Opportunities

The Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives is responsible for the management and preservation of the museum’s photographic collections pertaining to African art and cultural history. In addition to conducting basic research, interns identify photographs and catalogue collections according to a standardized classification system. Interns learn archival techniques for processing, accessioning, rehousing and digitizing photographic materials. Interns must be computer literate, have good organizational skills and the ability to do detailed work. Knowledge of Africa or African art and experience with archival, library or photographic materials is helpful.

Visit the Museum’s Conservation page.

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Paid Summer Internship for Undergraduates at the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art (NMAfA), the only US Museum dedicated exclusively to the exhibition and preservation of Africa’s traditional and contemporary arts, is pleased to announce a paid summer internship in the conservation department. A conservator’s work is focused on the preservation of collections and this may include documentation, treatment and research. Conservators have academic backgrounds in the arts, sciences or social sciences and attain a profession graduate degree in conservation. For more information about the field see: http://www.conservation-us.org/about-conservation#.WBySoi0rJD4

Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, this internship is open to students who have completed at least one year of college, who have a strong interest in science, art, art history, history, anthropology or archaeology and who have at least a 3.0 gpa. Interns will be given an introduction to the field of art conservation, learn about documentation, preventive care and exhibits conservation. Assignments may include: environmental monitoring, writing reports, photographic documentation, housing objects for storage, lab organizational tasks, and participating in research projects.
As part of an initiative designed to promote diversity in the profession and conservation training, the ten-week internship will commence in June 2017 and offers a $6,000 stipend plus additional funds to help defray the cost of travel to Washington DC. The internship is open only to US citizens and permanent residents.

Deadline for application: March 15, 2017
For further information contact: Dana Moffett, Senior Conservator moffettd@si.edu

Application Procedure: Applicants must register and submit an online application via the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment system (SOLAA). After registering, sign onto the SOLAA system. At the top of the screen, select “Start your Application”; Select “Internship” and “National Museum of African Art” from the drop-down program lists. All materials should be submitted through the SOLAA system.
Application requirements via SOLAA
-Three short essays (no more than three pages total)
1) A statement of your interest in an internship at the NMAfA and what you hope to gain from the experience; please state how you found out about the internship.
2) Please discuss the impact that a funded internship would have on you and your education.
3) Provide a short biography describing your background, personal history, interests and major/minor (if declared).
-Curriculum Vitae or Resume
-Undergraduate transcripts (unofficial)
-Two letters of reference

The department administers the museum’s educational programs. It develops educational materials, coordinates the work of docents (volunteer tour guides) and interns, and sponsors films, performances, workshops, and lectures on many aspects of African art and culture. Interns assist with the daily work and may undertake a variety of projects: research; development of educational materials; assistance in the docent program; and assistance with the management of selected special events and performances.

The Curatorial Department oversees research, organizes exhibitions, responds to public enquiries, and makes recommendations concerning museum acquisitions. Interns work directly with curators on specific research topics related to objects and to future exhibitions. Knowledge of research methods is required. Knowledge of African arts and cultures is desirable, as is foreign language ability and coursework in art history.

The Exhibits Department is responsible for the design and fabrication of the museum’s exhibitions. Interns in this department have the opportunity to assist the design staff in the development of exhibitions and related graphics. They may also work with the production staff in the fabrication of exhibitions. Applicants interested in working on exhibition design must have skills in architectural, industrial, or graphic design, and must submit a portfolio of their work. Those who wish to assist the museum’s production staff in the fabrication of exhibitions must have training in the visual arts. Technical skills in silkscreening, photography, or carpentry are helpful.