While applying to grad schools in the fall I also applied to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection internship program in Venice, Italy. This museum was the former home of Peggy Guggenheim, the same family as the Guggenheim Museum in New York. She amassed an impressive collection of modern art, discovered Picasso and married the Dada/ Surrealist artist Max Ernst during her fascinating life. After studying in Venice two summers ago with Queen’s University I knew I wanted to go back and this internship seemed like the perfect opportunity. After waiting months to find out if I was lucky enough to be accepted into the competitive and coveted program I finally got the good news that I had been accepted for May!
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice
Interns at the museum have a variety of roles such as preparing the galleries, guarding rooms, answering questions from visitors and assisting with special events. Although the tasks of the interns are somewhat menial that experience of working at an international renowned museum and the connections that come from the internship with other international students and art professionals make it a great opportunity for students. Interns have exclusive access to the Guggenheim’s library and also have to prepare a seminar on an art, art criticism or museology topic to present during their internship. Museum staff and guest speakers such as artists and curators deliver presentations and a couple of times a month there are trips outside Venice to museums and exhibitions around Italy.
View of the Doge’s Palace and Piazza San Marco, Venice
This internship will be an amazing opportunity and a chance to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world filled with incredible art, architecture and history (and gelato). Internships provide students with work experience before entering the job market and there are many local, national and international programs like the Peggy Guggenheim Collection internship for students to take advantage of, especially during the summer months.