Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Getty Post-Baccalaureate Conservation Internship Program?

Getty Post-Baccalaureate Conservation Internships aim to increase the number of students from underrepresented backgrounds who graduate from degree programs related to museum conservation. The internship program is the first nationwide effort to provide yearlong financial support and hands-on conservation experience to individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Applicants must already have an undergraduate degree and be actively preparing to apply to conservation graduate programs within the next one to three years.

How many internship positions are available?

Typically, three to four positions are available every year.

Are the positions paid?

Yes. Each grantee will receive $40,000 with an additional $2,500 towards tuition reimbursement for prerequisite courses taken specifically to apply to graduate school in art conservation and $1,000 towards professional development in the field of art conservation.

Are these full-time positions? Is there flexibility for vacation time or part-time work?

Yes. These are full-time positions for 12 months (September through August of the following year). Interns are allowed time off for the holidays and one week of personal vacation. Interns are not required to make up sick time.

How is the program structured?

Based on departmental needs, interns will be placed at conservation studios and labs at the Getty Center and Getty Villa in Los Angeles for the first six months of their internships, and then at a Los Angeles-area museum or within a different conservation department at Getty for the second six months of the internship. Areas of focus for the internship may include American Indian collections and artifacts, conservation science, antiquities, paintings, sculpture and decorative arts, works on paper, photographs, or books.

For the second six months of the internship, placements have been previously offered at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures; 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.

Where is the program located?

The program is located in Los Angeles and all grantees are required to live in or commute to the city.

When is the program?

The program generally runs from the beginning of September to the end of August, for 12 consecutive months.

Is the program onsite, remote, or hybrid?

The program is onsite and cannot be done virtually.

What are the long-term benefits of the program?

Since an advanced degree is essential to a conservation career, applicants to the few degree programs that exist often boost their credentials by performing hundreds to thousands of hours of internship training, usually unpaid, and completing prerequisite courses in science, art history, and studio art. Many students from underrepresented backgrounds have found these stringent requirements an obstacle that hinders access to graduate school and eventually a career in conservation. The goal of this program is to support grantees’ applications to graduate school in conservation.

Does the program provide housing, transportation costs, or health insurance?

No, the program does not provide a housing or transportation allowance; however, there is a $1,000 relocation stipend for eligible interns moving to Los Angeles from elsewhere. Grantees can enroll in Getty’s healthcare plan at a greatly subsidized cost.

What is expected of me during this internship?

Interns will be placed at conservation studios and labs at the Getty Center in Los Angeles for the first six months of their internships, and then at a Los Angeles–area museum or within a different department at Getty for the second six months of the internship. The first six months will be full time in the studio/lab and the second six months will include part time studio/lab work along with enrollment in a prerequisite course at our local partner, Santa Monica College, a highly reputable community college near Getty’s campus. Interns will gain hands-on conservation experience in preparation for graduate school and will receive professional-development mentoring.

If I am not a citizen of the United States, am I still eligible to apply?

Yes, you could be. Permanent residents–non-citizens authorized to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis, also known as “green card” holders – are eligible along with those who have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) status valid through the internship period.

Do I need previous conservation experience to apply?

This is a very important question!

Yes, applicants must have conservation experience to apply. This is not an introductory program, but instead, a continuation of professional and academic development within the conservation field.

If you are interested in a shorter-term program to learn about museum conservation, please check out the Smithsonian’s Conservation Internship for Broadening Access (CIBA).

How do I apply?

Applicants are required to complete and submit the online Getty Post-Baccalaureate Conservation Internships application form (which includes uploading a resume/curriculum vitae; personal statement; transcript[s]; and two letters of recommendation) by November 4, 2024.

When will applications open for the 2025-26 internships?

Applications will open in September 2024.

From whom should I request letters of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation should come from a past supervisor or former instructor whom you have worked with directly and who can comment on your experience as a conservator.

Recommendations must be on official letterhead and contain a signature. It is your responsibility to ensure that recommenders follow these criteria and that they submit a letter by the deadline.

What is the timeline for the application process?

Applications are due November 4, 2024. Applications will be reviewed from November 2024 to January 2025. Selected candidates will be invited for interviews in January 2025. Decisions will be made in early spring 2025.

Should I submit additional materials with my application?

Do not submit additional materials with your application. Please follow the application instructions.

May I submit my application before the deadline?

Yes, you may submit your application before the deadline. However, Getty will not review your application until after the application deadline.

Do you conduct interviews before accepting applicants into the program?

Yes, hiring supervisors will contact finalists for interviews in January 2025. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not guarantee interviews for all applicants.

After I’ve applied, how will I know if my application has been received?

You will receive a confirmation email to the email address you used to access Fluxx, our online grant application portal.

What does the selection process consist of?

Applicants are reviewed based on the quality of their previous work and skills in art conservation, and their volunteer and extracurricular experience; the quality of their personal statement; the quality of their letters of recommendation; and their academic achievements and abilities.

I missed the deadline! Can I submit a late application?

Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot accept late applications. Materials received after the deadline will result in an incomplete application.

I still have more questions! Who can I ask?

Email us at PostBaccInterns@getty.edu