Who We Are:
As a center for the visual arts, the Taubman Museum of Art encourages a free exchange between the making of art, the display of art and the interpretation of art. As such the museum is pleased to announce the return of its Summer Internship Program.
2011 Internship:
The Taubman Museum of Art Summer Internship Program provides a hands-on leaning experience for undergraduate students or recent graduates interested in the museum field. The museum hopes to provide a breadth of knowledge concerning the museum profession as well as expose students to possible career choices. Lastly, through long term work assignment interns will gain valuable work experience in their unique area of interest at the museum.
Internship Description:
All interns will be integrally involved in the daily operations and goals of the museum as a non-profit arts institution. Interns will also have the opportunity to explore their unique interests by working in one of several departments that are vital to the museum’s operations. This will allow interns to gain familiarity with the activities, responsibilities, decisions, and the professional and ethical issues that define the museum and are integral to the presentation and interpretation of the arts.
Departments include:
- Education: Interns will assist in the planning for, design, and implementation of educational programs that range from summer camps for young children to a lecture series for adults.
- Curatorial/Collections Management: Interns will conduct research on areas of the permanent collection, assist in pod-cast production, and be involved in preparing for future temporary exhibitions.
- Development and Communications: Interns will be involved with the sustainability campaign for the museum, assist in social networking, and work in areas that impact the museum’s ability to communicate content and opportunities for engaging the museum.
- External Affairs. Interns will assist with the variety of responsibilities of External Affairs that includes, but is not limited to, publicity, publications, and membership.
Internship Experience Aspect:
The Taubman is committed to providing an educational experience to all interns through a variety of programs. The Internship will begin with an orientation designed to introduce the interns to each other and the museum. Interns will be educated on the history, mission, and structure of the Taubman Museum of Art. This will provide a context for the specific department they will assist.
The internship will also seek to expose the interns to the function of a museum that extends to each department. The interns will have a weekly lunch with a different member of the museum’s professional staff. This provides an opportunity for the interns to engage in a conversation about the different positions necessary for a museum to function at peak performance while remaining flexible to new trends, audience needs and new technologies. Each member of the staff will provide insights into their specific role at the museum.
Lastly, the interns will visit regional museums and arts organizations as part of their summer experience. These trips will provide opportunities for interns to encounter different museological strategies as well as to get a behind-the-scenes look at nearby institutions.
Details & Who can apply?
This internship is a ten week, full time position beginning on June 6, 2011 and ending on August 12, 2011. The position carries a stipend of $2,000. The internship is open to all undergraduate students or recent graduates with interest in the museum field. Knowledge of art and art history is preferred but not required.
Deadlines:
Application Deadline: Friday, March 4, 2011
Interviews will be scheduled following the application deadline on March 4
Decision: Friday, April 15, 2011