Archives of American Art Awarded a Windgate Museum Student Internship Grant from the Center for Creativity, Craft & Design for 2013

The Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art has been awarded a prestigious Windgate Museum Student Internship grant for 2013. The Archives has in its holdings more than one hundred collections of personal papers and gallery records documenting the depth, breadth, and evolution of the studio craft movement in the United States. In addition to these primary documents, the Archives has produced more than 200 oral history interviews with artists who have shaped the field of American craft.

Description of Internship

Application deadline: March 31, 2013

The Windgate Museum Intern will contribute to a digital exhibition that tells the story of studio craft in the United States through primary source materials. The intern will conduct extensive research in our craft-focused collections and oral history interviews. Guided by the Curator of Manuscripts and the Terra Foundation Project Manager for Online Scholarly and Educational Initiatives, the intern will learn how to identify and contextualize significant primary source documents and oral history excerpts. Key documents will be digitized and presented in interactive features such as timelines and maps in a website presentation. The intern will be encouraged to write blog posts about his/her experience and use social media to share compelling discoveries.

This internship includes a stipend of $5,000.

Eligibility

Currently enrolled in or graduated within the past six months from an accredited undergraduate or graduate program with a focus on studio craft or art/craft history.

Available to fulfill the internship requirements (approximately three months full-time or six months half-time) in Washington, DC between June 2013 and December, 2013. Applicants should indicate their preferred timeframe of availability when applying.

Students who have received a Windgate Internship in the past may not apply in 2013.

Required Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will have attention to detail and the ability to follow guidelines for working with historic documents are critical requirements.

Experience working in archives, library, or a museum setting or active participation in campus art history (or related fields) organizations and clubs.

Familiarity with American art history and craft history.

A desire to learn computer and web programs.

A keen interest in working with primary source materials.

Application

• Cover letter
• Résumé detailing your educational background and work/volunteer experience
• Unofficial academic transcript
• Names and email addresses of two references, preferably those who can assess the applicant’s academic abilities but personal recommendations will also be considered
• A brief personal essay about how an internship at the Archives of American Art will advance their career/academic goals in the field of craft

Submit all application materials through the Smithsonian’s online internship application system by March 31, 2013. For more information, contact Marisa Bourgoin at bourgoinm@si.edu .

Applicants will receive notification of by Friday, April 5, 2013.

For more information about the Windgate grant and fellowship programs, please visit http://www.craftcreativitydesign.org/grants/