This is a series dedicated to highlighting the insights our students gained during their internships.

Name: Cyan Larson, Department of Art & Art History 

Internship:Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Summer 2017

What responsibilities did you have as an intern?

Greeted and helped with visitors, answered phones, opened and closed the museum, handled the cash register for the store, worked on side projects for the staff.

What new skills/knowledge did you gain from your internship?

This was my first exposure to a customer service job, so I gained those skills, and learned more about how the museum functions. I also gained knowledge about some of the artists and their art.

What connections did you make and how do you think those connections may help you in your career?

I made connections with the other museum staff, and hopefully in the future, if I ever work there, those connections will help me get a job there or even in other art museums.

What advice would you give other students who are interested in a similar internship?

Expect little to no pay in going into these internships, but they are very rewarding if you are starting to go into the workforce or interested in museums. They are also very laid back and the staff are amiable. Don't be afraid to ask questions or ask to repeat what the expectations or tasks are for your job, because, for example, closing can have a lot of important tasks to do depending on what the art is on display. I would also advise people to take advantage of the different positions available and look to do different positions more than one season, because just doing the customer service internship one season hasn't really been enough for me to land a job in other museums or places in general.