NMAI Mellon Fellowships in Ethnographic Textile and Objects Conservation

[Susan Heald <healds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Andrew W. Mellon Advanced Training Fellowships in Ethnographic Object and
Textile Conservation

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is offering four
fellowships in ethnographic object and textile conservation, funded by the
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.  These one-year fellowships commence in the
fall of 2003 and include a stipend in the low $30K's with $3000 for travel
and research plus medical insurance and benefits. Fellows will work on the
Conservation Department's major projects and research related to the
projects and collections. The current projects include the preparation of
artifacts for exhibit in the new NMAI museum, scheduled to open on the
National Mall in Washington, DC in late 2004, and the on-going move of over
800,000 artifacts from the old storage facility in the Bronx, NY to the new
Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, MD.  The fellowships are located in
Suitland, MD (outside of Washington, DC).

The fellowships 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.

Applicant Qualifications
The applicant should be a recent graduate of a recognized conservation
training program or have equivalent training and experience. The candidates
with the best qualifications will be those who are motivated for a career in
the conservation of material culture, especially that of Indigenous peoples
of North, Central and South America.  The applicant should have a proven
record of research, writing ability, and English language skills (written
and spoken).  Fellowships are awarded without regard to age, sex, race, or
nationality of the applicant.

Application Procedure
Interested candidates must submit the following materials in English:
*       Transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate courses of academic
study with an explanation of the evaluation system if it is not equivalent
to that of the US;
*       A curriculum vitae including basic biographical information, current
and permanent addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses;
*       At least two examples of pertinent publications, lectures, or other
written material;
*       A cover letter explaining candidate's interests and intent in
applying for the fellowship;
*       Two letters of recommendation from conservation professionals
familiar with the candidate's work and one letter of personal reference.

The material must be received by March 15, 2003 and sent to:
Marian A. Kaminitz, Head of Conservation
National Museum of the American Indian/Smithsonian Institution
Cultural Resources Center, MRC 541
4220 Silver Hill Road
Suitland MD 20746

E-mail address for inquiries only: kaminitzm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Finalists will be invited for an interview and asked to submit a portfolio
of completed projects.
All applicants will be notified by May 25, 2003 of the selection