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Meet Our Citi Foundation Interns

Pictured (left to right): Dani Pinzon, Rebeca Gonzalez, Sofia Perez-Baux, Hala Hachem, and Austin San Juan.

Our Museum Management Internship Program, supported by Citi Foundation, is an incredible experience for aspiring museum professionals. Since 2020, the Citi Foundation has funded over 30 interns across a wide range of departments with three different cohorts joining Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) throughout the year. As the season comes to a close, the summer cohort of Citi Foundation Interns are wrapping up their time at PAMM, and we invited them to share their experiences.

Hala Hachem | Membership Intern

PAMM’s third floor terrace is Hala’s favorite spot overlooking Museum Park. “You can see everything from there and since it is usually empty it provides a nice breather.” – Hala Hachem

What has been your most impactful experience at PAMM throughout this internship program?

There are so many! I love attending PAMM exhibition openings and Member Appreciation Lounges, so it is hard to choose one! Seeing our hard work and planning come to fruition is very special to me. Brainstorming sessions with my supervisor always leaves me energized and ready to get started. Events involve a lot of behind-the-scenes planning, and I am beyond appreciative that I could be a part of PAMM’s membership event planning and team.

What’s your favorite exhibition or piece on view right now and why?

My favorite piece at the moment would be Carlos Cruz-Diez’s Chromosaturation! Not only was I able to see it on opening day, but it is an exhibition I visit whenever I have a break. The way the artist Cruz-Diez plays with our senses in his light-saturated environment leaves me breathless every time. 

Dani Pinzon | Corporate Development Intern

PAMM’s second floor lounge cubbies are where Dani likes to hang out. “They’re a lowkey area if you aren’t poking around the museum, but it’s a great area to just chill out and decompress.” – Dani Pinzon

What has been your most impactful experience at PAMM throughout this internship program?

This internship overall has been life-changing (I know that sounds so corny). Seriously, working with a group of individuals that see me as an equal (not just an intern) has given me so much confidence! Meeting all of the talented people and personalities that make up PAMM, especially my mentor Holly Kogachi, has given me a new perspective on how my workplace should feel. 

I’ve never felt so energized to “Get Sh*t Done,” especially since we’re working for a greater cause—making art accessible to the community! PAMM has been foundational in developing my professional motivation, my own personal mission, and the way that I network with my peers. I do not take it for granted at all. This internship is an eye-opening experience for anyone who loves art, community, and acts of service.

What’s your favorite exhibition or piece on view right now and why?

Chromosaturation by Carlos Cruz-Diez makes you feel so immersed in the color, it’s almost meditative how color feels. I think that’s the point too, not only are you seeing color, but you’re also feeling it!

Sofia Perez-Baux | Digital Engagement Intern

PAMM’s third floor terrace overlooking the water is Sofia’s favorite place to go when she needs a quick break from her desk.

What has been your most impactful experience at PAMM throughout this internship program?

My most impactful experience at PAMM was creating a virtual reality program for the Penetrável Macaléia installation by Hélio Oiticica. Creating an even more interactive experience through digital spaces was a team effort. Peers and mentors were excited to help in any way possible. I would not have even thought about working with VR if it wasn’t for the continued support from everyone I met. PAMM exemplifies a supportive work culture that every institution should strive to have.

What’s your favorite exhibition or piece on view right now and why?

My favorite piece on view is Under the Flamboyán by Hulda Guzmán. The bright colors and leafy foliage remind me of Miami, it’s comforting seeing your home reflected in an artwork.

Rebeca Gonzalez | Marketing Intern

PAMM’s “Mariano: Variations on a Theme” exhibition is Rebeca’s favorite spot, as she shared, “I was lucky enough to get a tour from the curator of the exhibition and will always hold that memory dear.” 

What has been your most impactful experience at PAMM throughout this internship program?

I found it difficult to choose just one thing! I’m so grateful for all the opportunities I’ve received at PAMM. Out of the projects I’ve worked on, I think writing this article and developing content for the PAMM Shop Instagram (@pammshop) have been my two favorites. Throughout the internship, I felt challenged and allowed to think creatively through new mediums, all while staying professional. Our in-office impromptu brainstorming sessions also made my time at PAMM more special! I truly felt like an integral part of PAMM, the marketing department, and love being part of the team’s collaborative creativity.

What’s your favorite exhibition or piece on view right now and why?

My favorite piece would have to be Mujer con flores (Woman with Flowers) from Mariano: Variations on a Theme. The duality of Mariano’s works from this period is really striking, and for me, this piece conveys that sometimes beauty can be found in darkness.

We are all so proud of what our Citi Foundation Museum Management Interns were able to accomplish this summer! This internship is all about supporting emerging museum managers while they develop professional skills and learn firsthand what goes on behind the scenes at a flagship art museum. Additionally, the internship program has helped increase PAMM’s talent pool, offering young professionals, often underrepresented in the museum and non-profit space, the chance to expand their skill sets, explore careers in the arts, and be a part of the PAMMily.

Get to know more of our staff members in this article about the moms behind the museum.

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