NYU Program in Museum Studies at Villa La Pietra, New York University Florence, Summer 2022 – Museum Studies

NYU Program in Museum Studies at Villa La Pietra, New York University Florence Summer 2022: 3 positions, 250-300 hours each

DEADLINE TO APPLY: FEBRUARY 11, 2022 by 5PM EST
APPLY VIA GOOGLE FORM HERE
FINALISTS’ INTERVIEWS ONLINE: FEBRUARY 15-25
RESPONSES: MARCH 1
PERIOD at Villa La Pietra: From the week of June 6 – through the week of July 18
Applications must be submitted via email to: rosanna.flouty@nyu.edu
Applications must include: a cover letter with motivation and Curriculum Vitae

Project 1: documentation, collection care and educational activities in a house museum

The Acton Collection is displayed in Villa La Pietra, a Renaissance villa on the northern hills of Florence. Collected during the early 20th century by Hortense Mitchell Acton from Chicago and Arthur Acton from London, it was donated in 1994 to NYU by their son, Sir Harold (1904-1994). It comprises over 6,000 art objects including paintings, sculptures, textile, household objects and furniture, dating from the Classical Age to the early 20th century. The Villa also preserves the family library and an archive of photographs that are now in process of being digitized and catalogued. The collections’ metadata have migrated to a more web-aware platform: the TMS Collections and Conservation Studio platform (Gallery Systems). The student will be asked to assist the Collection Manager in the organization and retrieval of data in the new environment and in the creation of new records and reports related to the art collection and to the photograph archive. The student will be involved also in preventive conservation activities and in the presentation of the Villa, its history, collections and its public outreach by giving tours and creating new digital content and relevant material for social media platforms.

Preference will be given to students who are highly organized, detail oriented, and
proficient in Microsoft Excel and collection management databases. Previous experience with objects’ photography and past museum registrarial work are much appreciated. The project takes place at Villa La Pietra, under the supervision of the Collection Manager, Francesca Baldry. Visits to other house museums and archives will be organized. The student will also interact with the Institute of Fine Arts Conservation Faculty and graduate students carrying out projects at the Villa.

Time Commitment:

The project generally spans seven weeks, with activities carried out
five days a week between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The beginning and ending dates, and the daily schedule of the project will be determined after the students are selected (approx. week of June 6 – week of July 18).

DEADLINE TO APPLY: FEBRUARY 11, 2022 by 5PM EST
APPLY VIA GOOGLE FORM HERE

Project 2: The Acton Guest Book (1923-1994): documentation and research

Between 1923 and 1994, the family kept a guest book that represents a living memory of the social life of the Villa. The bound volume is preserved in the collection and has been digitized (with high-resolution photographs) in order to preserve it and to eventually make it accessible to students, faculty and scholars for study and research. An on-going project has been identifying and transcribing each individual signature. These have in turn been entered into a database containing biographical information on each guest, with social and professional status, cultural background, and relationship to the Acton family. The student will assist with the continued documentation of these signatures and baseline research on these visitors, but will also be involved in creating new digital content and relevant material for social media platforms.

The project takes place in Villa La Pietra, under the supervision of the Coordinator of
Instructional Technology and Digital Initiatives, Scott Palmer and of the Collection
Manager, Francesca Baldry. Visits to other house museums and archives will be organized.

Preference will be given to students who are highly organized, detail-oriented, and
proficient in Microsoft Excel and AirTable. The subject matter of the Acton guest book is related to 20th century history, art and society, therefore students interested in this
period are encouraged to apply. This year the research project will focus on the Post
World War II period.

Time Commitment:

DEADLINE TO APPLY: FEBRUARY 11, 2022 by 5PM EST
APPLY VIA GOOGLE FORM HERE

Project 3: Development of Digital Content for Educational and Public Access

The project for this summer is the development of digital content that documents the
history of the villa, the artwork, the garden, and the family who donated the estate to
NYU in 1994. The student will be asked to make suggestions on how to utilize some of
the rich stories and resources to create room charts, to update the paper photo albums and to design a digital version of these albums for digital devices. The student will be involved in the presentation of the Villa, its history, collections and its public outreach by giving tours and creating material for social media platforms.
Knowledge of computer design or graphics and an interest in digital technology and
interpretation is highly recommended.

The Visit and Event Coordinator, Cristina Fantacci, supervises this project in collaboration with Francesca Baldry and Scott Palmer. Beginning and end dates, and daily schedule of the project will be determined (approx. week of June 6– week of July 18) after the student has been selected.

Time Commitment:

DEADLINE TO APPLY: FEBRUARY 11, 2022 by 5PM EST
APPLY VIA GOOGLE FORM HERE