Job Opening Title:
Library and Archive Intern
Name of Employer:
Cai Studio
Job Site Location (City AND State):
New York, NY
Application Deadline:
April 1, 2026
Minimum Degree Requirement:
Enrollment in MLIS or similar program, or recent graduate
Years of experience required:
Salary Range:
$17/hour
Job Opening URL:
Job Description (if URL to posting not available). Include instructions for how to apply:
Library and Archive Intern
Overview:
The studio of contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang (Cai Studio) is looking for a summer library and archive intern. This position will primarily be in the New York studio in Manhattan, though occasional travel may be assigned as needed.
The intern will primarily be responsible for organizing and cataloguing the studio’s reference library, though other work may be assigned as needed. This internship is well suited to someone interested in working in contemporary art and art archives, particularly in the context of a fast-paced, living-artist archive that is continually growing and expanding.
The internship will run for 3 months during the summer. The intern is expected to work 3-4 days per week, from 10:00 AM-6:00 PM. This is a fully in-person position.
Compensation is $16.50/hour.
About Cai Studio:
Under the direction of the artist, Cai Studio oversees the fabrication of original artworks, the coordination of public exhibitions, and the conception and production of related publications. The archive department is one of the four main departments (projects, archives, collections/tech, and administration) at the studio. This department is responsible for cataloging and maintaining photographs, videos, and printed documentation of artworks, the art making process, and exhibitions from the earliest stages of the artist’s career up to the present day. The team contributes to a wider understanding of the arts by supporting publications, exhibitions, and scholarship.
Responsibilities:
• Reshelve library books, following the established organization system
• Ensure that all books are properly stored, with adequate space between books, so as not to cause any damage
• Create library labels for incoming, unlabeled, or mislabeled books
• Digitize archival materials related to the artist’s bibliography, following digitization standards and file naming protocols
• Rehouse and digitize press materials related to the artist’s bibliography, locating outside vendors for oversized materials
• Learn to search and find project information on the CollectiveAccess database to help identify the materials
• Perform other duties and tasks to assist the archivists, as assigned
Qualifications
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree
• Background and/or interest in archives, libraries, and preservation
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to follow established workflows and documentation protocols
• Basic proficiency with Excel spreadsheets
• Background and/or interest in contemporary art and art history
• Ability to carry and lift heavy boxes and objects (up to 30 lbs.), including up and down stairs
Preferred:
• Current or recent MSLIS student
• Experience working with databases and digitizing archival materials
• Familiarity with working with CollectiveAccess or other DAMS
• Fluency in Chinese strongly preferred
• Proficiency in Japanese a plus
Interested applicants should send a resume and brief cover letter to nystudio.search@gmail.com with the subject line “Library and Archive Intern”.