Joshua Johnson, a senior Art History student and studio artist, has recently been awarded the Havner Curatorial Internship this summer at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Johnson is enthusiastic about the opportunity to engage with their collection of Gilded Age works and to aid the curatorial staff in the realization of Crystal Bridge's mission to increase community access to American Art

Johnson will graduate in May 2019 with a minor in drawing and an AB in Art History. His Art Historical emphasis is the American Gilded Age; his most extensive research being under Dr. Simon and in the exploration of the enterprises and art of the World's Columbian Exposition and the early American photographer Fred Holland Day.  He is also interested in Contemporary Art. His own work employs renaissance and baroque forms to explore the intersection of religious experience and queer identity.

Crystal Bridges internships present an invaluable opportunity to gain professional experience in the museum field first hand. In addition to working in their primary job area, all interns experience a comprehensive overview of museum departments, providing a big-picture understanding of the many museum career options available.

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Crystal Bridges is committed to creating an institution that reflects the diversity of their region and nation. They are especially mindful of those impacted by inequity due to ability, language, class, age, gender, religion, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and are working diligently to address perceived and real barriers that keep anyone from fully experiencing the museum as a guest, volunteer, or employee.