Position

Souls Grown Deep Intern

Location

Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, US

Salary

$10,000.00 Annually

Posting Closes

July 16^th, 2023

Anticipated Duration

This part-time, 9-month internship runs from September 2023 through May 2024. The internship is a hybrid position, and the intern must reside in the Washington DC area.

Please see original job posting here.

OVERVIEW

The Mellon Foundation’s pioneering study on the challenges of diversifying museum staff pointed to the need to support students at the undergraduate level, to encourage the pursuit of graduate education. The Souls Grown Deep Internship offers yet another avenue for students of color to develop a professional museum background in our emerging field through any one of a number of arenas: curatorial, registration, conservation, education, or administration.

The Souls Grown Deep intern will work within our Conservation department assisting Phillips Collection conservators and collections managers in caring for works of art.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with collections management tasks, including archival organization of digital files, filing reports and other departmental records, preparing an exhibition condition report binder, and periodic dusting/condition checks of artworks on display.
• Research and document a selected time-based media (TBM) artwork in the collection:
  • Connect with the artist or artist’s estate to gather information about important concepts and material properties of the selected work.
  • Create a work-defining identity report, identify preservation risks and needs, and create a maintenance plan for the artwork.
• Conduct artist interviews for artists represented in the collection.
• Assist with re-housing of paintings and fabricate backing boards as needed.
• Work with conservators and collections manager to further organization and storage needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates include students currently enrolled in undergraduate studies at a university. Interns may be selected in their junior or senior year or as a recent graduate. Candidates must also have a demonstrated interest and commitment to pursue a career in the museum field, particularly art conservation. 

Strong organizational and computer abilities and excellent attention to detail are necessary. Coursework in studio art, art history, or museum studies, with some STEM background is preferred. Experience in a museum, gallery, or studio setting is also desirable, along with some familiarity with video, electronic, or digital media artworks. Finally, candidates should be able to demonstrate good hand skills through examples of their artwork or other objects they have made.

Academic Credit: Depending on the nature of the internship and approval of the student’s college or university, academic credit may be granted for internships. Student applicants should consult their academic advisor for additional information.

Candidates must display the following:

• Academic promise (minimum of a 2.5 GPA)
• Availability for, and commitment to, engaged participation in all aspects of the Internship program 
• Eligibility to work in the U.S.

Please submit a résumé, cover letter, transcripts, a writing sample, images of 3 original artworks or other objects you have made, and 2 letters of recommendation. 

The Phillips Collection is an equal opportunity employer and administers all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic disposition or carrier status, marital status, veteran status, personal appearance, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.