Summer Work Projects - Textile and Objects Conservation at NMAI

["Susan Heald" <healds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Summer Work Project with the Conservation Department of the National Museum of the American Indian, Cultural Resources Center, Suitland, MD.


The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is offering three summer work projects in ethnographic artifact and textile conservation funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.  The Conservation Laboratory and NMAI's Cultural Resource Center in Suitland, MD (Metro DC area) is the work site.  Projects will focus primarily on the survey and treatment of artifacts for exhibits in the new museum building on the National Mall in Washington, DC (scheduled to open in 2004) and other on-going exhibit and publication projects.  The projects are intended to cultivate practical skills as well as to foster a solid understanding of the contexts of material culture, the philosophies of conservation at NMAI, and the ethics of the conservation profession.  Museum programming involves collaboration with Native Peoples in the development of appropriate methods of care for, and interpretation of, their cultural materials.

Candidates who demonstrate a career interest in the conservation of material culture of indigenous peoples of North, South and Central American will be especially welcome.

Applications, postmarked no later than February 1, 2002, must include:  a cover letter explaining candidate's interests and intent in applying for the summer project, curriculum vitae including basic biographical information with current and permanent addresses and telephone numbers, and three letters of recommendation, two from professional/academic sources and one from a personal referee.

Notifications will be sent by March 15, 2002.  The 10-week summer project includes a generous stipend.  Dates for the projects are June 3 - August 9, 2002

NMAI is an equal opportunity employer.  All applications should be sent to:

Marian A. Kaminitz
National Museum of the American Indian/Smithsonian Institution
Cultural Resources Center, MRC 541
4220 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, MD  20746.

For more information please call: (301)238-6624 ext. 6322
Or email: kaminitzm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Susan Heald
Textile Conservator
National Museum of the American Indian
Cultural Resources Center
4220 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, MD 20746
(301)238-6624 ext 6317
healds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx