The Missoula Art Museum has been selected as one of 10 museums in the country to participate in the first year of a new 12-week paid internship program for college students from underrepresented communities.

Launched by the Association of Art Museum Directors, the curatorial internship will assist curators in organizing and designing an exhibition proposal of artwork from MAM’s extensive contemporary American Indian Art Collection.

MAM currently dedicates an entire gallery of the museum to exhibit works by contemporary American Indian artists.

“We are incredibly proud that MAM was selected among the applicants nationwide because of our commitment to contemporary Native artists.” said Brandon Reintjes, Senior Curator. “We are grateful to AAMD for organizing this program that it is central to the work that we do at MAM to increase diversity and equity.”

Research shows that fewer than 20 percent of art museum leadership positions are held by people of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American or multiracial backgrounds.

To address this disparity, the museum will invite college students from underrepresented communities who are in their sophomore, junior or senior years, to gain hands-on experience in an art museum during the spring and summer of 2019.

A member of the museum’s staff will serve as a mentor for 12 weeks to provide opportunities for conversation, feedback, direction and career advice. The intern will also receive a stipend, as well as opportunities to travel to one or two museum field conferences for networking and professional development.

For more information about how to apply, please visit MAM’s website by following this link. The application process will formally open Jan. 1, 2019, and submissions will be accepted until March 1 with notifications by April 1.

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