Americana Foundation Curatorial Intern (Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture) at Colonial Williamsburg

Description

A curatorial internship at Colonial Williamsburg is a full-time temporary position at Colonial Williamsburg funded by the Americana Foundation for 12 months.  The Internship is a prearranged learning experience for students interested in careers in the decorative arts, fine arts, history museums, or historic sites. For 2023-2024, the Americana Foundation curatorial intern will work on Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture from Colonial Williamsburg’s decorative arts and folk art collections under the supervision of the Curator and the Associate Curator of Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture.  If you are seeking academic credit for your internship, you must arrange for this in advance with your school and your internship advisor.

Please upload the following attachments:

• Two letters of recommendation (or if preferred, you or your professor may email the recommendation(s) to Virginia Foster, VFoster@cwf.org.
• Unofficial academic transcript
• Curriculum Vita or resume
• Statement of Intent. In no more than 250 words, state how an internship at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation would benefit you and/or your course of study.

 

Applications must be submitted through the Colonial Williamsburg jobs website to be considered.

Applications will be accepted by midnight, USA Eastern Time, Monday April 3rd, 2023.

 

PDF, DOC, DOCX and RTF formats only please. Applications submitted without these requirements will not be considered.

Applicants will be notified via e-mail of final decisions.

 

Job Summary:  

Assists the Curator and Associate Curator of Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture with the research, management, interpretation, and preservation of Colonial Williamsburg’s decorative, fine and folk art collections while gaining professional experience with hands-on training.

1. Assists with proper documentation of objects in the collection, including developing appropriate data for the creation of full catalog records in The Museum System (TMS) database, as well as paper files.
2. Gains and enhances knowledge of proper storage techniques of selected decorative, fine and folk art collections.
3. Enhances knowledge in specific areas of curatorial responsibility as well as general American history and material culture through reading, research, and participation in bi-weekly accessions meetings with Colonial Williamsburg staff.
4. Assists with researching, planning, and preparation of exhibition proposals, and assists with the design and installation of exhibitions and exhibition rotations in the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museums (DWM) and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museums (AARFAM) as well as furnishings installations in the Historic Area.
5. Assists in planning and movement of antique items throughout the Foundation to provide for their proper storage, study, and exhibition.
6. Assists Curator and Associate Curator in collaboration with Conservation Department staff to ensure the proper care of objects and learns basic principles of conservation through this exposure.
7. Assists with routine research requests, file maintenance, and Historic Area needs and requests.
8. Assists with expanding biographical information and genealogical data on artists and owners as needed.
9. Performs other related duties as required.

 

Required:  Must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written; strong organization and interpersonal skills; and have the ability to work independently and as a team member.  Applicants should have at least 30 semester hours of decorative and fine arts, material culture, or equivalent academic preparation, in addition to a strong understanding of American history; and work experience in a museum setting including object handling, cataloguing, and conducting primary research.  Must be able to lift and carry 30 pounds.

 

Preferred:  Ability to conduct independent research projects, prepare written descriptions of objects and catalog artifacts; familiarity with genealogical research; work experience in a museum environment; familiarity with 18^th-19^th century decorative and fine arts and 18^th-20^th century American folk art.

 

Qualifications: Must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written; strong organizational and interpersonal skills; and have the ability to work independently and as a team member.  Applicants should have at least 30 semester hours of fine art, decorative arts, material culture, or equivalent academic preparation, in addition to a strong understanding of American history; and work experience in a museum setting, including object handling, cataloguing, and conducting primary research.  Must be able to lift and carry 30 pounds.