Former NEHMA Intern Asia Grant Awarded Internship at Smithsonian American Art Museum

LOGAN, Utah — Recent USU graduate Asia Grant has been awarded an eight-week internship at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Grant will work in the Office of the Registrar which manages and maintains the collection by completing condition reports on art pieces, oversees acquisitions and assists in exhibition planning. Grant’s internship begins June 9.

Grant first worked with museum collections during her Fall 2024 internship at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University. In May, she graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor’s degree in art history, a certificate in museum studies, and a certificate in fashion studies.

Grant said that she applied for the internship to gain experience and because she enjoyed visiting the Smithsonian Institution museums on a previous trip to Washington.

“I've lived in Utah my whole life, so I thought it would be fun to expand my horizon somewhere else, and this was a great opportunity,” Grant said.

She said that at the Smithsonian, she will be able to gain a lot more experience with museum collections.

Danielle Stewart, head of academic initiatives at NEHMA and Grant’s former internship mentor, said the internship is a “major coup” both for Grant personally and for USU as an institution.

“Students from across the United States and abroad apply for a handful of spaces,” Stewart said. “That Asia was able to secure a space in the program speaks to her personal initiative and accomplishments, as well as the skills she was able to acquire in the arts, fashion and museum studies programs at USU. Hopefully she paves a path for other USU students to be welcomed at the Smithsonian.”

While at the NEHMA, Grant’s internship was split between the curatorial and collections teams. She helped establish curation themes, research and write labels for exhibitions, complete condition reports and update the collection database.

Grant said that her internship prepared her well for her upcoming position at the Smithsonian and future career opportunities.

“It helped with my general knowledge of museums and how they work, along with the correct terminology that professional museums use, and deepened my love of museum work,” Grant said.

Working in a museum is Grant’s long-term career goal. “I would love to work at a museum,” Grant said. “I really do like the collection aspect of museums, making sure that they're cared for and able to be shown.”

About Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art

The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University fosters engagement with modern and contemporary art to facilitate learning and promote dialogue about ideas important to the people of Utah and the mission of Utah State University. Admission is free and open to all. Parking is available in the free museum parking stalls and at the Gateway Terrace. For more information, visit usu.edu/artmuseum or contact Zayne Foy, zayne.foy@usu.edu, 435-797-0227.