while learning about its operations from a variety of perspectives. Each internship is designed to provide insight into museum and/or gallery professions and serve as career advancement. For more specific guidelines regarding the Community Internship please refer to the Course Catalogue and the Special Studies Program.
For ART-930, Meredith students can register for 1 to 3 credit hours (1.0 = 40 total hours, 2.0 = 80 total hours, and 3.0 = 120 total hours). The internship will be completed both in person and/or remotely. Students are evaluated based on their completion of tasks assigned, the quality of work produced, willingness to learn and engage, and overall performance. Students are expected to log their work experiences and duties throughout the semester in a journal as well as complete a final summary paper. Grades are assigned by the supervising faculty member in consultation with the Gallery Director. Please refer to a sample syllabus.
Volunteer options are also available, if the student is unable to take the internship for credit. For more information please contact the Gallery Director, tnjones@meredith.edu.
To discuss internship opportunities, please contact your faculty advisor, the Art department head, and/or the Gallery Director.
- Develop content for Instagram and Facebook pages for the Gallery and Art department; write materials and articles for the website, email, and other social media.
- Help to work with local and broader media outlets to publicize current/upcoming exhibitions.
- Research and implement new ideas and strategies to reach new audiences.
Curatorial
- Assist with the exhibition design for the display of artwork in way that makes them accessible and engaging to the general public.
- Acquire and/or investigate artwork of interest to the gallery for current and/or upcoming exhibitions.
- Learn about the steps involved in the realization of an exhibition, as well as day to day tasks of working in a Gallery
- Be part of the Gallery’s approach to promote each exhibition as an opportunity for interdisciplinary learning.
- Plan, organize, interpret exhibitions and develop programming such as events and workshops.
- Develop activities/lesson plans in conjunction with professors for their students that can be used to supplement course learning outcomes.
Graphic Design
- Design the publicity for exhibitions (short range and long range) such as Gallery Updates, posters, flyers, postcards, etc.
- Work closely with the Director to make virtual elements that complement the exhibition such as a catalogue.
- Develop and design education materials for a range of audiences like families, students K-12, university/college students, and adults.
Sara grace lane
Major: Studio Art
What are your future plans after graduation?
I hope to continue pursuing a career as a fine artist, focusing on impressionist landscape oil paintings. I would love to share my work through the creation of my own business as well as working with interior designers and galleries, specifically in coastal locations. In addition to creating my own collections of work, I am drawn to the idea of teaching adults in a retreat or workshop setting of my own creation as a form of therapy for those who would otherwise not have a creative outlet.
What interested you about the internship program?
I have always been drawn to art galleries due to their incredible way of displaying artists’ work along with their concept and idea in an immersive setting allowing viewers to fully absorb the work. As an artist who hopes to display my own work in galleries, I was interested in the behind-the-scenes knowledge of curating and sustaining a gallery. The organization and business teachings provided through this experience is a great addition to my studio art major which focuses more on the creation and communication of work. By learning these more technical and specific insights, I will be provided with a well-rounded education.
How do you feel this internship will prepare you in the future?
The ability to work closely with Meredith’s Gallery Director as well as the professional artists showing their art in the gallery creates a comprehensive and highly beneficial learning environment that will provide me with valuable knowledge for my own future career. I will gain confidence in my skills regarding the logistics of creating a gallery as well as how I can plan to create future collections of art by considering the flow and transition through the pieces with the intention of displaying them in galleries.
Ariana Davis
Major: Graphic Design
What are your future plans after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to have a job or be looking for one at a small graphic design firm. While working, I hope to be researching and developing various streams of passive income. Eventually, I’d like to run my own art-related business.
What interested you about the internship program?
I had planned to participate in the Senior Exhibition but was unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts, and I am not required to take the class because I am a Graphic Design major. The next best thing was to work as an intern at the gallery. I’ll still be able to showcase my skills, but in a different way than I had originally hoped.
How do you feel this internship will prepare you in the future?
I believe this internship will prepare me for my future career because I will gain real-world experience in graphic design. Designing for the gallery will be an excellent addition to my portfolio, and I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to do so. When I get a job as a graphic designer, I will feel more experienced because I will know what my job responsibilities will be. Working with clients would teach me interpersonal skills, which I believe would help me be more patient. Overall, this internship will be extremely beneficial.