Curatorial Internship (Collections Research), Mattatuck Museum, (Waterbury, CT)

Posted April 9, 2026

Description:

The Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, Connecticut, is seeking a summer intern to work with our curatorial department on a dedicated project to research and draft a timeline of the museum’s exhibition history. The Mattatuck Museum was founded as a historical society in 1877 and today serves as a cultural hub of Waterbury and an art and local history museum with around a dozen exhibitions per year and a collection of around 10,000 art, design, and material culture.

The Curatorial Intern for Collections Research will work 11 hours/week for 8 weeks during the summer, alongside the Chief Curator. The focus of the internship will be on researching and cataloging a set of art and objects from the museum’s collection and updating records in the museum database, Collective Access. The Curatorial Intern for Collections Research will also complete a range of database cleanup tasks. Qualified applicants will be organized, detail-oriented, and able to work both independently and collaboratively. In addition to this dedicated project, the Curatorial Intern for Collections Research will have access to the inner workings of the museum, including the possibility to assist in exhibition planning and installations (depending on schedules), and career mentorship.

Undergraduate and graduate students as well as recent graduates will be considered.

Qualifications:

• Applicants should have a major field related to art history, history, or library science.
• Applicants must submit a resume and a cover letter describing relevant experience, interests, and
  career goals. Please state in your cover letter why you are well suited to this particular project; please
  provide examples of detail-oriented work and at least one past research project.
• Previous experience working with databases is desired.
• A curious mind, strong written communication skills, and a desire to gain experience working with
  museum collections are especially desirable.

Preference will be given, though not limited, to applicants who live in Waterbury or are current college students in Waterbury.

Hours and Compensation:

The intern will be paid a stipend of $1,500. The start/end dates of the internship are flexible and will be determined in consultation with the selected candidate and supervisor.

How To Apply:

Application deadline is April 24, 2026. Potential candidates may apply for more than one summer internship at the Mattatuck. Please submit an individual application to each position and state in your cover letter that you are doing so, and which other opportunities you are interested in.

Please email your resume and cover letter as a single PDF to:

Rebecca McNamara
Chief Curator
Mattatuck Museum
[email protected]

Please include in the subject line: Curatorial Internship (Collections Research)