Internship: Summer Internships in Ethnographic Artifact and Textile Conservation – Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (Suitland, MD, USA)

Dates of internship: June 5, 2017 – August 11, 2017
The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is offering up to two 10-week internships in ethnographic artifact and textile conservation funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.  The Conservation Laboratory at NMAI’s Cultural Resource Center in Suitland, MD (Metro DC area) is the work site.
Andrew W. Mellon internships focus primarily on the survey and treatment of artifacts for exhibits at NMAI’s facilities in Washington, D.C., and New York City, loans and other ongoing projects.  Candidates who demonstrate a career interest in the conservation of material culture of indigenous peoples of North, South and Central American will be especially welcome to apply. Candidates must be fluent in both spoken and written English. The internships are designed for students currently in or graduated from a graduate program in conservation or practicing conservation professionals. The internships are intended to cultivate practical skills as well as to foster a solid understanding of the contexts of material culture, the philosophies of conservation at NMAI, and the ethics of the conservation profession. Museum programming involves collaboration with Native Peoples in the development of appropriate methods of care for, and interpretation of their cultural materials.
Applications must be completed by midnight, February 1, 2017 (including reference letters).  All applicants will be notified by April 15, 2017.
Application process is via Smithsonian On-Line Academic Appointment system (SOLAA).  For information on application and link to SOLAA visit: nmai.si.edu/explore/collections/conservation/training/#andrew

The 10-week internship includes a stipend.