The Position

MCA Denver’s Curatorial Internship is for creative, hardworking, and reliable current or recent undergraduate students interested in a museum career. This internship seeks to engage students from traditionally underrepresented in the arts. The intention is to introduce curious and capable students to the curatorial field, charge them with specific projects related to the museum’s programmatic vision, and provide mentorship from museum staff. This is an 8‑week long, paid internship, working approximately 30 hours per week. This opportunity requires working onsite at MCA at least 3 – 4 full weekdays per week, including some nights and weekends. 

About You

• You are pursuing or already have earned a degree in art history or museum studies, or be able to demonstrate a strong interest and knowledge of art history, contemporary art, and museum work.
• Have an interest in a career as a curator, critic, or scholar.
• You are based in Colorado during the summer of 2025 and can commute to MCA Denver at least two weekdays per week.
• You are experienced in utilizing art historical research tools, have an acute attention to detail and can manage multiple projects at once.
• You are able to commit to 30 hours per week (3−4 working days per week) during the 8‑week duration of the internship, during weekdays but also some nights and weekends to assist with exhibition-related programs during the course of the internship.

A Day in the Life

Exhibitions

• Support Exhibitions team with installation and deinstallation of exhibitions.
• With the Associate Curator, preparing materials for artists in advance of onsite visits and aiding during site visits and exhibition programming related to the Summer 2025 exhibition.
• Under the guidance of the Associate Curator, developing a special project to be realized during the internship.
• Researching artists and exhibition-related topics, particularly related to MCA History.
• Assisting with exhibition catalogue production.
• Visiting with and making connections to other museum professionals from Denver-based arts organizations.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Exhibitions Manager and Exhibitions Coordinator on generating research relevant to the production and planning of future exhibitions. 
• Attend interdepartmental meetings as needed. 
• General department administration, including filing and managing correspondence.

What You Bring to Us

1. Candidates must be pursuing or already have earned a degree in art history or museum studies, or be able to demonstrate a strong interest and knowledge of art history, contemporary art, and museum work.
2. Candidates must also have a strong background in research.

Physical Requirements

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Ability to speak, understand, and communicate in English effectively, in person and in writing. Ability to hear adequately in person and by phone, in personal and group settings.
• You need to be able to sit or stand for up to 6 hours per day. Ability to reach for, move and/​or lift up to 25 pounds and use your hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, mobility to access a wide variety of meeting and museum settings, and to perform a variety of tasks that involve standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, bending, and twisting, climbing stairs or using an elevator, possibly reaching chest high and overhead for materials, with reasonable accommodation.

About Us

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA Denver) is a nonprofit organization providing an innovative forum for contemporary art that inspires and challenges, creating understanding and dialogue about the art of our time. MCA Denver is paving a new path for a 21^st century museum that is Both/​And: We are both advancing the field of contemporary art and providing a platform for creative expression, in the broadest sense of the term.  We present both world-class exhibitions and quirky events, serious lectures and epic parties.  We are both sophisticated and unpretentious. We welcome all audiences, celebrate all voices, and share all stories to provide one-of-a-kind experiences for our community. 

Our Core Values

We are:

Adventurous – We are risk-takers. We are creative, open, curious, and sometimes weird.

Excellent – We strive to be the best in our field, we have high expectations, we believe in being resilient, creative problem-solvers, and professionals.

Human Centric – We are collaborative. We strive for emotional intelligence, and we value relationships.

Inclusive – We are welcoming to all audiences, voices, and stories. We believe in being authentic and inclusive.  We actively seek and engage with diverse perspectives.

MCA Denver is committed in policy, principle, and practice to maintaining an environment that prohibits discriminatory behavior and provides equal opportunity for all persons. MCA Denver affirms its commitment to provide a welcoming and respectful work and educational environment, in which all individuals within the museum community may benefit from each other’s experiences and foster mutual respect and appreciation of divergent views. All employment decisions at MCA Denver are based on business needs, job requirements and individual applicant qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, or belief, ancestry, age, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), family or parental status, or any other status protected by law. MCA Denver will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Our History

MCA Denver was founded in 1996 by philanthropist Sue Cannon and a group of committed volunteers and artists who responded to the community’s need for a contemporary art museum in Denver. In 2007, we opened our new, 27,000-square foot, environmentally sustainable facility in the Riverfront neighborhood of Lodo Denver. Our building has five galleries on two floors as well as dedicated education spaces, a gift shop, an innovative art lending library, and a rooftop bar and café.  In 2021, MCA Denver opened a satellite location at the Holiday Theater in Denver’s Northside. 

Application Process

• This is a non-exempt, hourly, temporary position. The internship is paid at the hourly rate of $18.81
• Please submit your interest via our website by 11:59 PM on April 9, 2025 
• Applications must include a resume, cover letter, official transcript, writing sample with bibliography that showcases research skills, one letter of recommendation, and two references. 

The Café & Bar Associate serves as a staff member at will of the Museum of Contemporary Art. In that capacity, the Café & Bar Associate is responsible for providing an efficient food and beverage service to Museum visitors delivering a high-quality visitor experience and excellent customer service.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Priority 1: Food & Beverage

• Prepare and ensure an efficient and safe delivery of quality food and beverages to the visitors through proper handling techniques.
• Set up, clear and promptly service tables after use to ensure that visitors can be served in a timely manner.
• Keep the MCA Bar & Café and the Holiday Theater Bar clean and organized.
• Engage visitors in conversation on food, beverage, and contemporary art.
• Ensure that all visitor requests and queries are responded to promptly and effectively and an exceptional service is delivered to visitors.
• Ensure product is fresh.
• Manage visitor complaints in a friendly and efficient manner, ensuring visitor satisfaction and report any visitor complaints and comments to the Food & Beverage Manager.
• Conduct point of sale procedures according to Museum procedures.
• Respect and uphold quality and workplace safety standards.

Priority 2: Collaboration

• Coordinate with other departments to achieve food and beverage program fulfillment.

Other Duties/​Responsibilities: Other assistance, as designated by Food & Beverage Manager, to support the overall goals of the department and organization.  Management retains the right to add or change duties and/​or responsibilities at any time.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Budgetary/​Fiscal Responsibilities: Cash handling, point of sale system.

Contact with Others: This position will interact with staff members across the organization, in addition to members of the public. 

Job Requirements / Experience

Education: High school degree or equivalent is required. College degree preferred, or any equivalent combination of education and/​or experience. 

Experience: Requires a minimum of 2 years’ experience in bartending or barista services, customer service and cash handling. Experience working openly and effectively with the public and individuals with diverse backgrounds is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:   

Basic computer skills including iPad, Google systems and POS system is necessary. 

Requires excellent organizational skills, communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize work and tasks. Requires adaptability to work in a fast-paced, multi-task and changing environment, and the ability to work as part of a team. 

Schedule Availability: Flexible availability, 5 – 30 hours per week, one weekend day/​night required. No Mondays. 

Licenses/​Certifications: TIPS alcohol certification food safety certification.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to speak, understand, and communicate in English effectively, in person for extended periods and in writing. Frequent, close vision.

Mobility necessary to access various offices and a wide variety of meeting and museum settings. Mobility necessary to perform a variety of tasks that involve standing stationary 50% of the time, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, bending and twisting, occasionally climbing stairs or a ladder, or using an elevator, possibly reaching chest high and overhead for materials.

Ability to reach for, move and/​or lift up to 50 pounds and the use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

Application Process

• This is a non-exempt, tipped, hourly position starting at $15.79/hour + tips
• Please submit your application below.