Each year, selected master's students at Sotheby’s Institute of Art-New York are invited to join the prestigious Peggy Guggenheim Collection for their summer internship program. We caught up with Matilde Sirolli, one of the 2024 fellowship recipients, about her experience this summer and highlights from the program.
What is one valuable takeaway from your experience during this internship?
The internship primarily involves supporting the daily operations of the museum while also providing opportunities to engage in special projects. This makes the experience highly dependent on individual initiative; the more effort, time, and commitment you invest, the more rewarding it will be. For example, on my first day at the museum, I approached my supervisors and proposed leading a private tour. By the end of my internship, I had given over ten tours in both Italian and English, covering the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.
In what ways did this internship help you build upon your academic studies at Sotheby’s Institute?
Engaging with visitors about artworks and art movements I had studied during my MA at Sotheby’s Institute was incredibly fulfilling. For instance, in the Schulhof wing of the museum which exhibits post-war and contemporary pieces, many visitors find it challenging to appreciate the significance of minimalist and neo-expressionist works by artists like Cy Twombly, Jean Mitchell, Mark Rothko, and Frank Stella. Having studied these artists and their movements at Sotheby’s Institute, my knowledge allowed me to share insights and enhance the public's understanding of the artworks.
Take us with you on a typical day in Venice working at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
A typical day at the museum begins around 9:15 am - 9:30 am when interns arrive to prepare for morning positions that must be completed before the museum opens at 10:00 am These tasks can include dusting, removing ‘pajamas’ (protective coverings) from artworks, cleaning sculptures and benches outside, or activating screens and TVs.
Once these morning duties are finished, the museum opens its doors, and interns assume various roles such as working in the ticket office, guarding exhibitions rooms, checking exits, or acting as information points in the garden. Interns rotate positions every hour, ensuring a dynamic work environment.
Additionally, I participated in special projects that occupied either my mornings or afternoons with cultural mediation activities, departmental collaborations, or independent research time. At 5:45 pm, we transitioned to evening duties to help close the museum, where we guided visitors toward the exit by 6:00 pm. After closing, interns would either prepare for upcoming events or put the artworks pajamas back on. The highlight of my day often came from engaging in conversations with visitors as part of a cultural mediation project I was selected for.
How do you see this internship impacting your professional development and your career path moving forward?
The internship offered invaluable opportunities to network and meet very interesting people within the art world from all over the globe. The internship is extremely international, and it was great to meet people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. The Venice Biennale was also taking place this summer, and I was able to immerse myself fully within the contemporary art world which greatly inspired me for future projects.
What motivated you to pursue a master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute?
While completing my final year of undergraduate studies in politics, I enrolled in a semester program at Sotheby’s Institute-London. Although I had always been interested in the arts industry, I was unaware of its career opportunities. The semester program was pivotal in redirecting my focus and efforts entirely towards the art world. When it came time to pursue a master’s degree, Sotheby’s Institute was an ideal choice for specializing further in contemporary art.
What advice do you have for future Sotheby’s Institute students?
Seize every opportunity that comes your way!