Graduate Internship Opportunities 2027-2028

Getty Graduate Internships are offered by the four programs of the J. Paul Getty Trust: the Museum, Research Institute (GRI), Conservation Institute (GCI), and Foundation, as well as Getty Publications and Getty Digital.

Please note: the Getty Center will temporarily close to the public from spring 2027 to spring 2028 for major modernization efforts on campus. Center staff and interns will continue to work on-site during the closure. (The Getty Villa will remain open as usual.)

Kindly review the descriptions of graduate internships listed below, organized by general areas of focus. You can also view all of the positions in a sortable format based on program, department, and internship area of focus with this Airtable link. Using the online Fluxx application, select two positions in order of preference.

The current list of internship positions is subject to change.

Museum: Antiquities Conservation (Getty Villa)

The Department of Antiquities Conservation is responsible for the care of the Getty Museum’s collection of ancient art at the Getty Villa. As part of the conservation team, the graduate intern will participate in the full range of activities of the department, working closely with conservators, curators, and other professional staff across Getty. Activities include the conservation treatment and technical study of a wide variety of ancient artifacts made of metal, stone, ceramics, glass, and organic materials as well as preventive conservation, exhibition planning and installation, research, examination and preparation of objects for loan, and mountmaking. The intern will participate in ongoing projects such as the study of ancient polychromy, rigging and treatment of large-scale sculpture, 3D scanning applications in conservation treatment and mountmaking, exhibitions, and public outreach. The intern is encouraged to conduct a research project in an area of interest to them, such as in-depth technical study, utilizing Getty’s analytical and research resources.

Museum: Decorative Arts and Sculpture Conservation

The Decorative Arts and Sculpture Conservation Graduate Intern will be engaged in the conservation of a diverse range of objects in the Getty Museum’s collection that spans the late-12th to mid-20th centuries. Projects will include treatments, maintenance, and technical studies related to the collections, as well as day-to-day activities such as preventive conservation, exhibition planning, gallery remodeling, and research. In-depth technical studies of objects in the Museum's collection will provide the intern opportunities to utilize Getty’s extensive analytical and library resources. The intern is encouraged to publish or disseminate their work.

GCI: Science, Technical Studies Research

The Technical Studies Research (TSR) intern will use scientific research to address questions relating to the conservation and understanding of works of art drawn from Getty’s collections. Typical projects use material analysis to better understand artists’ working practice or an object’s condition. The intern will use non-invasive analytical techniques (e.g. XRF, FORS, and Raman spectroscopies), advanced imaging technologies, and perform minimally invasive sampling as needed. The intern will analyze and synthesize their data, draft reports, and communicate the results to a range of colleagues, including Getty conservators and curators. Additionally, the intern may contribute to fundamental research stemming from ongoing technical studies and/or be involved in the organization of an upcoming international scientific conference scheduled for the end of 2028 (MA-XRF 2028). This experience will provide practical training in the development of scientific projects, help expand specific technical skills, broaden scientific networks, and provide insight into the collaborative processes found in museum research. More information about TSR can be found here.

GCI: Science, Treatment Studies Research

As part of the Treatment Studies Research Team, the internship will contribute to the development and evaluation of accessible and sustainable treatment methods for modern and contemporary art. The intern will be involved in two ongoing initiatives: the Preservation of Plastics and the conservation of Soft Organic Modelling Materials. Through the former, the intern will engage with the study of semi-synthetic and synthetic polymers, while the latter project will introduce them to wax-, oil- and polymer-based non-hardening modelling materials, such as plasticine, polymer clays, and traditional wax/resin mixtures. Across both projects, the intern will help establish analytical reference libraries, contribute to developing accelerated ageing methodologies to investigate how these materials degrade, assist in testing treatment methods and materials, and support the creation of practical workshops to share the team's findings. Through this work, the intern will help build preventive and interventive strategies that are directly relevant to conservation practice and grounded in empirical research. By working across both initiatives, the intern will gain hands-on experience with a wide range of hard and soft natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic materials used in fine art and design.

GCI: Science, Preventive Conservation

The GCI’s Preventive Conservation Science Group focuses on environmental factors that cause object change, including temperature and relative humidity, shock and vibration, and light. Closely aligned is the Managing Collection Environments (MCE) Initiative, whose goals overlap. The projects the intern would focus on would be Art in Transit and Mechanical Characterization. For Art in Transit, this would include controlled and in situ shock and vibration analysis for crated objects, the mechanical characterization of materials used in transit, and application of life cycle analysis to specific case studies. For Mechanical Characterization, this would consist of characterizing the mechanical properties of a range of paint samples using nanoindentation and dynamic mechanical analysis, and assessing transit-related materials using macro-tensile testing. The intern would also be exposed to other aspects of our work, including projects related to the museum environment and lighting. More information on the MCE initiative can be found here.  

GCI: Collections

The intern will join an interdisciplinary team working on the conservation of the collections of a church in the Andes in Peru (Cusco region), which encompass a variety of artifacts, ranging from gilded altarpieces, sculptures, easel paintings, frames, furniture, an organ, metal, textiles, stone, and paintings on leather. The intern will assist in all aspects of the project, such as on-site campaigns and work with Peruvian stakeholders in the Cusco area, treatment proposals and implementation, documentation, development of guidelines for treatment and preventive conservation measures, publications and training, capacity building and stakeholders’ engagement. There will be 2 to 3 trips to Rondocan, which is situated in the Peruvian Andes at over 3000 meters (11000 feet) of altitude. Proficiency in Spanish would be beneficial for this role.

The intern will have the opportunity to interact with conservation scientists, conservators and associated professionals within and outside the Getty. They will be encouraged to present their work at a conference or through publications.

GCI: Collections, Conservation and Care of Archaeological Collections

The Conservation and Care of Archaeological Collections Initiative advances sustainable and collaborative approaches to preserving archaeological objects. Through applied research, professional training, and the development of scholarly resources, the program supports the advancement of conservation practices, encourages knowledge sharing, and fosters dialogue among professionals, researchers, and communities. Current projects address key priorities within the field and contribute to broader discussions on cultural heritage preservation. As part of this internship, the intern will support a research project examining the long-term effects of past conservation treatments on objects in the Getty Villa collections. Responsibilities include collecting, organizing, and analyzing information from historical records and contributing to new preventive conservation strategies. The intern will also assist with a capacity-building project involving diverse Peruvian archaeological collections. This role offers valuable opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders while strengthening skills in research, project coordination, communication, and professional engagement within the cultural heritage sector.

GCI: Buildings and Sites, African American Historic Places, Los Angeles Project (AAHPLA)

African American Historic Places, Los Angeles Project (AAHPLA) is a collaborative project with Los Angeles City Planning, Office of Historic Resources (OHR) to identify, protect, and celebrate the city's Black heritage. The project provides the opportunity to rethink historic preservation policies and processes to better support social justice and equity goals and offers a potential model for future initiatives related to other communities in Los Angeles and beyond. The intern will work with the GCI and City to contribute to the project in areas such as community engagement, the development of neighborhood preservation strategies, and potentially project dissemination and training components. Aiming to encourage greater diversity in the conservation profession, graduates from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented are encouraged to apply. Additionally, the ideal candidate will demonstrate a keen interest in and commitment to conserving African American heritage. More information on AAHPLA can be found here.

GCI: Buildings and Sites, Archaeological Site Conservation and Management Initiative (ASCM)

The Archaeological Site Conservation and Management Initiative (ASCM) engages in research, training, dissemination, and field projects to answer needs of the field including capacity building, impacts of climate change, and preventive conservation measures such as shelters and reburial, all with the aim of translating theory into practice. The intern's responsibilities will encompass a range of activities supporting research, implementation measures, monitoring and evaluation, and assisting in the creation of dissemination content. The intern will also support field projects currently being developed.

GCI: Buildings and Sites, Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative (CMAI)

The Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative (CMAI) aims to advance the conservation of modern built heritage internationally. The intern may be involved in a variety of projects, including assisting in the implementation of a hybrid in-person/online training course on conserving modern architecture, assisting with bibliographic research, and contributing to publications, dissemination, and the broader work of the initiative. More information on CMAI can be found here.

GCI: Buildings and Sites, Earthen Architecture Initiative (EAI)

The Earthen Architecture Initiative offers the intern an opportunity to collaborate with architects, engineers, and conservators while contributing to ongoing international projects and strategic research. Through involvement with the Seismic Retrofitting Project in Peru, the intern will gain a comprehensive understanding of historic earthen heritage, including seismic vulnerabilities and the challenges of retrofitting, monitoring, and maintenance. The intern will also contribute to the development of educational resources for the International Course on the Conservation of Earthen Architecture and support research for the Initiative’s future strategy, engaging specifically with climate change adaptation and disaster risk preparedness. Additionally, they will gain experience working on large-scale international initiatives and collaborating with diverse stakeholders at the international level. Candidates with a background in heritage conservation and experience with earthen buildings are preferred, along with strong research skills, basic understanding of structural engineering concepts, and familiarity with design and construction tools. More information about EAI can be found here.

A full list of the GCI’s Buildings and Sites department’s projects can be found here.

Museum: Communications and Public Affairs

The Museum's Public Affairs department offers a special opportunity for a graduate intern to gain hands-on experience in internal and external museum communications activities. Collaborating with a small, dynamic team, the intern will have the opportunity to produce content for our website, newsletters, and external partner sites (including Google Arts & Culture); support the Museum's social media platforms helping to create and publish, with a special focus on content supporting the Museum's public programs; research and refine mailing lists for exhibition openings; play a role in supporting small and large-scale events; and assist with other activities as time permits. The internship will provide a rich learning experience in how a museum’s communications department supports special initiatives and daily operations, particularly as we work toward reopening after renovation and the 2028 Olympics.

Trust: Getty Publications (Editorial and Digital Publications)

As the publisher serving all areas of Getty, Getty Publications produces around thirty print and web-based open-access digital titles per year, including exhibition and collection catalogues, scholarly books on conservation and art history, and trade books. This publications internship is centered around our Editorial and Digital Publishing Departments, offering a grounding in traditional editorial skills as well as hands-on experience with the leading edge of digital publishing technology. The intern will work closely with editorial and digital publications staff on the coordination of assets and metadata; manuscript review, research, and fact checking; basic copyediting; proofreading page proofs; helping to manage and maintain relationships with authors and freelancers; project coordination; new title development; and assisting in clearing image rights. The position also promotes familiarity with trends in the museum and publishing technology fields, including user-centered design, the digital humanities, web accessibility, and the use of open-source software. Candidates should be organized, detail-oriented, and collaborative and have strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as a love of books and learning.

Trust: Getty Publications (Editorial and Marketing)

As the publisher serving all areas of Getty, Getty Publications produces around thirty print and web-based open-access digital titles per year, including exhibition and collection catalogues, scholarly books on conservation and art history, and trade books. This publications internship offers experience in the editorial and marketing functions involved in art book publishing. The intern will work closely with editorial and marketing staff on writing and editing press releases, catalog copy, and other marketing materials; the creation of print and digital marketing assets, including metadata; market research; manuscript review and fact checking; basic copyediting and proofreading; working with authors and freelancers; project coordination; new title development; and assisting with image clearance. Interns will collaborate with colleagues across Getty Publications and Communications, gain exposure to business side of bookmaking, and receive a solid grounding in editorial work. Candidates should be organized, detail-oriented, creative, and collaborative and have strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as a love of books and learning.

Museum: Curatorial, Antiquities (Getty Villa)

The intern in the Antiquities Department participates in a wide range of departmental activities at the Getty Villa relating to the research and presentation of the collection, centering on Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity. Regular activities include researching objects for collection management records, giving gallery tours, and contributing to publication projects, scholarly programs, and social media platforms. The intern also supports the curatorial staff in mounting rotating exhibitions through the preparation of object lists, didactic materials, and display strategies. The intern works closely with all departmental staff as well as registrars, conservators, educators, designers, and other professional staff, and will gain experience in diverse aspects of curatorship, collection management, exhibition development and installation, museum education, and public outreach.

Museum: Curatorial, Manuscripts

The Manuscripts Department intern will be involved with the study and presentation of one of the foremost collections of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in the country. The intern will become familiar with the permanent collection by undertaking research-oriented projects and will work in a collaborative environment across the museum. The intern will have the opportunity to work with curators on a future exhibition for the department, which will include concept development, object selection, label writing, and display planning. We would welcome an intern who is eager to develop exhibition projects that are vital and relevant to contemporary, diverse audiences both in and outside of the galleries. The successful candidate will have a proven academic record in medieval art history, with preference for a background in manuscripts, and will also demonstrate how this internship will benefit the individual's development in the field of museum curation.   

Museum: Curatorial, Paintings (European, prior to about 1900)

The Internship provides intensive curatorial training by engaging interns with the Getty’s renowned and expanding collection of European paintings. Researching works, writing gallery texts, conceiving installations, conducting gallery talks, developing content for social media, and assisting curators with exhibition-related research and online collection information are among the wide range of activities an intern may undertake while working in the department. Interns will further benefit from exposure to the art market and to public and private collections in Los Angeles. In keeping with curatorial practice, much of the work is collaborative in nature and will entail interaction with Paintings Conservation, Education, Design, Collection Info and Access, among many departments. Candidates with prior work experience in a museum, keen interest in objects, and a strong desire to pursue a curatorial career are ideally suited to the graduate internship in the Paintings Department. In order to contribute to scholarly research on the collection and to the preparation of future exhibition projects, reading knowledge of another language, notably French, Italian, Spanish, and/or German will be highly desirable.  

Museum: Curatorial, Photographs

The intern in the Photographs Department will assist the curatorial staff with exhibitions, including projects related to American and Filipino photography. They will conduct research on the permanent collection, catalogue works for display, write label copy, and assist with logistics related to the organization of exhibitions and publications. In addition, the intern will work on acquisition proposals and collections management and will staff the department’s study room one day a week. The intern may also participate in social media.

Museum: Curatorial, Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The internship offers a full introduction to the work of the curatorial department devoted to European sculpture and decorative arts dating between around 1200 and 1900 (with a small group of modern outdoor sculpture ranging from 1910-1980). The intern will be provided with opportunities to study the collection, its management, and development. They will research works of art to update the online collection pages, participate in research and development of scholarly catalogues and display and interpretation of the permanent collection. The main departmental projects currently include the French ceramic catalogue and the re-design of a full pavilion of galleries devoted to the 18th-century decorative arts collection, with the preparation of the bilingual didactic apparatus for its display.

GCI: Collections, Archival Preservation and Management Initiative (APMI)

The graduate intern will support initiatives to strengthen digital preservation capacity in archives. Working with GCI’s Collections and Research Services Departments, the intern will contribute to research, development of practical tools, workflows, and collaborative projects that help archival institutions to preserve their digital collections long-term, as well as digital preservation training programs. The internship combines these initiatives with hands-on experience managing and preserving GCI’s digital records. The intern will work closely with Getty staff and external partners, gaining experience in research, project planning, stakeholder collaboration, and professional practice. Professional development opportunities will also be encouraged and may include networking with leaders in the field, participation in conferences and workshops, and contributions to publications. This internship is ideal for recent graduates in library and information science, archives, museum studies, digital humanities, or related fields who are interested in building a career in digital preservation.

Trust: Getty Digital, Library & Archives Systems

The intern in Getty Digital, Collections Systems will gain hands-on experience in the areas of library and archival systems librarianship, an area of work integral to supporting the Getty Research Institute’s mission to cultivate advanced knowledge of art and its varied histories. The primary responsibilities for this internship include performing a service design analysis on one of the key workflows in the library or archives (ex: acquisitions, general collections cataloging, special collections circulation, etc.), developing recommendations to update systems configurations, integrations and/or workflows, and implementing change in partnership with programs. They will have other projects assigned according to the intern’s particular skills and interests. They will also get experience configuring and using Alma, Primo, ArchivesSpace, and LibApps – all of which are systems widely used by academic and research libraries in the United States.

Trust: Getty Digital, Digital Asset Management

The Digital Asset Management graduate intern in Collection Systems at Getty Digital will gain robust hands-on experience with GAMMA, Getty's modern digital asset management system (DAMS). They will work with staff across the institution, from the Conservation Institute to the Research Institute to the Museum, to refine and normalize workflows and develop automations to streamline how Getty staff work with digital assets. The intern will also work with Getty Digital staff to develop best institutional practices for future GAMMA workflow optimization and create documentation for this process.  

Trust: Getty Digital, Digital Preservation

The intern in Digital Preservation will gain intensive experience preserving Getty's unique collections and assets in digital format, which include archives of artists, galleries and art historians and audio/video artworks and documentation as well as websites, institutional born-digital records, and research data. The intern’s primary responsibilities will include troubleshooting and testing workflows for ingesting content of all types into a managed system, and developing creative ways to archive complex web experiences, with other projects assigned according to the intern’s particular skills and interests. Specific tasks may include developing preservation plans for file characterization, migration and normalization, performing quality assurance on web archives and troubleshooting technical issues that arise, assessing technical metadata for digital assets, and participating in the drafting of policies and procedures related to digital preservation.  

Trust: Getty Digital, Center Imaging Studio

The Getty Digital Center Imaging Studios department is responsible for the photography and technical imaging of the Getty Center Museum’s objects to provide images and computational data sets for publication, exhibition, documentation, scholarship, creative outputs, and conservation. We are seeking a graduate intern with a background in Conservation Imaging Science, Computer Science, or Archeology who is interested and experienced in the implementation of 3D imaging in a museum environment, creating high resolution scientifically accurate 3D models (and data sets), working alongside a talented Imaging team at one of the leading Cultural Heritage organizations in the world. The intern will learn current photogrammetry and 3D imaging processes and work with a team to research and implement emerging technologies. This is a great opportunity to learn 3D imaging and its application to promote, document, and preserve a museum’s collections.  

Trust: Getty Digital, Villa Imaging Studios (Getty Villa)

The graduate intern at the Villa Imaging Studios will be fully immersed in the fine art of cultural heritage studio photography. Through this internship, the intern will become adept at handling and maintaining photography equipment, mastering advanced photographic techniques, and contributing creatively to projects alongside seasoned photographers; capturing the essence of the antiquities collection at the Getty Museum. Additionally, the intern will participate in collaborative projects with various museum departments, gaining a comprehensive understanding of museum operations, and contributing to the visual impact of the Getty brand. This hands-on experience is designed to cultivate a well-rounded skill set, essential for a professional career in museum photography and cultural heritage preservation.

Museum: Design

The intern will join a multidisciplinary team of creative professionals to deliver design solutions for a range of projects related to the Getty visitor experience. Tailored to the individual's skills and career aspirations, the intern could work on a range of projects including exhibition and graphic design for temporary exhibitions and permanent collection galleries, design for greater accessibility, digital design, or branding. At the crossroads of creative activity within the institution, work will involve collaborations with many internal stakeholders and departments. The Museum's Design Studio is a fast-paced, deadline-driven, creative environment that develops high-quality design solutions.

Museum: Registrar

The internship in the Registrar’s Office provides a broad overview of the Museum’s collections and exhibitions and the chance to interact with the curatorial, conservation, preparations, and exhibition staff. The intern will be introduced to the work of the Registrar’s Office in the areas of acquisition policies and procedures, collections management, exhibition planning and installation, fine art shipping, insurance, and rights and reproductions. They will also receive specific training for any current projects as well as ongoing tutorials regarding general museum and registration best practices.

Foundation: Grants Programming

The Getty Foundation’s grantmaking programs seek to increase access to museum and archival collections, advance art historical scholarship, conserve works of cultural heritage, and train the next generation of arts professionals. Working with experts, we devise creative solutions to pressing needs that can be achieved through strategic funding. The 2027-2028 Getty Foundation Graduate Intern will primarily support research and implementation of two initiatives: PST ART, which empowers arts institutions across Southern California to present groundbreaking exhibitions under a unifying theme, and the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program, which gives students work experience at Los Angeles arts nonprofits. The intern can expect to develop their understanding of grantmaking and nonprofit organizations, build a network of arts professionals, and benefit from a supervisory team strongly committed to professional growth. Qualified candidates will have a passion for the arts, knowledge of art history and/or museum practice, and strong written and oral communication skills.

Museum: Public Programs (Villa)

This internship is designed for students with a passion for the ancient world who would like to help produce engaging public programs, both online and onsite, that genuinely reflect antiquity. We support our Museum collections and exhibitions and look for interesting opportunities to illuminate the ancient world more broadly. The Villa intern will participate in developing and implementing talk programs and College Night and will help imagine, research, and produce new programs during a busy year. One exhibition will focus on ancient Anatolia and one will be designed by Lauren Halsey to connect ancient and contemporary art. In 2028 we will also have the unique opportunity to educate the public about the ancient Olympics while Los Angeles is the host city. We have fun presenting the past to an interested general public, and we are looking for someone to join us in showing others that antiquity matters.