Ipu Kāʻeo: HoMA's new paid internship program

On June 26, Olivia Calvo, Adriana Muñoz, Danielle Nomura, and Dala Alhindi (pictured above) joined the Honolulu Museum of Art as the first cohort of Ipu Kā‘eo, HoMA’s new eight-week paid internship program that has museum-curious undergraduates, graduates, and beginning workforce professionals working in four departments—Curatorial, Collections, the Lending Collection, and the Robert Allerton Art Library.

The museum has welcomed interns on a case-by-case basis in the past. Ipu Kāʻeo, which means “the full calabash” or “an abundance of immeasurable knowledge,” takes it to a new, structured level. Developed by HoMA volunteer coordinator Kaylee Clark, the program is part of the museum’s mission to be an integral part of the community.

Ipu Kāʻeo is designed to build skills for Hawai‘i’s youth, hopefully helping to mitigate the ongoing brain drain by opening doors to new opportunities. Interns earn an above-market hourly rate while they explore career paths and gain hands-on experience from assigned mentors. In 2024, with the support of First Hawaiian Bank, the program will expand to ten weeks and different departments.

“HoMA has been a special place for me ever since I was a child,” says Calvo, who works with the Lending Collection. “I wanted to work at this museum—or get involved somehow—because it has such a vast collection of art and artifacts from diverse cultures.” After completing the internship, she plans to earn a master’s degree in art history and archaeology, with her main goal being to work as a researcher at a museum.

For Curatorial intern Muñoz, getting the role was a stroke of good luck. As graduation loomed, the University of Hawai‘i art history student knew she wanted to go into curation. What she wanted to specialize in, however, was less clear. “I was looking for curatorial internships and was fortunate that HoMA was offering one through Ipu Kā‘eo, so I wouldn’t have to relocate,” says Muñoz. “Dipping my toes into a bunch of different specialties and getting guidance from curators helps me see what I like and want to pursue in a career.”

Muñoz has already had an impact on the museum. While flipping through the Kent Bicentennial Portfolio: Spirit of Independence alongside Alejandra Rojas Silva, HoMA’s Works on Paper, Photography, and New Media Fellow and one of her mentors, she spotted Colleen Browning’s Union Mixer (1976). She suggested highlighting the print for an Independence Day Instagram post and drafted the caption for the Communications Department to use.

Through project- and field-based activities, interns gain extensive insight into museum operations while developing their appreciation for art, community, and culture. Granted, a day in the life varies depending on the department. Working with the Lending Collection? That involves assembling loan boxes for educators and updating the collection’s inventory. Part of the Curatorial team? Duties might include locating prints within the database for curators, exploring the vault, and working with a curator to determine if artworks merit accession.

For Library intern Alhindi, who decided she enjoyed being surrounded by art after working at Outique Art Space in Amman, Jordan, her typical day involves shelving, labeling, and cataloging books. She cites the library’s many current projects, and is excited about her plans for the artist files. “I want to come up with a system to have them in a database. Make them easier to access.”

Clark, who regularly checks in with the interns, is optimistic about the future of the Ipu Kāʻeo program. “I look forward to seeing our interns take their new toolbox of skills and knowledge with them as they continue their educational and professional pathways,” she says. “Ultimately, I hope our interns had a fun, educational experience and will stay connected with us while on their journey.”

So, what does it take to become a HoMA intern? “I think that a good candidate is curious, willing to learn, communicates well, has a positive attitude and a sense of adaptability. I encourage our prospective interns to be authentic and to trust themselves,” says Clark. “It’s also important to think about the transferrable skills they’ve picked up during courses, community service, and extracurricular activities.”

Click here to learn more about the Ipu Kāʻeo internship program.

Posted by Maria Archilla on July 17 2023