Appel à candidature « Summer internships (paid), National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. »

Since 1964 the National Gallery of Art has offered professional museum training to candidates from all backgrounds through a variety of internship programs. Nine-week summer internships provide opportunities to work on projects directed by a Gallery curator or department head. Biweekly museum seminars introduce interns to the broad spectrum of museum work, and to Gallery staff, departments, programs, and functions.

Eligibility varies according to internship. Several opportunities are geared to undergraduates graduating in May 2013. The majority of slots are for currently enrolled graduate students of all levels and those graduating in May 2013 with a relevant degree (such as MA, MBA, MFA, M Arch, M Ed, JD, or MLS). Please check prerequisites carefully. Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. This is an international program.

Deadline for application packets is January 25 ,2013

Terms
Summer interns are in residence at the Gallery from June 10 to August 9, 2013. Interns receive a stipend of approximately $4,500 that is subject to all applicable taxes. 

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Projects (selection, full list here)
Placements are available in the following Gallery departments:

Archives
The intern will organize and prepare historical photographs and files for digitization and for dissemination via the Gallery’s website or using social media.  The project will include capturing metadata within the archival context and recommending methods for dissemination, including possible crowd-sourcing to enhance content and access.  The intern should have experience using historical documents, an understanding of archival work, and an interest in digitization and media. Current art history, history, or archival studies graduate students with an interest in the digital imaging of archival materials and 2013 graduates of such programs are invited to apply.

Conservation: Paper
The intern will assist paper conservators in organizing and cataloguing items in the Paper Sample Collection of historic and contemporary artists’ drawing and printing papers. Other responsibilities will include recording watermarks photographically and researching papermaking companies. Current graduate students and 2013 graduates in conservation, studio art, or archival studies are encouraged to apply. Knowledge of paper and papermaking is essential.

Conservation: Objects
The intern will assist with the yearly summer maintenance and treatment of the outdoor sculpture collection in the Sculpture Garden and surrounding the East and West Buildings.  He or she will work with a team of conservators to clean and protect these large-scale sculptures.  The intern will also help maintain the department’s object condition database, including uploading information from the paper files and completing condition examinations on sculpture and medals.  As possible, the intern may assist conservators with their research or with other projects including x-radiography and technical study. Current graduate students and 2013 graduates in conservation are invited to apply.

Conservation: Photographs
The intern will work closely with the photograph conservation department on an inter-institutional, interdisciplinary study of platinum and palladium prints. He or she will assist with documenting scientific and historical research relating to the history, chemistry, technical practice, and aesthetics of platinum and palladium photography, which will culminate in a symposium to be hosted by the Gallery in the fall of 2014, along with a corresponding publication. Current graduate students and 2013 graduates in photographic preservation and collections management are encouraged to apply.

Curatorial: American and British Paintings
The intern will assist with planning and research for an upcoming exhibition and publication devoted to early American modernism. The exhibition will survey the contributions of the first generation of American modernists to the broader history of modernism in the 20th century. Current advanced art history graduate students with a special interest in early American modernism, working knowledge of pertinent bibliographical and historical sources, and demonstrated excellent writing and research skills are invited to apply.

Curatorial: Northern Baroque Paintings
The intern will assist in the early planning stages of an upcoming exhibition of northern baroque paintings. He or she will have an active role helping to develop the content, layout, and didactic content of the exhibition. Advanced reading knowledge of Dutch and German and a background in Dutch art are required. Current graduate students in art history or 2012 graduates of such programs are invited to apply.

Curatorial: Old Master Prints
The intern will assist in updating collection records according to recent catalogues raisonnés and other art historical research. These records can be in the intern’s area of interest but will include 44 sketchbooks by Max Beckmann. The intern may also assist the curator in preparing texts and labels for an exhibition of northern mannerist prints. A demonstrated interest in the history of prints, an understanding of printmaking techniques, and advanced reading knowledge of German is required. Current advanced graduate students in art history or 2013 graduates of such programs are invited to apply.

Curatorial: Photographs, Permanent Collection
The intern will catalogue and conduct research on photographs recently acquired by the Gallery as well as assist in developing ideas for a collection-based exhibition. The intern will also work on other projects related to the storage and care of the permanent collection as needed. Current graduate students studying art history, museum studies, or photographic preservation and collections management, and 2013 MA graduates of such programs are invited to apply. Broad knowledge of the history of photography is essential; experience with photographic preservation and collections management is preferred.

Curatorial: Photographs, 19th-Century American Landscape Photography
The intern will assist in research and organization for an upcoming exhibition on 19th-century landscape photography on the eastern side of the United States. Tasks may include assembling reference materials, maintaining bibliographies and chronologies, establishing and updating research files on individual photographers, conducting research on selected topics, and administrative tasks relating to the exhibition. We welcome applications from 2013 MA graduates and current art history, 19th-century American studies, or American history graduate students. Knowledge or coursework in the history of 19th-century art or photography is preferred.

Curatorial Records and Files/Curatorial: Sculpture and Decorative Arts
The intern will integrate new systematic catalogue research into the curatorial files and update bibliographic and provenance information in the collection database. He or she may also contribute to the Kress provenance research project, as well as ongoing research about provenances of NGA sculptures and decorative arts, by conducting research outside the Gallery at institutions such as the National Archives and Archives of American Art. The intern will also serve as a departmental assistant, helping staff and outside scholars use the curatorial files and assisting with the annual departmental inventory. Current art history, history, or museum studies graduate students and 2013 graduates of such programs are invited to apply. Familiarity with museum collection databases is helpful, but not essential. A demonstrated ability for careful, precise, and independent work is essential. Reading knowledge of German, French, Danish, Italian, and/or Spanish is preferred.

Digital Imaging and Visual Services: Digital Assets Management
The intern will help research and draft the history of the department of imaging and visual services at the National Gallery of Art from its formation in 1941 to the present day. He or she will verify the photographers who documented the Gallery’s collections and trace the mission of photographic and imaging services from its inception. The goal of the internship is to create an illustrated historical record to reflect how the profession and museum photography, as practiced by the National Gallery of Art, have evolved stylistically, aesthetically, and technologically. Current graduate students in museum studies, photo archives, or photographic history and 2013 graduates of such programs are invited to apply.

Education: Art Information for the Public
The intern will work with the art information program by staffing the information desks, assisting with volunteers, and researching and preparing responses to written requests about art from the general public. The intern will also present three spotlight talks for adults in the galleries on premodern European and/or American works of art. Mentoring will be provided by professional Gallery lecturing staff. Current advanced art history graduate students are invited to apply. A demonstrated interest in working directly with the public is essential. Advanced English speaking and writing skills as well as advanced skills in a language other than English are required.

Library: Rare Photographs Project
The intern will help catalogue, inventory, and digitize the library’s collection of rare photographs of works of art and architecture. The photographs, both individual and mounted in albums, date from the mid-19th to early 20th century and represent all areas of Western art. Current graduate students in European or American art history (15th to 20th century) are eligible to apply. Advanced knowledge of at least one European language is highly desirable. Candidates should also have understanding of photographic processes and familiarity with museum registration or archives procedures and methods.

Library: Reproductive Prints Project
The intern will help catalogue, inventory, and digitize the library’s collection of reproductive prints of old master works of art, reproductions created using various print media. Current graduate students in European art history (15th to 20th century) are eligible to apply. Advanced knowledge of French or another European language is desirable. Candidates should also have understanding of printmaking techniques and materials as well as familiarity with museum registration or archival procedures and methods.

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Summer Internship Application (PDF 58K)

Application Timeline and Procedures

January 25 ,2013

Deadline for application packets. Send the application form, your full résumé or CV, a writing sample (approximately 20 pages, including footnotes or endnotes, bibliography, and images), and one copy of official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended to our mailing address. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

February 1, 2013

Semifinalists will be notified of their status and asked to contact the recommenders listed on the application form. Semifinalists should request that letters be sent via e-mail to the Department of Academic Programs; the e-mail address is intern@nga.gov. The e-mail subject line must include the full name of semifinalist. Reference letters (as PDF or Word document) should be included as attachments.

February 11, 2013

Deadline for recommendations.

March 15, 2013

Finalists will be selected.

Note: Should you have difficulty in securing transcripts, you may request that the records officer or registrar from each institution send the transcripts directly to the National Gallery via fax or e-mail. The fax number is (202) 842-6935, attn: Department of Academic Programs; the e-mail address is intern@nga.gov.
For applicants at institutions that do not issue transcripts: send copies of comparable documents. If you have a question about what might be considered a comparable document, please contact intern@nga.gov.

Please collate and send the application packet in the following order: 1) completed application form, 2) full résumé or CV, 3) a writing sample (approximately 20 pages, including footnotes or endnotes, bibliography, and images), and 4) transcripts (arranged chronologically, most recent first, if you are sending them to the Gallery directly).

Review Process
All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of Gallery staff and outside specialists.

Equal Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for an internship, fellowship, or research assistantship without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, or any other protected status. The National Gallery of Art offers equal opportunity and treatment to all who apply and is committed to diversity.

Mailing Address
Department of Academic Programs
Division of Education
National Gallery of Art
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785

Inquiries
Additional information about National Gallery of Art internships, curatorial fellowships, and research assistantships is available from the department of academic programs: telephone (202) 842-6257 or e-mail intern@nga.gov.