Rubin Center Receives $600,000 Grant for Student Internship Program

The Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for Visual Arts has been awarded a three-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), amounting to a total of $610,518. This award falls under the National Leadership Grants for Museums program, which aims to support projects that tackle crucial challenges within the museum field and have the potential to enhance professional practices, thereby enabling museums to improve their services for the American public. The primary objective of this grant is to encourage libraries and museums to foster innovation, lifelong learning, as well as cultural and civic engagement.

The Rubin Center plans to utilize the awarded funds to enhance its internship program catering to undergraduate students aspiring to pursue careers in museums. The grant will support the addition of six part-time undergraduate positions and promote Latinx culture by organizing exhibitions featuring contemporary art from the community. In addition to the increased internship opportunities, funding will also support the provision of professional mentors, site visits, a speaker series in collaboration the City of El Paso museums, and student summer stipends at partner institutions.

Rubin Center Director Kerry Doyle expressed her excitement for the many pathways opening for students along with seeing more Latinx professionals in this field. “As the demographics of our country changes, museums are interested in having staff that represent the communities they serve,” said Doyle, according to her the Latinx population is very underrepresented across all areas of the museum field. “There’s really a need for more bilingual/bicultural [museum] professionals across the country. Our students coming out of this program will be highly employable.”