Temporary

Responsibilities

Graduate interns will participate in a wide range of conservation activities, which may include:

Object Treatment: Assist in the examination and treatment of Native American cultural heritage objects in preparation for exhibition in the new galleries. 

Exhibition Preparation: Contribute to the installation of hundreds of new, custom-designed display cases across more than 20 galleries. This would include assisting in the preparation and installation of desiccants and filters for select cases.

Preventive Conservation: Work with the conservation technician and volunteers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), routine gallery and storage maintenance, and environmental monitoring.

Analysis: Participate in material analysis of objects, supporting both treatment decisions and ongoing collaboration with tribal representatives and the Repatriation Department.

Community Collaboration: Take part in consultations with tribal representatives to ensure culturally informed approaches to treatment, storage, and display. 

Pesticide Safety: Participate in the establishment and implementation of a pesticide safety plan throughout the collections and repatriation departments. 

Interdepartmental Opportunities: Depending on interest and project availability, interns may gain additional experience in the Paper Conservation Lab.

Learning Outcomes: 

This internship provides a comprehensive introduction to the workflows and ethical considerations of conservation in a museum environment with an emphasis on Native American cultural heritage and Western art. Interns will develop practical skills in object conservation and preventive care, learn about project management in large-scale exhibition planning, gain experience collaborating with Indigenous communities in the stewardship of cultural heritage, and build professional documentation and analytical skills aligned with AIC standards. 

Eligibility, Duration, Supervision: 

This position is open to current graduate students in art conservation with a strong interest in Native American cultural heritage and organic objects. The internship is envisioned as a full-time, 8-10 week summer placement. The intern will work under the Chief Conservator with day-to-day supervision and mentorship from the Assistant Objects Conservator. 

Outcome:

By the end of the internship, the student will have gained practical, ethical, and collaborative experience in a museum context, while providing valuable assistance in readying collections and galleries for the grand opening of the new Gilcrease Museum.