The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life by providing funding and support to New York City’s cultural community, including the 34 institutions that comprise the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) and more than 1,000 non-profit cultural organizations that receive annual support. This constituency represents a diverse array of organizations - including performing arts groups, museums, theaters, zoos, botanical gardens, visual arts and film centers, community-based organizations, and arts education programs – that are central to the life of communities in every corner of New York City. DCLA also manages a significant portfolio of cultural capital projects; provides free donated materials and supplies for arts programs and arts educators through its Materials for the Arts program; provides capacity building and technical assistance support to cultural groups; and commissions works of permanent public art through the City’s Public Art Program.

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs' Percent for Art Program administers New York City's Percent for Art Law, which mandates that 1% of the budget for newly constructed or renovated city-funded facilities be allocated to public art. This program provides opportunities to commission, acquire, or restore site-specific artworks for civic spaces, including schools, libraries, courthouses, firehouses, parks, health centers, plazas, and streetscapes. Since its inception in 1982, the program has completed over 350 public art projects, with a cumulative value exceeding $65 million, and more than 100 new commissions are currently in progress across all five boroughs.

We are seeking a highly motivated Photography Intern to play a key role in documenting one of the most significant public art collections in the United States the City of New York’s Percent for Art collection. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the visual archive of the city’s rich and diverse public art landscape, ensuring that these artworks are properly documented and accessible to the public.
The intern will work closely with program staff to identify public artworks requiring updated documentation and will travel across the five boroughs to capture high-quality images of these installations. The final edited images will be used for the official Percent for Art website, social media, program database, and promotional materials. This position offers hands-on experience at the intersection of photography, public art, and urban documentation, providing invaluable exposure to the field of cultural preservation.

Intern Responsibilities:

- Photograph public artworks across all five boroughs, capturing their integration into the urban landscape.
- Edit and prepare high-quality images for official use on the Percent for Art website, social media, and internal program records.
- Assist in updating and organizing the Percent for Art image database.
- Collaborate with program staff to determine documentation priorities.
- Conduct occasional field research on historical and newly installed public artworks.


Special Skills:

At least four years of experience in photography, with a strong portfolio demonstrating technical skill and artistic sensibility.
- Background or formal studies in photography, fine arts, or a related field (MFA with a focus on photography preferred).
- Experience photographing architecture, public spaces, or artworks is highly desirable.
- Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop for image editing and post-processing.
- Must own and be proficient with a DSLR camera capable of producing images at 300 dpi / 1024 x 760 pixels or higher.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to capture artworks in varying lighting and environmental conditions.
- Interest in contemporary and public art.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Submit:
- A cover letter explaining your interest in the position.
- A resume outlining relevant experience.
- A PDF portfolio showcasing past photography work, with an emphasis on architectural, documentary, or artwork photography.

Additional Information:
All work will be conducted in-person from our office in lower Manhattan
Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls. For more information about DCLA, visit us at www.nyc.gov/culture

SUMMER GRADUATE INTERN - 10232

Candidates must be currently enrolled in a graduate degree program in an accredited college, university or law school.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

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The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

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PUBLIC ART PHOTGRAPY INTERN