Student Employment and Professional Development

Students are a vital part of the Tufts University Art Gallery's staffing. Several paid and volunteer opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students exist to get involved and are open to any student, regardless of major. Work-study students are given preference, whenever feasible. Student interested in working in the museum field, or the art world more broadly speaking, receive excellent professional development experience during their involvement at the Tufts University Art Gallery.

Students may be involved in one or more of the following opportunities:

Gallery Ambassadors

The Tufts University Art Gallery trains and employs 12+ students who constitute the "face" of the Gallery; they welcome visitors, staff the front desk, conduct visitor surveys, help facilitate events and receptions, and learn about Art Gallery administration. Contact Mia Forslund to inquire about openings.

Graduate Assistants

Each year two M.A. students in art history are selected to work as paid graduate assistants at the Art Gallery. Responsibilities include: exhibition and interpretive planning, curatorial research, cataloging the University's permanent art collection, exhibition installation assistance, and, when appropriate, co-curating an exhibition with the Gallery Director. Preference is given to candidates with work experience in the museum or commercial art world and an interest in/experience with contemporary art. Graduate assistantships run from September to August. Interviews are conducted the last week of August. To apply, send a letter of interest and résumé in August to the Director of Galleries and Collections.

Voice Your Vision! Exhibition Tour Guides

A select number of students are chosen to become Gallery Guides and to lead conversational group tours of the Gallery's exhibitions. This excellent professional development opportunity offers training and experience implementing Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) methodology, with an emphasis on "directed," "looking" and visual literacy through first-hand encounters with works of art. Guided tours are available to classes and other school groups by appointment and on designated dates to the public. The program is coordinated by a veteran guide, under the Gallery Director's supervision. Learn more about the Voice Your Vision! Program.

For more information, contact Dorothée Perin, Guided Tour Program Coordinator.

Student Advocacy Council (undergraduate and graduate students)

Highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students interested in the Gallery's mission serve as campus-wide "ambassadors" on its Student Advocacy Council. Members plan parties to encourage student visitation to the Gallery, liaise with student groups and clubs to increase awareness, participate in exhibition experience evaluation, and partner with gallery staff on social media outreach.

Art Collection Management Internship

The Gallery periodically hosts a Tufts Museum Studies Program Intern during the summer months to assist the Collection Registrar with ongoing activities as well as special projects, grant-funded projects, inventorying the University's permanent art collection, and installing works of art on campus through the Circulating Loan Program. To inquire about opportunities, please contact Senior Collection Registrar.