Internship Program
This unique program will offer 3 interns the opportunity to gain invaluable artistic and professional skills through experience with reputable artists and their archives. Participants are encouraged to integrate into Penumbra’s rich photographic community beyond the duration of their internships.
applications are now closed for the 2025 internship program
About the program
Penumbra Foundation is seeking candidates for a 4 month intensive internship digitizing a project from an artist’s archive using Penumbra’s Digitization System. Given the fact that there are many artists archives which are at risk of being lost, this internship will be an opportunity for interns to play a part in photographic preservation that is invaluable to artists’ careers as well as provide a historical record.
This program will run from May 15 - September 15. The position requires a commitment of 15 hours per week for 4 months (240 hours total).
Highlights of the Program:
3 interns will work with Penumbra’s Digitization System, which is equipped with a FUJIFILM GFX100S II on a copystand that can be used to digitize prints and film from 35mm to 8 x 10. Each intern will digitize 3 different artists’ projects from their archives.
All 3 artists will give a lecture to the community about the work that is being digitized in the program.
Interns will attend 5 educational seminars with industry professionals going over each aspect of digitizing: using the cameras, Capture One, using the Fotocare copystand, archiving vs digitization, and conservation.
In addition to their primary digitization project, interns will dedicate 4 hours weekly to the development of personal project. The artists they are paired with will participate in 3 scheduled critique sessions to offer guidance on their in-progress bodies of work.
Intern Qualifications:
Must be available to commit 15 hours per week for four months, Monday through Friday between 10 AM and 6 PM.
Interns should be early in their careers: either in school studying photography or demonstrating an equivalent commitment to a career in photography.
Interns must be full-time US residents. Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas.
Must be able to provide 2 references that can verify a history of reliability, communication skills, respect and engagement in a work and/ or learning environment
Interns should have a clear passion for their practice and photography as a whole
Interns must be extremely punctual and communicative
Archiving experience is recommended but not required
Intern Benefits Include:
Stipend for full participation
Valuable training and work experience as well as an opportunity to build their professional network
Free Penumbra student membership which provides access to PF facilities and events. Interns will be welcome to use facilities to print their own work outside of internship hours.
Free film processing at LTI-Lightside for the duration of their internship
This program has been possible thanks to the support of Fujifilm.
Our Digitization System was made possible by a 2024 Capital Grant by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
