Conservation Internship for Graduate Students

Description

Academic Year 2026-2027

One full-time position available

Compensation: $26.10 per hour

Background

Internationally recognized as a premier museum and research center, the Frick is known for its distinguished Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts.

The collection originated with Henry Clay Frick (1849–1919), who bequeathed his home, paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts to the public for their enjoyment. The institution’s holdings—which encompass masterworks from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century—have grown over the decades, more than doubling in size since the opening of the museum in 1935. A critical component of the institution is the Frick Art Research Library, founded in 1920 by Helen Clay Frick, daughter of the museum’s founder. Recognized as one of the world’s top art history research centers, it has served students, scholars, and members of the public free of charge for generations.

The Frick has undergone a comprehensive renovation and was open in a temporary home, Frick Madison, from 2020 through early 2024, while renovations were underway at the mansion on 70th Street. In addition to special exhibition galleries and education spaces, we have added enhanced visitor amenities and accessible spaces. The Frick Collection and Frick Art Research Library reopened to the public in April 2025.

Workplace Culture

At the Frick Collection, we pride ourselves on promoting an open and welcoming workplace culture that supports diversity and work-life balance. The Frick strives to provide our employees with competitive salaries and exceptional benefits in a beautiful and pleasant work setting, while offering an excellent opportunity to appreciate some of the world’s finest works of art.

Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at The Frick Collection, where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, alienage or citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, military status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status or any other protected characteristic as established by law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

Internship Description

This paid internship supports the Frick’s Conservation team in the care and preservation of the European sculpture and decorative arts objects in the collection. The Conservation Intern will report to Conservator under the direction of the Chief Conservator. The Conservation Intern will participate in all departmental activities including preventive care of the collections and of elements of the historic interior of the Frick mansion; documentation and interventive treatment of sculpture and decorative arts; research and technical study of collection works; and supporting upcoming exhibitions. Other tasks include, but are not limited to, maintaining collections information, improving workflows and procedures, and sourcing conservation materials and tools.

Requirements

This position is intended for applicants who are currently enrolled in the final year of a graduate program in Art Conservation with a focus in objects conservation. Applicants with a primary or additional focus in preventive conservation will also be considered.

Time Commitment

We anticipate the internship will begin in September 2026 and continue through June, July, or August 2027, depending on the successful candidate's schedule and graduation requirements.

Employment Status and Compensation

The Conservation Intern is considered a full-time temporary nonexempt employee for the duration of their one-year internship and will be eligible for all benefits associated with full-time employment. Please note, that compensation for this nonexempt role is paid at an hourly rate, currently $26.10 per hour. The total compensation for the internship will be based on the intern’s length of employment and an expected 35-hour work week.

Stipend

In addition to hourly compensation, we provide an onboarding stipend of $1,500.00 to help support travel or other expenses to all interns who are engaged to work.

Benefits in Employment with the Frick Collection

Paid Holidays: All full-time employees are eligible for 14 paid holidays, federal holidays including Juneteenth, and Election Day, and including four floating holidays: two may be used in the first half of the calendar year, two may be used in the second half of the calendar year.

Sick and Vacation time: All eligible full-time employees accrue up to 12 sick and 12 vacation days their first year of employment.

Family leave: We provide all eligible employees with paid bereavement leave and paid family leave, and we adhere to federal family leave laws.

Health, Dental, and Vision insurance: All eligible full-time employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in employer-sponsored benefit plans. Employees contribute to the cost of health insurance based on income level and type of coverage selected.

Short- and Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance: The Frick covers the entire cost of these benefits for all eligible full-time employees. The life insurance benefit is up to three times the employee’s annual salary.

Wellness Programs at the Frick include an Employee Assistance Plan, a discount on Citi Bike memberships, and a discount on bike helmets.

Metro Card: all interns will receive a monthly unlimited Metro Card for the month(s) they are working at The Frick.

Meal discount: When employees and interns are working onsite, they may access a discount on food pickup or delivery through Seamless/Grubhub.

Additional benefits include flexible spending accounts for health, dependent care, and commuting costs.

Application Process and Timeline

Applications for the 2026-2027 Academic Year Conservation Internship must be submitted no later than December 31, 2025.

Selected candidates will be contacted for interviews, and applicants will be notified in mid to late January 2026.

To apply:

Submit PDF of cover letter and résumé.Include the following in your cover letter:

Your reasons for applying for the internship, including a statement describing how this internship would enhance your career plans or academic course of study

The names, professional affiliations, telephone numbers, and email addresses of two references, at least one of which must be academic

Apply here or send required materials to:

Conservation Internship

The Frick Collection

1 East 70th Street

New York, NY 10021

Please note that internship applications to multiple departments are not accepted; please apply to only one department.