Internships, Careers and Graduate School
An arts degree opens the door to a variety of internships and career opportunities, while also providing a solid foundation for post-graduate study.
Our faculty, staff, and alum community members play crucial roles as resources, networking connections, and advisers. In addition to their support, the Matthews Center for Career Development offers a wealth of online and in-person services to help students find internships, graduate programs, and career opportunities. Students can also find resources on bulletin boards in the Belk Visual Arts Center. Additionally, students take advantage of the internship database in Handshake.
A studio art major who focused primarily on oil painting, Humphries gained a fellowship after graduation bridging the gap between art, innovation and entrepreneurship. Her work post-graduation is a culmination of her other experiences – working with 51¹ÙÍø Arts & Creative Engagement, competing in the Hurt Hub's "Try It Fund" and the Nisbet Venture Fund Pitch Competition, and completing a residency at the McColl Center in Charlotte, where she explored a variety of printmaking techniques.
Meet 51¹ÙÍø's First Arts and Innovation Fellow Marquia Humphries ’22
Internships
Internships offer a diverse range of real-world experiences across various fields. Whether it's during the academic year or over the summer, domestically or abroad, there's something for everyone to explore.
51¹ÙÍø art students successfully obtain internships and enter careers in various fields in the arts and beyond. A sample of recent student internships ranges from business litigation at McGuireWood to auction/appraisal at Sloans and Kenyon to data science at Tresata and graphic design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Beyond virtual and off-campus internships, the offers work study and internship opportunities that provide a comprehensive introduction to gallery operations, including handling and installing art and researching artworks in the permanent collection. While preference is given to Art History and Studio Art Majors, Gallery Internships are open to all students, regardless of major or class year. Interns will primarily assist the gallery staff with the gallery's day-to-day operations. Most interns work from 2 hours (and up to 10 hours per week). Internships are arranged during the semester prior through Handshake.
An art history major, Sillars interned with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), finding creative and engaging ways to educate museum-goers about contemporary indigenous art.
Art Historian and Museum Educator Caroline Sillars ’24 Lands Smithsonian Internship
Administered through the Matthews Center for Career Development, this fund enables students to broaden their horizons — both physically and intellectually — through summer internships in the study of and/or support of the visual arts, beyond the scope of North Carolina or their hometown. Grants are available in the amount of up to $5,000.
Get to Know Painting Conservation Pioneer Ginny Newell ’78
After 51¹ÙÍø: Where Our Alumni Go
Art Department alums have attended many of the world's top graduate programs, including those at Harvard University, Duke University, Cal Arts, Art Institute of Chicago, and the University of Edinburgh, among many others. They have earned advanced degrees in architecture, law, medicine, counseling, and business administration.
The department's rigorous coursework, research opportunities, and dedicated advising prepare students for success in graduate-level studies. Our alums's interests span a wide range of disciplines, and they pursue careers in both public and private sectors. Whether they create art, teach art history, or work in related fields, our graduates find opportunities in museums, galleries, art foundations, auction houses, conservation and preservation, film and television, government agencies, industry, publishing, retailing, visual resources, and writing.
Roles such as grant administrator, corporate curator, art appraiser, and architectural conservationist highlight the diverse skills and expertise of our art majors. Additionally, many graduates have ventured into fields beyond art and architecture, including medicine, law, and business. Notably, recent alumni have secured positions in investor relations, strategic development, obstetrics & gynecology, education, and innovation, showcasing the promising future that awaits our students. Employers include UBS Wealth Management Americas, Vogue, Population Services International, and Kelley Blue Book.
After graduating from 51¹ÙÍø in 2023, Claire worked as an advisory and appraisal assistant for an art consultancy and as a registrar intern at the Mint Museum in Charlotte. They now work as a full-time Advisory and Appraisal Associate for Arcadia Art Consultancy, run by 51¹ÙÍø alum Kait Marley '13.
My Senior Capstone in Studio Art and Digital Screen Media Studies
Fellowships are competitive awards and programs that provide funding and other resources for meaningful immersive work, like research, teaching, or service. Like scholarships, fellowships can also support academic study.
These featured fellowships support a variety of experiences in and outside of the U.S. Interested candidates should contact 51¹ÙÍø’s Office of Fellowships to learn more about these fellowships and other programs.