Art and Design Jobs in the Federal Government
With media and visual communication becoming an increasingly important part of everyday life, the federal government is hiring art and design specialists for a wide variety of positions.
Job Profiles
Here are examples of recent job openings. Explore more and apply now at USAJOBS.
Exhibits Specialist (Fabrication) at the Smithsonian Institution
- Salary Range: $44,856 - $58,318
- Duty Location: Washington, D.C.
- Summary: The Smithsonian Institution offers incredibly diverse and unique career and intern opportunities. Whatever your skills, interests, or education level, we have a career opportunity that will fascinate you.
- Major Duties: The Smithsonian is looking for someone to design and construct exhibits for the National Museum of the American Indian on the Mall. You will use not only your skills in sketching, sculpture, and interior design, but will learn about museum management and art conservation techniques while experiencing art history first-hand and ensuring that each piece the museum displays is both safe from damage and shown off to its full advantage.
Museum Specialist (Art) at the National Gallery of Art
- Salary Range: $48,108 - $62,546
- Duty Location: Washington, D.C.
- Summary: The National Gallery of Art has approximately 1,000 employees. While many positions require a background in art history, there are also numerous positions for employees involved with aspects of the museum’s daily operations.
- Major Duties: The National Gallery is looking for a Museum Specialist to serve on the Deputy Director’s staff in the Loans and Exhibitions Conservation Division. You will be responsible for matting and framing art and using proper conservation techniques, and will oversee the work of others in this area. Specialized experience handling delicate works of art on paper and knowledge of advanced matting techniques is required.
Visual Information Specialist at the Defense Intelligence Agency
- Salary Range: $69,764 - $90,698
- Duty Location: Pentagon, VA
- Summary: The Defense Intelligence Agency seeks to provide timely, objective and cogent military intelligence to warfighters, defense planners, and defense and national security policymakers.
- Major Duties: As a visual information specialist, you will design a variety of materials for the DIA, including websites, brochures, multimedia presentations and CD-ROMS, using a variety of software imaging programs, such as Photoshop, DreamWeaver, and Illustrator. You will ensure that DIA publications and materials presented to the Director are highly readable and user-friendly.
Internship Examples
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden offers voluntary internships for both undergraduate and graduate students in Washington, D.C. Internships are offered during the summer, spring, and fall/winter semesters, and academic credit may be arranged through the intern's school. Interns work extensively within specific departments, as well as with professionals in every area of the museum, learning how various departments realize particular and common goals. From conservation to education to exhibition and design, the Hirshhorn offers internships that cater to many interests. Today many former Hirshhorn interns are curators, educators, public affairs officers and conservators at national and international museums.
http://hirshhorn.si.edu/info/columns.asp?key=91
The National Gallery internships are year-long or nine-week summer internships that provide opportunities to work on projects directed by a Gallery curator or department head. Interns will attend biweekly museum seminars that introduce them to the broad spectrum of museum work. Summer internships provide a stipend of $4,500 and the year-long internships offer stipends of$34,000. The minimum requirement for the summer internship is a B.A. or B.S., and the year-long programs require at least an M.A. The application deadline is in January.
www.nga.gov/education/interned.shtm
Federal Jobs by the Numbers
Number of Art and Design Positions by Agency and Agency Subcomponent
Agency |
FTP Art and Design Positions |
|---|---|
Department of Defense |
4,328 |
Smithsonian Institution |
1,255 |
| Broadcasting Board of Governors | 1,129 |
Department of the Interior |
1,069 |
Source: Fedscope 03/08
Percentage of Art and Design Positions by Region
Fedscope, 03/09
Number of Art and Design Positions by Field
Field |
Full-time and Permanent (FTP) Positions |
|---|---|
Visual
Specialist |
1,704 |
— Department
of Defense |
803 |
— Department
of Veterans Affairs |
137 |
— Department
of Interior |
132 |
Writing and Editing |
1,299 |
— Department of
Defense |
424 |
— Department of Agriculture |
154 |
Audiovisual
Production |
1,111 |
— Department of
Defense |
522 |
— Broadcasting Board
of Governors |
175 |
Museum
Specialist/Technician |
760 |
— Smithsonian Institution |
380 |
— Department of
Interior |
176 |
Photographer |
610 |
— Department of
Defense |
274 |
— Department of
Justice |
114 |
Museum
Curator |
592 |
— Department of
the Interior |
164 |
— Smithsonian Institution |
154 |
Illustrator |
249 |
— Department of
Defense |
162 |
— Department of
the Interior |
31 |