Getty Post-Baccalaureate Conservation Internships

While these internships are intended for students from backgrounds underrepresented in the conservation field, Getty encourages eligible candidates from all backgrounds to apply for consideration. Getty is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected trait under the law. Candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate their interest in museum conservation and how they might add new and underrepresented perspectives, which can include – among other things – socio-economic status, cultural background, physical or other disability, geographical origin, and/or any other life experiences.

Candidates must:

• Be a United States citizen or permanent resident eligible to work in the United States (permanent residents are non-citizens authorized to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis, also known as "green card" holders). Those with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) status valid through the internship period are also eligible.

• Be committed to a career in conservation and possess a strong desire to attend graduate school to further that goal.

• Be able to demonstrate previous experience in conservation.

All positions are full-time for 12 months from from September 2, 2025 — August 21, 2026. Interns are placed at conservation studios and labs at the Getty Center or Getty Villa for their first six months, and then at a local Los Angeles museum or within a different Getty department for the second six months. Areas of focus may include:

• American Indian collections and artifacts
• Conservation science
• Objects
• Paintings
• Sculpture and decorative arts
• Works on paper
• Books

Grant Amount

The grant amount is $40,000 for 12 months plus $1,000 towards relocation expenses to Los Angeles. The internship includes an additional $2,500 towards educational reimbursement and $1,000 for professional development. Housing is not provided. Interns are eligible to enroll in Getty's healthcare plan at a subsidized cost. Please note that grant funds may be subject to federal and state taxes and deductions.

Prerequisite Course for Graduate School

During spring 2026, interns may enroll in a prerequisite course (chemistry, art history, studio art, and/or foreign language) at Santa Monica College to help fulfill the requirements for their graduate school applications. In addition to support from their supervisors, interns will also have the support of an academic advisor.

Internships are offered at the conservation studios and labs of the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu and at Los Angeles museums including The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens; the Fowler Museum at UCLA; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the Autry Museum of the American West.

Current resumes are required for all applicants.

Include a personal statement of no more than 500 words (two typed pages, double-spaced). The personal statement should address both of the following points:

• The Post-Baccalaureate Conservation Internships encourage greater diversity in professions related to conservation. What interests you most about this program? As part of your response, please elaborate on how you might contribute to new perspectives.

• Please describe aspects of your past academic and/or job experience that you feel are most relevant to this application, as well as your specific interest in pursuing the field of art conservation. Please include any experience with specific conservation techniques.

Please include an unofficial copy of your transcript(s). If you transferred, please also include a transcript from your previous college or university.

Please be aware that you may be requested to submit an official transcript(s) later in the evaluation process.

Transcripts from multiple institutions must be combined into a single PDF before upload.

Applicants must request two confidential letters of recommendation submitted directly by their recommenders through the application system. Please note that additional letters will not be considered. Letters must be received no later than  5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on November 4, 2024. Typically, the most appropriate recommenders are past or current supervisors in relevant fields who are familiar with your skills and abilities. Other recommenders may include university faculty members who can address your academic performance.

To request letters of recommendation, provide the name and contact information of your recommenders in the "Letters of Recommendation" section of the online application. Getty will automatically contact your recommenders via email through the application system. You will be able to monitor your account to confirm that the letters have been submitted.

Applications are submitted through our Fluxx grant portal. When the application is open, users can create or update their account and password, log in, and begin a new application. For the best user experience, we strongly recommend use of the Google Chrome browser. You may also use Firefox or Safari. The Internet Explorer (IE) browser is not compatible with our portal.

You may return to your work at any time by visiting the portal at the link above and logging into your account.

Please note: due to the large volume of applications received, staff are unable to respond to application-related questions once the deadline has passed. Finalists will be contacted for interviews in January 2025. All applicants will be notified of the Getty Foundation's decision in the spring of 2025.