By Anna Grace Hargett, former marketing and communications intern

Former marketing intern Anna Grace Hargett in the Eiteljorg’s Western art galleries, in front of the 2003 oil painting “The Golden Mountain: Arriving San Francisco, 1865,” by Mian Situ. Photograph by Tabby Fitzgerald.

As I was finishing my second semester of graduate school at Indiana University Bloomington, I searched for internship opportunities that would enable me to get hands-on experience working in an arts organization. I had worked with a local theater, art gallery, and performing arts center, but I wanted to expand my horizons and gain experience in a museum. When my colleague introduced me to the Eiteljorg Museum, I was immediately enamored by the culture and art of the museum. Centered in the heart of Indianapolis, the Eiteljorg’s unique structure of exhibiting both Western and Native art immediately stood out to me as the place for a fun and fulfilling internship. When I received the news that I would be the marketing intern for summer and fall 2025, I was elated.

While I had knowledge from my coursework, being able to put that information into practice proved invaluable and reminded me why the arts are crucial to the community. Throughout my internship, I gained professional experience in skills such as writing, website management and social media. I wrote news releases and e-newsletters, managed and created webpages on the Eiteljorg website, captured and edited social media content, and compiled a calendar of events for two editions of the Storyteller magazine. I helped with marketing exhibitions such as Radical Stitch, Emerging Current: The Eiteljorg Contemporary Arts Fellowship 2025, and Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure presented by Fifth Third Bank. During that time, I learned about the rich history and culture of the American West and Indigenous Peoples, along with the art they create to tell their stories.

Former marketing intern Anna Grace Hargett at the Route 66 scene of the Fifth Third Bank Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure. Photograph by Tabby Fitzgerald

Beyond the office, I helped at several events such as the Juneteenth & Jazz Community Celebration, the 33rd annual Indian Market & Festival, and the 20th annual Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale. While daily office work honed my technical skills, attending these events and seeing the products of the organization’s staff made my experience all the more worthwhile. The most transformative experiences I had were when I was able to talk with artists and performers at these events. Interviewing artists at Quest of the West®, speaking with artists at their booths at the Indian Market & Festival, and visiting the studio of fashion designer Jerry Lee Atwood made this experience unforgettable, and reminded me of the importance of the people behind the art.

As I reflect on my internship, I want to thank the team I got to work with throughout my time as an intern. Thank you to public relations manager Bryan Corbin, director of communications and marketing Katie Warthan, and digital marketing coordinator Tabby Fitzgerald, for being valuable supporters and providing me with the opportunities to work creatively.

The Eiteljorg is more than a museum: it’s a place where stories are told. This experience honed my marketing skills and helped me gain an appreciation for the people that make these stories possible. Thanks to this internship, I feel prepared to enter my professional career as someone who serves as a bridge between the people behind the art and the community that experiences it. As I enter my last semester of graduate school, I will cherish these memories and look forward to the stories I continue to tell.

Anna Grace Hargett, an Indiana University graduate student pursuing a master’s in arts administration, was a marketing and communications intern at the Eiteljorg Museum during summer and fall 2025.

Anna Grace Hargett at the Eiteljorg Museum building replica in Jingle Rails. Photograph by Tabby Fitzgerald.