Summary

Gilcrease Museum is now accepting applications for the Spring 2027 Academic Internship.

While working with Gilcrease, undergraduate and graduate students will explore museum careers while earning academic credit. Interns gain hands-on experience while working closely with museum professionals, supervisors, and mentors, culminating in an in-depth understanding of museum work in a specific department. Each intern works closely with departmental supervisors to complete meaningful projects in alignment with the Museum’s mission and goals.

Spring 2027 internships are available in the following departments:

• Development & Membership: Learn about museum fundraising and working with donors. Gain an understanding of how memberships, unrestricted giving, and project funding support Gilcrease’s operations. Assist with member and fundraising mailings and events.
• Learning & Community Engagement: Support planning and implementation of programs and projects by working with staff mentors, the public, and community partners. Learn about approaches to interpretation and evaluating the impact of educational and community initiatives.
• Repatriation: Support the Museum’s repatriation and compliance efforts under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Gain experience in collections research and documentation, Tribal consultation preparation, and the inventorying, cataloguing, and rehousing of Native American material culture. Learn about ethical stewardship and collaborative relationships with Tribal Nations and communities.

Key Details

Compensation: $17/hour

Duration: 120 hours

Schedule: PT (10–20 hours/week)

Deadline: November 1, 2026

Eligibility

About

Gilcrease Museum was founded in 1949 as a private museum by Tulsa oilman Thomas Gilcrease (1890-1962), who amassed the nation’s most comprehensive collection of art of the American West, as well as major collections of historical documents and artifacts. American art historian Richard Saunders once called Gilcrease Museum “a kind of Smithsonian Institution of the American West.” Although a powerful tribute, Saunders’s comment only hints at the museum’s ongoing impact and influence.

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Tagged as: Collection Information & Management, Development, Education, Public Engagement