Internships at National Heritage Board, Singapore

Renaissance City Project (RCP) Internship Programmes
Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC)
The National Heritage Board (NHB)
Republic of Singapore
Deadline for submission of application: May 10, 2002

We are pleased to announce the launch of the National Heritage
Board's (NHB) <URL:http://www.nhb.gov.sg/> Renaissance City Project
(RCP) Internship Programmes. Planned as part of the larger
Renaissance City Project launched by the Singapore government in
2000, the programme will be part of our vision to develop a
culturally dynamic and vibrant city through the appreciation of our
heritage.

The RCP Internship Programmes consist of a series of three
internships, namely, the Heritage Internship Award, the NHB Visiting
Professional Programme and the NHB Research and Curatorial Grant:

1.  NHB Heritage Internship Awards

    NHB is offering five Heritage Internship Awards to students and
    young practicing professionals who possess a passion to pursue
    careers in museum, archival and conservation work.
    Applicants--preferably within the age group of 19 to 28--should
    be in the fields of heritage-related studies for a minimum of
    two years. Successful candidates will be exposed to
    behind-the-scene activities of the Asian Civilisations Museum,
    Heritage Conservation Centre, National Archives of Singapore,
    Singapore Art Museum and Singapore History Museum.

    The period of internship will be for a minimum of eight weeks
    and a maximum of twenty-four weeks. Under the Heritage
    Internship award, interns will be granted a stipend of $150 per
    week. International candidates will also be granted a return
    economy airfare, living expenses of $150 per week and
    accommodation at boarding houses or hostels.

    At the Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC), the Heritage
    Internship Award will focus on conservation or collection
    management practices. This programme will involve practical
    hands-on work in various areas of conservation or collection
    management.  Special projects may be developed to suit the
    intern's needs upon the approval of HCC.

    Topics include:

        i. Conservation practice and sciences;
        ii. Collections management;
        iii.  Environmental studies.

    *   Applicants should be graduates from recognised universities
        or centres of training for museum practices/art or heritage
        related fields.
    *   For those without prior practical experience, the Board may
        also consider applicants who are currently studying or fresh
        graduates.
    *   Candidates are expected to be conversant in English, which
        would be the working language at the Heritage Conservation
        Centre.

2.  NHB Visiting Professional Programme

    The NHB Visiting Professional Programme is open to established
    practising professionals world-wide in their 30s and 40s. NHB is
    looking for candidates with a minimum of five years experience
    in museum or heritage-related work. The duration for this
    programme spans from a minimum of one week to a maximum of one
    month, depending on the project chosen. Two awards will be given
    out.

    Candidates will be granted an all-inclusive package covering a
    return economy airfare, a stipend and living expenses of $200
    per week respectively and accommodation at boarding houses or
    hostels.

    The NHB Visiting Professional Programme at the Heritage
    Conservation Centre (HCC) can include talks and a review of
    current professional practices. The end product could take the
    form of a report, if a review of current practices is carried
    out. Workshops on the following suggested topics could also be
    conducted as part of the programme:

        i. Preventive Conservation;
        ii. Integrated Pest Management;
        iii. Practical conservation workshop on a specific area;
        iv. Collections Management.

    *   Applicants could be lecturers, consultants or professionals
        who are currently teaching or practicing at an advanced
        level with wide-ranging experience.

    *   Candidates are expected to be conversant in English, which
        would be the working language at the Heritage Conservation
        Centre.

3.  NHB Research And Curatorial Grant

    The NHB Research and Curatorial Grant is targeted at academics,
    researchers, postgraduate students and practising professionals
    who are interested in the pursuance of research topics suited to
    the collections, facilities and programmes of NHB. Our aim is to
    develop and foster innovative scholarship.

    Two awards will be granted to candidates who fit our selection
    criteria. At the end of the research period, researchers may
    present their findings in the form of journal, conferences or
    exhibitions. They may also conduct relevant talks or training
    session for NHB staff and/or the public. The duration of the
    research is a maximum of 12 months.  Selected applicants will be
    awarded a S$10,000, which will be disbursed at various stages.

    At the Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC), we have identified
    two possible projects:

        Project 1: Research on tropical pest problems -
        identification of local pests and their detrimental effects
        on museum artefacts. The objective is to produce a
        substantial set of researched information on pests
        identified, their behaviour, life cycles and problems
        associated with them in relation to tropical museum
        collections.

        Project 2: Research and experiments of pH levels of
        commercially available artist materials (papers and adhesive
        etc). This is to ascertain their suitability from a
        conservation stand point.

    Objective: The objective is to produce a set of tested materials
    that will help determine conservation treatments for works of
    art. This may act as a source of information to artist on the
    types of materials to use so that their creations may preserve
    better. Applicants may also propose own research topics

    Deliverables:

    *   To produce a report and publishable paper.
    *   To give talks/lectures and discussions on suitable topics
        and conduct short workshops for staff.

    Candidates are also welcome to propose projects apart from those
    specified above. Researchers with on-going research topics may
    also apply, upon which the Board would evaluate if their current
    research topic if available is of relevance.

    *   Project 1 would be more suited for Bioscience students
        (undergraduates/ postgraduate students) or Bioscience
        professional/academics.

    *   Project 2 would be more suited for Conservation or
        Science/Chemistry students (undergraduates/ postgraduate
        students).

    *   Candidates must be
        *   Mature, self-motivated and independent;
        *   Trained in research methods and exposed to the area of
            study.

    *   Experience of at least two to three years required

    *   Proven record of research and writing ability as well as
        English language skills. Past research project experience
        and published/unpublished reports would be good reference
        point.

Note: Application for all of the above programmes should be
submitted no later than 10 may 2002

There are no restrictions on other additional sources of funding
that successful applicants can pursue in conjunction with the above
awards.

For further information and application form for the RCP Internship
Programmes at the Heritage Conservation Centre, please contact:

    Lawrence Chin
    Conservator (Paintings)
    Heritage Conservation Centre
    National Heritage Board
    32 Jurong Port Road
    Singapore 619104
    Republic of Singapore
    +65 6267 2639
    Fax: +65 6267 2614
    lawrence_chin [at] nhb__gov__sg

For more information on Heritage Conservation Centre, visit
<URL:http://www.nhb.gov.sg/CR/cr.shtml>

Additional information on other RCP Internship Programmes in the
National Museums and the National Archives of Singapore can be
obtained through:

    Human Resource Department
    National Heritage Board
    140, Hill Street, #03-02, MITA Building
    Singapore 179369,
    Republic of Singapore
    +65 6332 3572/6332 3586
    Fax: +65 6334 3270


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:68
                   Distributed: Friday, April 5, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-68-009
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