{"id":133315,"date":"2026-09-01T10:55:33","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T14:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/?post_type=bu-article&p=133315"},"modified":"2026-09-01T10:55:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T14:55:34","slug":"internship-san-francisco-asian-art-museum","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2026\/internship-san-francisco-asian-art-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"An Internship Combining Art and Advertising at San Francisco\u2019s Asian Art Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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Helena Nguyen (CFA\u201827, COM\u201827) inside the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Nguyen served as the museum\u2019s inaugural learning and civic engagement intern. Photos by Justin Kuo<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

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Helena Nguyen (CFA\u201927, COM\u201927) spent the summer developing public programs, reconnecting with her Vietnamese heritage, and exploring the West Coast<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n
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September 1, 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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This article was originally published in BU Today<\/a><\/em> on August 24, 2026. By Isabelle Zhang<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EXCERPT<\/h4>

For most students, the search for a summer internship begins on LinkedIn, Handshake, or other job boards. But for rising senior Helena Nguyen<\/strong>, it began with an Instagram Reel. When Nguyen (CFA\u201827, COM\u201827) came across a video promoting an internship at the Asian Art Museum<\/a> in San Francisco, she immediately knew she had to apply. Between her dual degrees in sculpture and advertising, her Vietnamese heritage, and a long-held desire to experience living on the West Coast, the opportunity seemed like the perfect fit. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 1958, the Asian Art Museum houses one of the world\u2019s largest collections of Asian art, spanning 48 countries and over 6,000 years of history. This summer, Nguyen served as the museum\u2019s inaugural Learning and Civic Engagement intern\u2014a role the museum created in an effort to become more welcoming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMuseums historically have not been as accessible to lower-income audiences,\u201d Nguyen says, adding that the institution is also interested in bringing in more young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the museum\u2019s first intern focused on learning and civic engagement, Nguyen collaborated with her supervisors to define the role. Her duties ranged from developing art education programs to helping install exhibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nguyen (second from right) helps run a tea-bag making station and a Sip and Sketch workshop for the museum\u2019s \u201cWhat\u2019s the Tea?\u201d tour, an interactive gallery walk exploring various Asian teas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Much of her work centered on designing public tours. In July, she led a tea bag-making workshop for the museum\u2019s \u201cWhat\u2019s the Tea?\u201d tour, which explored Asian teas like matcha and chai. She also ran a children\u2019s watercolor painting session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Nguyen, the opportunity to intern at the Asian Art Museum was especially meaningful given her own cultural background. She says the experience afforded her \u201can opportunity to reconnect with my heritage\u201d and says working among other Asian-American interns was \u201creally empowering.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

read more in bu today<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\t