Position: Conservation Internship, Summer 2024
Institution: The Walters Art Museum
Department: Conservation, Collections and Technical Research
Hours: Full-time, temporary
Salary Range: $17/hour
Duration: Start on June 10, 2024, and run for 10 consecutive weeks
Location: Baltimore, MD

About WAM

The Walters Art Museum is among America’s most distinctive museums, forging connections between people and art from cultures around the world and spanning seven millennia. Located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, the Walters is free for all. The museum’s campus includes five historic buildings and 36,000 art objects.

Today, the Walters serves Baltimore and Maryland by embracing its role as educator and storyteller, using the collection as a vehicle of knowledge and cultural expression to support learning, dialogue, and community engagement. The museum is committed to public education, offering essential programs that help people to connect art to their lives by promoting collaboration, teamwork, and a culture that celebrates the diversity and inclusion of all.

Internship Description

The Conservation Intern is a member of the Conservation, Collections and Technical Research Department. Working closely with the Conservation Scientist, over the course of this ten-week internship, the Conservation Intern will work on two long-term projects in collaboration with the Conservation Scientist: first, to develop protocols for object sample naming, storage, and documentation; second, to create a reference database to improve the identification of pigments and other artistic materials. The aim of this internship is to develop skills relevant to future employment in conservation science, conservation, and preventive care activities.

The Conservation Intern is one of several interns in the Walters’ Summer Internship Program. Interns selected for this program will gain insight into museum work, broaden their understanding of the museum field, gain knowledge of and appreciation for the Walters’ historic collection, and receive mentorship and professional development from museum professionals while building peer-to-peer relationships with fellow interns.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate on a long-term project to create a reference database to improve the identification of pigments and other artistic materials.
• Develop a protocol for object sample naming, storage, and documentation.
• Work with painting materials, prepare mock-ups for the reference database, and photograph samples.
• Train on the Hyperspectral Camera system under the supervision of the Conservation Scientist.
• Train on the digital imaging of objects and archival storage methods for object samples.
• Participate in public-facing aspects of conservation work including but not limited to developing content for social media and interacting with visitors to share about conservation work by staffing the Conservation Window at Walters.
• Assist Conservation Scientist in the day-to-day work of object-based research.
• Attending department and staff meetings as directed, engaging widely with Conservation, Collections and Technical Research Department Staff.
• Participate in an orientation to the museum and continuing professional development designed with emerging professionals in mind.

To achieve these goals, the intern will work closely with the Conservation Scientist and members of the Conservation, Collections and Technical Research Department.

Internship Qualifications

• Candidates must be 18 years or older and preferably actively registered at either a community college, university, or trade school or, may have recently graduated from a community college or university; Undergraduate and Graduate level applicants welcome, though preference given to undergraduate students.
• Preference given to students with previous lab experience and/or knowledge of basic safety laboratory safety protocols.
• Preference given to students with a demonstrated interest in STEAM careers (e.g., coursework or extracurricular activities).
• Demonstrated ability to work accurately with attention to detail.
• Familiarity with Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power point, Outlook)
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated organization, administration, and collaboration skills.
• Desire to support diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) in museum practice.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team and to incorporate feedback into work.
• Priority given to students who are residents of Baltimore City or County or whose colleges or universities are in Baltimore City or County.

Schedule

This is a temporary, full-time position, 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday. The 10-week internship will take place between June-August (dates June 10 – August 16).

How to Apply

Please submit a résumé and cover letter through our online platform at https://paycomonline.net

All employes must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The museum does not sponsor work visas.

For questions on this position, please contact, Sarah Slingluff, College Initiative Specialist at collegeinitiatives@thewalters.org — Please do not submit applications to this address.