Significant Career Lesson From A Director And Chief Curator At UC Santa Cruz
Rachel, a Director and Chief Curator, highlights paid and unpaid internships at institutions like her own as entry-level opportunities in the arts. Beyond formal positions, Rachel emphasizes the importance of actively engaging with art—"go to museums, go to galleries"—to develop a strong understanding of the field's broader context.
Entry-Level Jobs, Arts Administration, Museum Internships, Career Exploration, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Rachel Nelson
Director and Chief Curator
Institute of the Arts and Sciences, UC Santa Cruz
Stetson University, 2010
PHD, UCSC Visual Studies
Classics, Spanish Literature
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Education
Creative
Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Paid and unpaid internships are available in museums and galleries.
2. Gaining practical experience through entry-level positions is crucial.
3. Students should actively engage with art by visiting museums and galleries to broaden their understanding of the field.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
There are paid and unpaid internships available in museums and galleries across the United States. At my institution, for example, we pay students to work in all aspects of the field.
I would advise undergraduate students interested in working in the arts to get involved. They should not only seek entry-level positions but also actively experience art.
Go to museums, visit galleries, and look at murals. Experience as much as possible so that when you do get a job, you already feel like you understand the larger context in which you are working.
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