by Jon Lackman | 28 July 2006 | Career
A reader writes in regarding Wednesday’s post: “Goss’s main goal is to aquire the estates of artists. He does this by luring in art history undergrads, promising them cutting-edge research, and uses their position (as ‘art historians’) to provide a link between relatives of dead artist and the gallery. Although unpaid internships are the norm in our field, and Goss provides a few nice perks for his sweatshop workers, this practice, in my opinion, is somewhat deceitful and unethical.”
Indeed unpaid internships are common in our field and they’re often the only way to acquire the experience needed to land a paying job, a fact that helps explain the field’s denizens are so uniformly white and priviliged. Even high-end 57th St. galleries in New York use unpaid interns — see, for example, the email below that we recently received. “Lunches will be paid for” is not much consolation — this is often code for “you’ll be expected to work through lunch.”
“I am interested in finding an intern for the Fall semester here at the gallery. I would need someone to work 10am- 5pm, 4 or 5 days a week (including Saturdays) from September until at least the end of the fall semester in December. The candidate may be either an undergraduate or graduate level student or someone who has just finished their degree and is looking for hands on experience in a fast paced New York City art gallery … Some responsibilities will include: greeting clients, administrative tasks (data entry, maintaining the mailing list, filing and other general office duties, etc.), answering phones, research, running errands, making travel arrangements, etc. Some of the job will also entail working as the personal assistant to the gallery’s owner … Candidates must have experience with MAC computers and their applications. Background using Word, ArtBase, and Adobe Photoshop preferred. Must be discreet and confidential. Must be available to start September 5th. This is an unpaid internship. Lunches will be paid for and there will be a small stipend for transportation.
[Name Redacted]
Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art, L.L.C.
37 West 57th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, New York 10019
212-517-2453
212-861-3566 fax
www.etnahem.com”
Update (September 7, 2009): We have decided to redact the name of the email’s author upon receiving this communication from her:
“I am writing to request that you please remove my name from an article that was posted on the Art History Newsletter on July 28, 2006 on Unpaid Internships. When “googling” my name this afternoon I was shocked to see that this blog is the second result that pops up under the search.
When I wrote this letter, I did so under the direction of my superior and was asked to send it out to various schools with the hope of finding an intern for him for the summer. I was reluctant to do so but sent the e-mail as I was instructed. I remember at the time the e-mail was sent out someone who was an acquaintance with my superior informed him that my request for an intern was causing quit a stir in a discussion group. I followed the link to the discussion group and was devastated to see my letter reprinted with my name included at the bottom. I did not agree with getting an unpaid intern in the first place and now my name was being dragged through the mud.
I know from personal experience all about unpaid “internships” with “compensation” such as free lunches and subway ride reimbursement. I started my career in the “art world” in New York as an unpaid intern. I came from a blue collar town and did not have anyone paying my living expenses in the city. So on top of having an unpaid internship, I had to work extra hours at a retail job for very little pay to support myself. It was horrible. And although my unpaid internship helped me get a job as a gallery director, it was not something that I would expect anyone else to do. If fact, I used the opportunity after seeing the e-mail online to approach my superior and convince him that getting an unpaid intern was out of the question and we should pay whoever might help out in the summer. I was successful in my argument and was able to get a very good hourly wage for our next intern. So perhaps the controversy over the e-mail I was asked to send was good in that it pushed me to stand up for this and helped all future interns earn truly fair compensation.
I am now at the point where I am looking to change directions in my career. I am concerned that if anyone searches for me online, this article is going to show up as a poor reflection of my character. I cringe at the very thought of ever sending that e-mail because it did not reflect my views then and it does not review my views now. I understand your reason for printing the e-mail, but I ask that you please remove my name from it. I don’t think it is necessary to print my name and it’s very hurtful that I feel like I am being singled out on an issue that I feel very strongly about.
I hope that you understand where I am coming from and I would be most grateful if you please remove my name from your website.
Thank you and with kind regards,
[Name Redacted]“
