Newseum: Spring Collections Internship

This announcement is for the Spring 2012 semester.

Newseum Spring Collections Internship – Washington, DC

Are you looking for an exciting internship that will provide you with the skills necessary to help you obtain full-time museum employment? If so, the Newseum’s Collections Internship is for you!

The Newseum, a revolutionary 250,000-square-foot museum of news, offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. At the Newseum, we pride ourselves on creating up-to-the minute exhibits and actively collecting modern and historic artifacts. As a Newseum intern you can work at our museum downtown or our state-of-the-art storage center in Laurel, Maryland (or both). Internship hours are flexible and can be arranged to fit individual’s schedules - this can include morning and weekend work. You will be a member of the small, dynamic Collections team and will be able to make an enormous contribution to the work we do. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain Collections experience and be involved in the day-to-day operations of one of Washington, D.C.’s most popular museums!

Intern responsibilities will include, but are not limited to assisting Registrars and Collections Specialists with the following tasks:

• Daily monitoring and recording of environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity, lighting, etc.) in gallery spaces
• Processing donations and incoming loans, including cataloging artifacts in database
• Monitoring and reporting on exhibition conditions as they pertain to exhibited collections
• Assisting with the cleaning of exhibits and artifacts on display pre-opening
• Aiding in the installation and de-installation of exhibited artifacts
• Compiling information for the new Standard Facilities Report particularly regarding the environmental conditions/calculations for each of the galleries
• Helping with basic artifact conservation
• If time and interest permits, short-term, independent research projects related to the collection can be designed
  

Newspaper archives internship project

For those who already possess or would like to gain archival experience, there is the opportunity to work on a self-directed archival project with the Newseum’s outstanding 35,000 piece newspaper collection (this project will take place at the Newseum’s storage facility in Laurel, MD). Interns will need to be able to frequently handle and carry 30-40 lb. newspaper boxes.

For all internship opportunities:

Experience/Skills

Candidates should be currently enrolled in or should have recently finished a museum-related graduate or undergraduate program, possess basic computer skills, an interest in collections/registration work, and the ability to lift 30 pounds.

Timing/Duration/Pay

Internships last for a minimum of 12 weeks and may be part or full time. This internship position is for college credit only.

Application Process

Please email cover letter and resume to mscott@newseum.org.