The AD&A Internship Experience
By Miguel Ortiz Garcia, AD&A Communications Intern
Our work at the AD&A Museum at UC Santa Barbara goes far beyond housing creativity. It serves as a launchpad for future art professionals. Here, students dive into the intricate world of museum operations, balancing hands-on learning with professional mentorship. For a few exceptional interns, this experience became a defining chapter in their academic journeys. Through their eyes, we explore what it means to grow as both a student and an aspiring professional in the art world.
Talia, Collections Management Intern.
Talia’s internship was a deep dive into the quieter yet vital workings of a museum. With her focus on collections management, Talia worked meticulously to process objects from the Women Beyond Borders and Keith Puccinelli exhibitions. Sorting daguerreotypes and digitizing records, she developed a keen eye for detail and honed her archival fluency.
Talia’s favorite part? The time she spent in the museum’s storage spaces, uncovering the sheer breadth of the collection.
"My favorite part of the internship is feeling like I am working behind the scenes of the museum. To go into our archives and begin to grasp just how much art the museum has in its collection is simultaneously overwhelming and awe-inspiring," shared Talia Smith, Collections Management Intern.
Her journey shed light on the meticulous effort behind every exhibition, solidifying her passion for preserving art history.
Alessandra, Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Collections Management/Registration Intern.
For Alessandra, her internship at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) brought her face-to-face with the art she’d studied. Working in the Collections Management Department, she managed inventories, cataloged historic pieces, and organized Japanese prints from the 1800s. Her responsibilities extended to handling priceless Impressionist masterpieces.
Her most cherished memory? Holding paintings by Monet, Cassatt, and Morisot during a deinstallation.
"I held a Monet, a Cassatt, and Morisot in my very own hands. It was a major highlight of my life," recalled Alessandra Lapiana Wajsman, Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Collections Management/Registration Intern.
This hands-on experience affirmed her aspiration to become a Museum Registrar, showcasing how an internship can guide a career path.
Alexandra, Local Artist and Curatorial Intern.
Alexandra’s internship provided her with opportunities to engage deeply with artistic processes and curatorial practices. Working alongside local artist Pamela Benham and curator Orianna Cacchione, she delved into the rewarding yet challenging world of exhibitions. From transporting Benham's towering artworks for an exhibition to conducting in-depth research for Tiffany Chung’s projects, Alexandra’s work combined tangible actions with thoughtful analysis.
"My internship has proven to be an invaluable component of my education here—specifically the hands-on aspects," shared Alexandra Dinorfia, Local Artist and Curatorial Intern.
Her role highlighted the balance between theory and practice, reflecting the teamwork and commitment essential to museum endeavors.
Miguel, Communications Intern.
For Miguel, the museum became a space to channel his creativity and passion for digital storytelling. As a Communications Intern, he worked to bridge the gap between the museum’s physical and online presence. Miguel’s projects included campaigns like "Sketchbook Saturdays with Keith Puccinelli" and the monthly artist spotlight, each aiming to connect diverse audiences with the museum’s mission by promoting its exhibitions and programs.
"This internship has shown me that creating content for a museum is more than posting—it’s representing the museum’s mission and community." - Miguel Ortiz Garcia, Communications Intern.
Through writing, research, and design, Miguel brought the museum’s collections to life for a digital audience, mastering skills that will shape his professional future.
At its core, the AD&A Museum internship program celebrates the power of mentorship. Guided by experienced professionals, these students merged their academic knowledge with real-world applications. Each intern’s journey, whether in the archives, with historic art, or through digital storytelling, illustrates the transformative nature of hands-on learning.
At the AD&A Museum, mentorship isn’t just about guidance. It transforms passion into purpose and potential into a career.
For those considering a future in the arts, the AD&A Museum offers more than an internship. It provides a chance to step confidently into the world of art, design, and architecture with purpose and vision.