C.S.1 Curatorial Projects Internship:  Summer 2018

Special Opportunity: For the right candidate with experience and strong writing skills, we just received funding for a $1000 honorarium.

About C.S.1
C.S.1 Curatorial Projects is a facilitator of creative art projects in unexpected spaces. By commissioning new (often participatory) work and supporting artists’ practices, C.S.1 is dedicated to expanding the audience for contemporary art. C.S.1 was founded by Claire Schneider, a curator with over 20 years of experience in large and small museums, on big and small projects, dedicated to working hand-in-hand with contemporary artists.

The Internship 

A crash course in art curation. Learn from one of the most experienced curators in Buffalo. See how a large complex, site-specific project goes from idea to reality. C.S.1 is bringing to Buffalo with 13 local organizations, Nick Cave PLENTY: A Citywide Celebration of Buffalo. This project has the potential to be transformative and a game-changer for the city on a multitude of levels. You will work on a range of different aspects and practically this means that you will do any range of things from helping to manage donor development databases, grant/proposal writing, images, website, help with marketing materials, administrative tasks, as well as research. Strong writing and image making skills would be a huge asset. Please see more information about Nick Cave PLENTY here (or feel free to email for a full prospectus - claire@cs1projects.org).

This is a social justice project, so come both with a dedication to artists as well as community. A large part of this work is building relationships across a board spectrum of the city, from possible donors and university faculty to community centers and artists of all sorts. We are also working on an Educator Resource Guide. This internship offers the opportunity to dive deep into a large project and have a real hands on immersive impact. I plan to do studio visits this summer, and there are many meetings to support and attend. Depending on your specifics interests and skills, know they will be utilized here. In many ways, this project is like starting a small business with the same kind of dedication and passion required. The more entrepreneurial you are the better. I welcome individuals with a wide variety of experience, talents, and skill sets. However, I want someone who is creative, a hard worker and will jump in headfirst.

Who You Are

·       Socially Committed. PLENTY’s priority is to introduce people who have never meet to get to know each other a make art together. To as Cave says, “introduce Buffalo to Buffalo.” You are committed to creating equity in society and the arts.

·       Passionate. Please be excited about art, about the world, about doing new things.

·       Contemporary Art.  Interested and invested in Contemporary art. Points if you know your art history, but if you have other key skills this is not always necessary.

·       Organized. Please be organized.

·       Self-starter. You can identify problems on your own and solve them.

·       Reliable. You follow through on projects, are dedicated and arrive on time.

·       Research Lover. You love to dive into new ideas, figure out the story behind the story. Know what sources to trust. Know how to use an old school library. Internet savvy.

·       Social media enthusiast. You like to brag all the time about all-the-cool things you are doing and will make you stand out above others.

·       Photographer. If you own a good camera and can take good pictures, this is so helpful.

·       Writer. Very important you can write well.

·       Funny. We need to laugh and I want to laugh together. 

·       Warm Hearted. You bring humanity and compassion to your work and value this in others.

Must Haves

We need twelve hours a week for 10 weeks. (There could be an intense short term opportunity with 120 hours total.) This is an unpaid position, however, we will feed you well!  What we can’t provide in compensation we will make up for in exposure and experience.  There will be studio visits and attendance at meeting and high profile after hours events. Ideal work location is to work in the C.S.1 office (421 Norwood Ave. Buffalo, NY) with opportunities from time-to-time to work remotely. 

How to Apply

·       Email a cover letter and your resume to Claire Schneider at claire@CS1projects.org.  Please include what you’re looking for in an internship and what appeals to you about this opportunity and C.S.1 Curatorial Projects specifically.  Deadline Extended: May 31, 2018.

·       Let me know your preferred start date and days/times you’d be available.

·       Two writing samples—an essay on a specific topic and general writing such as a professional letter, grant applications, or blog entry.

·       5 to 10 photographs and/or 2-3 video samples.

·       Also include a link to anything else you’ve created that you think I should see.

·       Finally, please also email with questions.

Past Interns What They Say

“Easily the most rewarding and exciting experience I've had so far in my college career! You gave me such a broader yet also detailed and specific view of not only curating, but the contemporary art world as a whole. I'm still so thankful for everything I got to experience through Drawing Together and working in your office, along with the amazing people I met who I hope I stay connected to for many years to come. If anyone knows a young art historian/future curator, definitely send them Claire's way! Something much more in depth and hands-on than you could ever get with a museum internship.   –Hannah Olek, C.S.1 Intern Spring 2015, Drawing Together. Canisius College ’17; Currently Albright-Knox Art Handler

“I still can't thank you enough for taking me in as your intern. I wanted experience, and as an art student with a small art history background, I definitely got some! Though I didn't work directly as a part of More Love, I often think of the show. Archiving images, reading the catalogue, and discussing it with you...I've learned so much about art with you...what can be art, and what art can be! I'll also never forget our studio visit with Al Volo! Sending much love & hopes for an awesome new intern:) I'll be jealous of their lunches."    –Rosemary Williams, C.S.1 Intern Summer 2013, More Love archiving. Currently Program Director at Western New York Books Arts Center

“I was an intern with Claire for More Love, and I can't imagine having had a better introduction to socially engaged curation. I look back on my experience fondly as being a truly transformative one with a warm hearted teacher.”    –Jennie Carlisle, Virtual Intern 2012 on More Love: Art, Politics, and Sharing since the 1990s. Currently Productions Curator at Elsewhere (alternative artist-run museum in Greensboro, NC)

“My first boss and an amazing mentor! I still treasure the insights you gave me about myself, art, and work. Hopefully you find someone great!  –Tara Strahl, Intern 2006, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Remix Identity and Abstraction

“I was literally talking yesterday about what an amazing experience it was to intern with you on Extreme Abstraction at the Albright-Knox! I've been lucky to have had some exciting internships at a number of museums of different sizes, but I've never been given the level of responsibility (and guidance!) you gave me. Thank you so much for trusting me and encouraging me. I rely all the time on the skills I learned that summer, from working with artists, to time management, to having the confidence to dream big and the perseverance to realize those dreams. Thank you, and have a wonderful time with your lucky new intern!”   –Jason Vrooman, Intern Summer 2005, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Extreme Abstraction. Williams College MA ’06 and Institute of Fine Arts, NYU, PhD. Currently Curator of Education and Academic Outreach at Middlebury College Mu