Amanda DiSanto
Graduation Year: 2009
Major(s): Art History
Minor(s): Environmental Studies
Campus activities: Head Coordinator for the Vagina Monologues, Undergraduate Department Representative for Art History, Community
Advisor, Tour Guide Coordinator for Brandeis Admissions, Senior Week Volunteer
Where are you interning now (or have interned in the past)?
Summer 2007- P.S. 1 Contemporary Arts Center (Long Island City, NY) -P.S. 1 is one of the oldest and largest non-profit art museums
in the United States and is dedicated to contemporary art. It has been affiliated with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) since 2000.
Summer 2008- Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, NY) -Brooklyn Museum is the second largest art museum in New York City and welcomes approximately 500,000 visitors each year. The Museum has a variety of collections including contemporary art, feminist art, Islamic
Art, Egyptian Art etc.
Fall 2008- Rose Art Museum - The Brandeis University Art Museum dedicated to modern andcontemporary art.
How did you find your internship?
For my Summer 2007 internship I looked online (guided by professor recommendations) and applied to about 10 institutions. When I was
applying to my first internship I did not have any museum experience, which made it somewhat difficult. I found that I had better luck with applications that offered interviews or essays in addition to the resume/cover letter combination. If you don't have much experience, a well written, creative essay or an engaging interview can help the intern coordinator see your potential instead of your lack of experience. For my Summer 2008 internship I interned with the same supervisor as I did during Summer 2007. My supervisor had begun a new job and was kind enough to allow me to intern for her again at a different location!
What resources did you utilize to help you prepare for the search?
Professor recommendations, the internet.
What ways did you explore to fund your internship?
Last year I received a small amount of money from an outside scholarship to cover transportation costs. This year, I was the recipient of a WOW
fellowship.
What are the two most important things you learned through your internship?
Always ask what you can do to help. It shows initiative and often will lead to more interesting projects.
Learn as much as you can about the computer systems of the institution. They’re largely standardized so learning one program allows you to work on other systems.
What advice would you give other students looking for internships?
Little/ No experience: Apply to a lot of institutions- often you’re competing with graduate students for positions so have several options. Apply to places that ask for essays or interviews- it allows the company/institution to see your writing skills (important at many internships) and to see your potential!
People with experience- NETWORK
How are you connecting this internship to your academic, personal, and career future?
As an art history major, being around art in museums is invaluable. I learn about all the newest and most important contemporary artists. Additionally, I work with amazing curators and get practical experience!