By: 2026 Comunicador Daniella Meza
As a double major in public health and anthropology, I was drawn to The Phillips Collection because of its emphasis on the connections between art, wellness and community. While museum internships are not typically associated with my field of study, the Comunicadores for the Future program opened the door to an experience that once felt out of reach. Through this opportunity, I’ve come to see how I can apply my skills in communications to support the arts and help strengthen connections within the community.
During the first week of my internship, I assisted with preparations for Phillips after 5: Party with Pride, an evening event featuring music, drinks, guest artists and drag performers. Later in June, I helped prepare materials for the museum’s booth at the Capital Pride Festival and worked the booth during the event, engaging with visitors from the community and distributing pins with messages such as “Make art, not war.” These experiences showed me how museum communications extend beyond galleries and exhibitions, creating opportunities to connect with people directly and inspire meaningful engagement with art.
I further realized this when I had the opportunity to accompany a colleague as they interviewed local artists for “Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise: The Phillips Collection Juried Exhibition,” an exhibition featuring artists from across the DMV. As I listened to the interviews, I realized that our role went far beyond promoting exhibitions. Our work involves helping tell artists’ stories in a way that resonates with audiences and encourages them to engage more deeply with the artwork. This experience reminded me of the ethnographic research methods I’ve studied in my anthropology courses, where interviews are essential for understanding individuals, their experiences and the social circumstances that shape them. It showed me that museum communications, much like anthropology, begins with listening — using conversation and storytelling to help others better understand the world around them.
During my time at The Phillips Collection, I have also come to appreciate the important role museum communications can play in promoting public health. I’ve seen firsthand the research, outreach, writing, design and collaboration that go into developing and promoting guided meditation resources, wellness programs and accessibility initiatives. It has been especially meaningful to witness the strong engagement of deaf community members who are partnering with the museum to make its spaces and programs more accessible, as well as the continued support from local organizations that regularly share the museum’s resources and programming with their communities.
This internship has broadened my understanding of the impact that communications can have — telling stories, building connections, increasing accessibility and fostering community engagement. Whether my future leads me to museums, public health or another area of the nonprofit sector, I’m grateful for the opportunity to apply the skills I’ve developed in the classroom while building new ones in a professional setting. My time in this position has strengthened my interest in pursuing a career that allows me to connect people with meaningful experiences.
Daniella Meza is a rising senior at The George Washington University, majoring in anthropology and public health. She is a Cisneros Scholar and a 2026 Comunicadores for the Future intern at The Phillips Collection.
