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MuseumWorks 2019: Paid Summer Internships in Cultural Professions

MuseumWorks 2019: Paid Summer Internships in Cultural Professions 

MuseumWorks, a collaboration between the Middlebury College Museum of Art and the Middlebury College Center for Careers & Internships, is an intensive 8-week paid summer internship program introducing Middlebury College students to the dynamic and multifaceted professional world of museums, science libraries, and archives through a combination of internship placements in local cultural institutions, professional development, field trips, career conversations with seasoned museum and library professionals, and collaboration on an exhibition project.

Application deadline: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 11:55 PM Eastern Standard Time.

NOTE: All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check conducted by an independent agency.

Program Description:
Interns will work Tuesday–Friday with supervisors at the Middlebury College Museum of ArtMiddlebury College Special Collections & Archives, Armstrong Science Library, the Vermont Folklife Center, or the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History. (All institutions are located in Middlebury.)
 
On Mondays, interns engage in a rigorous professional development curriculum. These days will include a combination of:
  • field trips to a variety of cultural institutions in Middlebury and the Champlain Valley;
  • career conversations with experienced staff at museums, libraries, archives, galleries, etc.;
  • skill-building workshops (e.g. exhibition design, grant writing, career coaching, cover letter writing/résumé building for museum jobs, etc.).

Over the course of the summer, interns will also collaborate to curate an exhibition at the Middlebury College Museum of Art of photographs by Brett Weston.
 
In addition, interns will travel together for one week to visit cultural institutions and meet with art world professionals in the Berkshires region and either Boston or New York City. MuseumWorks will pay for travel, lodging, museum admission costs, and some meals during this travel. (Exact travel dates TBD; likely July 22-26.)

2019 Program Dates:
MuseumWorks will run June 17–August 9, 2019. (Only students who can participate in the entire 8 weeks should apply.)

Compensation:
Interns will receive a $3,000 (USD) stipend. This stipend is taxable and will be disbursed in two equal payments, one in June and one in July.
 
Room and Board:
Interns are eligible for on-campus room and board: housing will be in double dorm rooms; meals will be served in dining halls.
  • On-campus housing costs $80 week; fees will be charged directly to interns' student accounts and must be paid by August 1.
  • Interns choosing to live off campus are solely responsible for procuring their own housing and should expect to pay much higher rent. They receive the same stipend as interns living on campus.
  • All interns (regardless of whether on campus or off campus) can elect to purchase a summer meal plan. 2019 summer dining plans are sold in $500 increments. $500 entitles the purchaser to 50 dining hall swipes and $300 in Declining Balance dollars that can be used at the Grille, MiddExpress, and Wilson Café. Students purchasing summer meal plans before April 29 will receive an additional $50 bonus of Declining Balance dollars.
 
Eligibility:
Any current Middlebury College student wishing to learn more about working in museums, libraries, and archives is invited to apply, regardless of major. MuseumWorks is open to international students. We regret that students from other schools, Middlebury alumni, and Middlebury students graduating in May 2019 are not eligible for these positions.
 
Academic credit is not granted for participation in MuseumWorks. Students looking to gain seeking credit for a summer museum studies program should consider applying to the Middlebury Museum Studies in Oxford program.

Please email Douglas Perkins, Associate Director for Operations and Finance at the Middlebury College Museum of Art, with questions: deperkin@middlebury.edu.
  
If you are offered and accept this internship, please be aware that this program is supported by CCI, and therefore you will be required to complete funded internship paperwork.
 
Application deadline: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 11:55 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Application procedure:
Your complete application, to be submitted via Handshake, should entail the following items:
  • Current résumé
  • Cover letter indicating qualifications, experience, and interest in:
  • MuseumWorks overall and
  • any specific internship placement(s) for which you would like to be considered (please address each position in its own short paragraph; see below for internship placements)
  • Single document including the following supplemental material (Please be sure to read this list carefully and include all elements in a single document in the order below, concluding with a writing sample):
  • Name
  • Class year
  • Middlebury ID number
  • Preferred email and telephone contact information
  • List of the specific MuseumWorks internship placements for which you would like to be considered
  • Contact information for 3 professional or academic references whom we may contact (Be sure to include the referee’s name, her/his relationship to you, a phone number at which s/he can be reached, and her/his email address. **At least one reference should be a member of the faculty or staff at Middlebury College.**)
  • List of major(s) and minor(s) (indicating "intended" or "undeclared" as necessary)
  • List of relevant coursework (including but not limited to History of Art & Architecture, History, American Studies, Museum Studies, Studio Art, Education Studies, English, Sciences)
  • List of language skills (indicating in beginner, intermediate, fluent, or native skills in reading, writing, and speaking)
  • List of relevant computer and/or social media skills (including but not limited to graphic design, social media, website construction, social media strategies, etc.)
  • List of other summer internships to which you are applying
  • Writing sample (3–8 pages of expository writing on any topic, demonstrating the ability to write clearly and persuasively)

In the months of March and April, applicants should be vigilant in checking their email and respond promptly to any MuseumWorks-related emails. Although not all applicants will be interviewed, select candidates will be contacted via email directly by potential supervisors to schedule interviews. Applicants interested in multiple internship placements are encouraged to accept interviews with any potential supervisors who contact them. 

All applicants will be notified of final decisions by April 17, 2019 at the latest. Please email Mikki Lane, Coordinator of Events, Membership, and Academic Outreach at the Middlebury College Museum of Art, with questions: mlane@middlebury.edu.



Available MuseumWorks 2019 Summer Internship Positions

1. Museum Intern (Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History)
 
Primary Purpose
Become familiar with the wide-ranging missions of the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History (founded in 1882 and considered the oldest community-based Museum in the country) while contributing to a variety of projects including exhibits, archival work, and special events. henrysheldonmuseum.org
 
Responsibilities
The Sheldon Museum Intern will work with the Executive Director, Associate Director, and Archivist on a variety of projects related to the Sheldon’s museum and archival collections, summer events, current exhibits, and marketing. Projects may include: helping with the events management related to the summer exhibit The Landscape Architecture Legacy of Dan Kiley, planning for the fall Spiritualism exhibit (opens mid-September 2019), mounting small displays from the Sheldon Museum’s permanent collection, and contributing to projects in the Research Center. The Intern will also learn about customer relations and fundraising while offering administrative support for the Sheldon’s main summer fundraiser, a Pops Concert and Fireworks Display (Wednesday, July 3, 2019). A motivated Intern with strong public speaking skills may periodically be invited to lead public tours of Museum exhibits.
 
In addition to their departmental duties, all MuseumWorks Summer Interns will meet one day a week for professional development. Please see above for further details.
 
Qualifications
Assets include interest in future study or work in museums and/or coursework in History, the History of Art and Architecture, or American Studies, but qualified students from any major will be given full consideration.
 
Knowledge
  • Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills
  • Computer literacy: Microsoft Office Suite essential; FileMaker Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator helpful
  • Digital photography and scanning experience helpful
  • Adept at Social Networking
  • Careful attention to detail paramount
  • Ability to multi-task
  • Energetic demeanor, positive outlook, and lively disposition beneficial
 
If you are offered and accept this internship, please be aware that this program is supported by CCI, and therefore you will be required to complete funded internship paperwork.
 
NOTE: All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check conducted by an independent agency.

2. Vision & Voice Gallery Intern (Vermont Folklife Center)
 
Primary Purpose
Assist the Vermont Folklife Center’s Curator with the Vision & Voice Gallery. The Vision & Voice Gallery and Workspace provides a site for the planning, development, and exhibition of new documentary work that embraces the challenge of ethnographic inquiry—opening a window on the fabric of everyday life and the richness and diversity of our common humanity—with the goal of making Vermonters from all walks of life more visible to one another. www.vermontfolklifecenter.org
 
Responsibilities
The Vision & Voice Gallery Intern will work with the Vermont Folklife Center team under the supervision of the Curator on diverse aspects of the Vermont Folklife Center’s ongoing exhibition program. Projects include production, installation, and programming for our 2019 summer exhibit. The Gallery Summer Intern will also assist in systematizing the Folklife Center’s exhibit touring program by formalizing relationships with exhibit venues statewide and developing a storage protocol. The Intern will also develop strategies to boost gallery visitation by researching creative uses of conventional and social media to build audiences.
 
In addition to their departmental duties, all MuseumWorks Summer Interns will meet one day a week for professional development. Please see above for further details.
 
Experience
Prior experience working independently AND collaboratively essential; prior experience with documentary research and media production would be very useful.
 
Knowledge
  • Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills
  • Computer literacy: Microsoft Office suite essential; Audacity or Adobe Audition helpful
  • Digital photography and scanning experience
  • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills
 
If you are offered and accept this internship, please be aware that this program is supported by CCI, and therefore you will be required to complete funded internship paperwork.
 
NOTE: All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check conducted by an independent agency.

3. Special Collections and Archives Intern (Middlebury College Special Collections & Archives)
 
Primary Purpose
Become familiar with Special Collections and Archives, Middlebury’s collection of rare books, manuscripts, and the historical archives of the College, and participate in varied projects including preservation and conservation, exhibits, archival work, digital archives/social media, and the theory and practices of special collections, libraries, and archives. http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/lib/libcollections/collections/special
 
Responsibilities
The Special Collections and Archives Intern will collaborate on a variety of projects, across all of our unique holdings. Some focus will be spent on reviewing materials from the historical Bread Loaf School of English archives in preparation for Bread Loaf’s Centennial in 2020. Responsibilities may include: research, cataloguing, scanning historical photographs, and creating social media posts.
 
In addition to their departmental duties, all MuseumWorks Summer Interns will meet one day a week for professional development. Please see above for further details.
 
Qualifications
  • Interest in archives and history (both studying it, curating, and creating it) are desirable
  • Interest in museum, archival, and library studies
  • Inquisitiveness for historical and cultural artifacts in many forms such as books, ephemera, photographs, films, audio recordings, and artifacts.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and to contribute to a collaborative environment.
  • Applicants should be self-starters, organized, self-disciplined, and able to work independently.
 
If you are offered and accept this internship, please be aware that this program is supported by CCI, and therefore you will be required to complete funded internship paperwork.
 
NOTE: All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check conducted by an independent agency.
 
4. College Collection Intern (Middlebury College Museum of Art)
 
Primary Purpose
Assist the Registrar of the Middlebury College Museum of Art with various projects related to the maintenance of the College collections (comprising hundreds of works of art). museum.middlebury.edu
 
**Please note: this intern is expected to work one additional paid week beyond the conclusion of the MuseumWorks program. (Total program dates June 17 - August 16, 2019; total stipend $3,375.)
 
Responsibilities
The College Collection Intern is responsible for continuing the annual inventory of artwork on view across Middlebury’s campus (including many works in faculty and staff offices as well as public sculpture). This is a self-directed internship requiring contact with numerous College departments, maintenance of a collection database, photography skills, and careful record keeping. Patience, diligence, and organizational skills are essential. Time is split between working in various locations on campus and working in the Museum. The College Collection Summer Intern will gain museum experience by occasionally assisting with the day-to-day operations of the Museum Registrar’s office and may also be asked to work on some small projects with the Museum's Design and Installation team.
 
In addition to their departmental duties, all MuseumWorks Summer Interns will meet one day a week for professional development. Please see above for further details.
 
Knowledge and Experience
  • Ability to work independently on a large project essential
  • Strong organizational and time management skills a must
  • Computer literacy: FileMaker Pro, Excel, Photoshop helpful
  • Experience using a digital camera
  • Basic knowledge of art terms and media
  • Strong interpersonal skills needed
 
If you are offered and accept this internship, please be aware that this program is supported by CCI, and therefore you will be required to complete funded internship paperwork.
 
NOTE: All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check conducted by an independent agency.

5. Curatorial Intern (Middlebury College Museum of Art)
 
Primary Purpose
Work with the Director of the Middlebury College Museum of Art on curatorial projects and exhibition research. museum.middlebury.edu
 
Responsibilities
The Curatorial Intern will perform research on a variety of curatorial projects and possible museum exhibitions. The intern may also assist in writing label copy and producing and maintaining correspondence with artists, dealers, and collectors. The Curatorial Intern may be invited to partner with the MCMA Education Intern to lead periodic public tours of the Museum’s permanent collection, special exhibitions, and outdoor sculpture collection.
 
In addition to their departmental duties, all MuseumWorks Summer Interns will meet one day a week for professional development. Please see above for further details.
 
Experience
Preference is given to students with a serious interest in future study or work in the museum field. Coursework in the History of Art and Architecture or Studio Art and/or participation in the Museum Ambassadors Program will be significant assets, but qualified students from any major will be considered.
 
Qualifications
  • Excellent research, writing, editing, and proofreading skills essential
  • Computer literacy: Microsoft Office suite essential; FileMaker Pro and Photoshop helpful
  • Digital photography and scanning experience helpful
  • Proficiency in a foreign language helpful
  • Organizational skills and careful attention to detail are paramount
 
If you are offered and accept this internship, please be aware that this program is supported by CCI, and therefore you will be required to complete funded internship paperwork.
 
NOTE: All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check conducted by an independent agency.
 
6. Museum Education Intern (Middlebury College Museum of Art)
 
Primary Purpose
Assist the Curator of Education & Academic Programs with all aspects of the Education program (which serves local school groups, Middlebury College students and faculty, and the general public) and the Museum Ambassadors Program (MAP)museum.middlebury.edu
 
Responsibilities
The Museum Education Intern assists the Curator of Education with a variety of tasks related to the Education program. Many of the intern’s tasks will involve planning for programs that will be implemented in the 2019-2020 academic year, including but not limited to: the MiddArts outreach program to local schools; the training curriculum for the Museum Ambassadors Program (MAP); academic outreach to Middlebury College faculty; public programs; research on acquisitions relevant to the academic curriculum; and contributing to research on a forthcoming exhibition on the relationship between art and language. The intern may be asked to develop self-guided materials for visitors of all ages, with the goal of improving accessibility within the Museum. The MCMA Education Intern may be invited to partner with the MCMA Curatorial Intern to lead periodic public tours of the Museum's permanent collection, special exhibitions, and outdoor sculpture collection.

In addition to their departmental duties, all MuseumWorks Summer Interns will meet one day a week for professional development. Please see above for further details.
 
Experience
Although anyone with serious interest in education and museum work is encouraged to apply, special consideration may be given to majors or minors in Education Studies, History of Art and Architecture, and/or Studio Art. Disability Studies coursework highly desirable.
 
Knowledge and Skills
  • Strong organization skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to take initiative and advance projects independently
  • Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills
  • Comfort interacting with the public
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Experience engaging with children, senior citizens, and/or museum visitors with disabilities a plus
  • Experience with accessibility initiatives an asset
  • Comfort creating digital technology (audio, video, touchscreen, 3D-scanning/printing, etc.) an asset
 
If you are offered and accept this internship, please be aware that this program is supported by CCI, and therefore you will be required to complete funded internship paperwork.
 
NOTE: All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check conducted by an independent agency.

7. Science Collections Intern (Armstrong Science Library)

Primary Purpose
Become familiar with a variety of discipline-specific specimen collections held in McCardell Bicentennial Hall, and participate in a variety of projects centered on the Antique Scientific Instruments Collection, including digitization, cataloguing, and learning principles of digital preservation. There is potential to create either a small physical or digital exhibition.

Responsibilities
McCardell Bicentennial Hall is home to a number of fascinating specific specimen collections, including botanical, mineral, and the Antique Scientific Instrument Collection. The Science Collections Intern would collaborate with the Science Data Librarian to review these collections in general and digitize a subset of the Antique Scientific Instrument collection, including photography, metadata creation, and preparing files for a digital repository. There will be opportunities to research, catalog and rehouse items within the collection, as well as learn about digital preservation theory and best practices. There is potential to create either a small physical or digital exhibition.

In addition to their departmental duties, all MuseumWorks Summer Interns will meet one day a week for professional development. Please see above for further details.

Qualifications
  • An interest in science or the history of science
  • An interest in exploring digital representation of collections
  • An interest in museum studies and archival and library studies
  • An inquisitiveness for historical artifacts across different scientific disciplines
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and to contribute to a collaborative environment
  • Applicants should be self-starters, organized, self-disciplined, and able to work independently

If you are offered and accept this internship, please be aware that this program is supported by CCI, and therefore you will be required to complete funded internship paperwork.
 
NOTE: All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check conducted by an independent agency.







Application deadline: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 11:55 PM Eastern Standard Time.