The Birmingham Museum of Art recently welcomed seven new interns for the summer. Coming from different hometowns, schools, and areas of studies, each intern brings unique qualities to the team.
When I arrived on my first day, I did not truly know what to expect. In the short amount of time since then, I have had countless opportunities to learn from professionals at the Museum. The lessons I’ve learned and skills I’ve acquired thus far speak to how committed the individuals at the BMA are to constructing a positive and enlightening experience for visitors. The BMA staff is to thank for the feeling of creativity, inventiveness, and originality that one leaves with when they visit the Museum.
Are you interested in interning at the BMA? Visit the internship page for more information!
Hope Tippett – Special Events Intern
Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN
University: Birmingham-Southern College
Major: Political Science
BMA: What are you currently working on or learning about at the Museum?
Hope: As the Special Events department has been working on the planning process for several different upcoming events, I have been learning about all of the details that go into hosting an event and how to effectively communicate with a number of different vendors. There are so many details to think through in hosting an official event that it requires a way to organize the thought process, and I have gotten to experience that firsthand.
BMA: Why were you interested in interning at the BMA?
Hope: I have experience in campus events at my college and wanted to work outside of my comfort zone with a professional event planner to gain a better understanding of the profession. The Museum hosts several different types of events such as meetings, banquets, receptions, weddings, as well as event series. This internship provides a unique opportunity to experience event planning with a wide range of events.
BMA: What is your favorite work or exhibition at the Museum right now?
Hope: I was so fascinated by works in the American gallery. It was fun to look at the quilt with landmarks from all over Alabama and recognize many of those landmarks. The different landscapes were absolutely captivating; I felt completely drawn in by the depth in those paintings.
Kathryn Crocker – Visitor Services and Education Intern
Hometown: Pine Apple, AL
University: Birmingham-Southern College
Major: Art History and Political Science
BMA: What are you currently working on or learning about at the Museum?
Kathryn: Right now I am working on formatting questions for an exit survey for the Museum goers to take as they leave the Museum. This will help us to get to know who comes to the Museum. I am also learning more about Visitors Services and Education at the Museum.
BMA: What is your favorite work or exhibition at the Museum right now?
Kathryn: Ways of Seeing: Fashion is my favorite exhibition right now. I love to see how fashion has changed over the years, and this exhibition gets you thinking about your own fashion choices and how they relate to who you are. I am also looking forward to the upcoming exhibition Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now.
BMA: Why were you interested in interning at the BMA?
Kathryn: I am a double major in art history and political science at Birmingham-Southern, and my interest in art is what I am really passionate about. I wanted to be involved in a museum in order to see the different career paths in art history and to work with the staff in order to find my own career path.
Emily Morgan – Development Intern
Hometown: Hayden, AL
University: The University of Alabama
Major: Art History and English
BMA: This is your second summer interning at the BMA. What about your experience made you want to return?
Emily: I wanted to come back to the Museum because I enjoyed working in this type of environment. Everyone at the Museum is more than happy to educate you about museum work and help you gain a true learning experience, and I think this is a unique opportunity as a college student.
BMA: How has your experience thus far related to your major(s) or studies in school?
Emily: These internships have related to my studies by giving me a more hands-on and behind-the-scenes experience of the art history world. I am able to see the process of funding money and processing funds that go into providing the exhibitions and events that the rest of the world sees. It takes hard work to keep the Museum up and running.
BMA: What are you currently working on or learning about at the Museum?
Emily: My major projects are the Art On The Rocks events throughout the summer. I have been working with Development in planning and funding the event, and I, myself, am working on creating impression reports to give to our corporate sponsors to illustrate their impact on the Museum, as well as their company, by sponsoring Art On The Rocks.
Maria Smith – Art Camp Intern
Hometown: Gardendale, AL
University: The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Major: Art (Concentration in art studio)
BMA: Why were you interested in interning at the BMA?
Maria: I was interested in interning at the BMA to gain experience by working in an art museum setting. I feel by working around others who have built their careers which focus on art, I will gain very useful and important knowledge as well.
BMA: What is the most recent skill or lesson you have learned as an Art Camp Intern?
Maria: I have realized over the last few weeks how important it is to encourage the young artists. Encouragement will assist them in focusing on creativity and using their talent to increase their confidence and artistic abilities.
BMA: What is your favorite work or exhibition at the Museum right now?
Maria: My favorite work in the Museum is The Sorceress by Georges Merle. I am fascinated by the details in this work, as well as the symbolism and mystery found within the piece.
Faith Barringer – Art Camp Intern
Hometown: Montgomery, AL
University: The University of Alabama
Masters: Art History
BMA: What do you hope to gain from your internship this summer?
Faith: I am hoping to gain a better understanding about the behind-the-scenes work at museums. Specifically how events and programs are planned and then executed successfully. I also want to gain a better connection with the community that visits the Museum.
BMA: Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
Faith: An interesting fact about me is that I originally wanted to be a professional ballet dancer. I danced throughout my school years, but unfortunately had to step back after an injury. From that point on I started focusing on photography.
BMA: What was your first impression of the BMA?
Faith: The first time I visited the Museum was when I was a freshman in college. I came with two of my roommates as a getaway day to de-stress from classes. The Museum was the perfect place to reflect and think about something different from my school work. Little did I know then that my school work would soon look a lot like museum work as I am currently studying art history.
Savannah Lowery – Marketing and Communications Intern
Hometown: Alabaster, AL
University: The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Major: Communications (Concentration in public relations)
BMA: How has your experience thus far related to your major(s) or studies in school?
Savannah: Since I am a Public Relations major, a lot of my experience at the Museum has revolved around what I have been studying for the past couple of years. So, it’s awesome that I get to utilize everything that I’ve learned in the classroom here at the Museum. Some of the opportunities I have had so far are running the Art On The Rocks Facebook account, writing content for the Museum’s website, and photographing events.
BMA: What are you currently working on or learning about at the Museum?
Savannah: I am currently working on photo walls for Art On The Rocks so visitors will have a great spot for a cool photo op. We created a 3D geode-inspired wall and we are working on another one that is designed after the AOTR poster using the designated colors for the event.
BMA: What is your favorite work or exhibition at the Museum right now?
Savannah: There are so many I don’t know if I could choose just one. I think the new contemporary exhibition is so beautiful and has such a powerful message behind it that everyone needs to experience it.
Gillian Eckwall – Marketing and Communications Intern
Hometown: Sandy Hook, CT
University: The University of Alabama
Major: Public Relations
BMA: What was your first impression of the BMA?
Gillian: My first impression of the BMA was also the first day of my internship. Because of that, I was able to see the crucial relationship between the staff and how they ensure the quality of the visitor experience. Everyone works so hard and so well together. It was a unique way to experience the BMA for the first time.
BMA: How has your experience thus far related to your major(s) or studies in school?
Gillian: A lot of the lessons I’ve learned and case studies I’ve examined in classes have impacted the way I understand day-to-day activities within an organization like the BMA. Communications is vital in order to allow different aspects of a group to work together, and that has been very interesting to see as opposed to hearing about it in class!
BMA: Why were you interested in interning at the BMA?
Gillian: My sister lives in NYC and is an illustrator, so I grew up going to museums and being surrounded by art. Because of that, I have a high level of respect and interest in the subject and what goes on “behind the scenes.”