Graduate Assistant- Global Indigenous Art and Lifeways Intern
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Job Location:
Lawrence, KS - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not Disclosed
Posted on:
20 hours ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
90%- Research and Programming
Disclaimer
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color ethnicity religion sex national origin age ancestry disability status as a veteran sexual orientation marital status parental status gender identity gender expression and genetic information in the universitys programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX Room 1082 Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Avenue Lawrence KSTTY.
Work Schedule
20 hours per week.
Contact Information to Applicants
Ryan Clasby
Position Overview
The Global and Indigenous Art and Lifeways Intern works closely with the Curator for Global Indigenous Art and lifeways on various projects involving the Museums collection of art and material culture made by Indigenous peoples of the Americas Africa and Oceania learning the functions of a curator and assisting with all department activities. These research-based projects will contribute to ongoing efforts to document these collections fully and accurately in the Museums internal and public databases and to share them with the public. Interns will participate in a full range of professional staff activities. They will have the opportunity to conceptualize and write for gallery installations and exhibitions when the exhibition schedule allows. All interns will assist with a variety of departmental duties in order to gain a broad understanding of museum operations including attending various staff meetings and assisting at the visitor services desk.
Additional Information:
Additional Candidate Instruction
The Spencer Museum of Art currently has multiple internship opportunities available beginning August 2026 through July 2027. Please rank in order of preference which internship you prefer to be considered in your cover letter as well as be sure to apply to EACH of the internships you are interested ensure consideration please apply by February 8th 2026.
Please provide the following information in your application materials (CV and cover letter):
Position Requirements
During the semester term of the appointment the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Employment Conditions
(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.
- Conduct research on objects in the museum collection and assist in cataloging newly acquired works of art.
- Assist the curator in exhibition projects including research project organization label writing grant applications collection documentation contact with the public and working with artists. exhibition projects.
- Work with the Collections Manager to document house organize photograph and conserve items in the collection.
- Respond to inquiries from students faculty and the public.
- Help with research and proposal writing for potential acquisitions deaccessions and conservation of artwork for the permanent collection.
- Assist the curator with general correspondence and with offered gifts of artwork and other activities related to donors.
- Participate in and help to organize departmental programming publications and outreach initiatives.
- Maintain familiarity with current exhibitions/events/objects on display.
- Attend related lectures and other events on campus and in the community.
- As appropriate participate in related project-based meetings departmental meetings consultation as well as SMA staff meetings.
- Participate in intern meetings and activities including a collaborative intern project.
- Perform other duties and special projects as specified.
Disclaimer
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color ethnicity religion sex national origin age ancestry disability status as a veteran sexual orientation marital status parental status gender identity gender expression and genetic information in the universitys programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX Room 1082 Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Avenue Lawrence KSTTY.
Work Schedule
20 hours per week.
Contact Information to Applicants
Ryan Clasby
- Occasional availability to work weekends and after hours if needed.
- Must be a University of Kansas graduate student seeking a masters or Ph.D. degree as evidenced by application materials and interview.
- Enrolled in six credit hours of graduate coursework or at least one hour of thesis/dissertation (approval form from graduate program required) as evidenced by application materials and interview.
- Strong spoken and written communication as evidenced by application materials and interview.
- Demonstrated computer competency (Office Outlook databases web skills) as evidenced by application materials and interview.
- Willingness to work both independently and in collaboration with museum staff university faculty students artists and Indigenous communities on team-driven projects.
- Outstanding written and communication skills as evidenced in application materials.
- Interest in pursuing a museum career as evidenced in application materials.
- Experience with and interest in working with contemporary artists as evidenced in application materials.
- Interest and knowledge of Latin American Studies African and African-American studies Indigenous Studies Anthropology Art History History visual art or related field.
- Experience working with three dimensional objects and/or archival documentation related to curatorial area.
- Experience with relational databases especially as used for museum collections.
- Competence in Spanish or other language skills relevant to curatorial/research area.
- Acceptance of Federal Work Study (for eligibility please fill out a FAFSA form through the KU Financial Aid Office).
Position Overview
The Global and Indigenous Art and Lifeways Intern works closely with the Curator for Global Indigenous Art and lifeways on various projects involving the Museums collection of art and material culture made by Indigenous peoples of the Americas Africa and Oceania learning the functions of a curator and assisting with all department activities. These research-based projects will contribute to ongoing efforts to document these collections fully and accurately in the Museums internal and public databases and to share them with the public. Interns will participate in a full range of professional staff activities. They will have the opportunity to conceptualize and write for gallery installations and exhibitions when the exhibition schedule allows. All interns will assist with a variety of departmental duties in order to gain a broad understanding of museum operations including attending various staff meetings and assisting at the visitor services desk.
Additional Information:
- This internship is an hourly approximately 20 hours/week position for 24 2-week pay periods.
- This position is an 11-month (24 pay periods) appointment beginning August 17 2026 and ending July 16 2027.
- This position is also eligible to participate in the university health insurance program. Visit for more information.
- Students may apply for one or more positions.
- Students who previously have held an SMA internship are also eligible to apply again for the same internships or different internship.
- Interns are also eligible for a $1000 travel stipend contingent upon available funding.
- SMA interns receive a tuition waiver for up to 9 credit hours for both the fall and spring semesters.
Additional Candidate Instruction
The Spencer Museum of Art currently has multiple internship opportunities available beginning August 2026 through July 2027. Please rank in order of preference which internship you prefer to be considered in your cover letter as well as be sure to apply to EACH of the internships you are interested ensure consideration please apply by February 8th 2026.
Please provide the following information in your application materials (CV and cover letter):
- Museum or related career goals.
- Educational experience in relevant fields of study.
- Work experience.
- Brief writing sample.
- Language skills.
- Other skills such as computer use database experience matting and framing.
- Provide telephone number and email address where you can be reached.
Position Requirements
During the semester term of the appointment the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Employment Conditions
(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.
Required Experience:
Intern
Key Skills
- Sports Coaching
- Organizational skills
- Data Collection
- Meeting Facilitation
- Research Experience
- Website Maintenance
- Driving
- Event Planning
- Teaching
- Administrative Experience
- Public Speaking
- Writing Skills
About Company
Thank you for your interest in employment with the University of Kansas. If you need assistance with the application process please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 785-864-4946.
