10-week Summer Internships in Conservation at the National Museum of the American Indian

[Susan Heald <healds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

10-week Internships with the Conservation Department of the National Museum
of the American Indian, Cultural Resources Center, Suitland, MD.
June 6 - August 12, 2005

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is offering up to three
10-week internships in ethnographic and archaeological artifact and textile
conservation funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.  The Conservation
Laboratory and NMAI's Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, MD (Metro DC
area) is the work site.  Projects will focus primarily on the treatment of
items chosen for two exhibits opening at the NMAI's Mall Museum and New York
City exhibit sites in the fall of 2005.  One exhibit is about communities
from the Northwest Coast and the other is a selection of ceramics from the
NMAI's collection representing the US, Central and South America.

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 must be fluent in English, both spoken and written.  Candidates
who are currently in or recently graduated from a recognized conservation
program and demonstrate a career interest in the conservation of material
culture of the indigenous peoples of North, Central and South America will
be especially welcome.

Applications must be written in English, postmarked no later than February
11, 2005 and include the following: a cover letter explaining the
candidate's interests and intent in applying for the project, curriculum
vitae including basic biographical information with current and permanent
addresses and telephone numbers, three letters of recommendation (one
personal and two academic/professional), and transcripts of undergraduate
and graduate work (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better is expected.)

Notifications will be sent by March 15, 2005.  The 10-week internships
include a generous stipend.  Dates for the internships are June 6 - August
12, 2005.

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 538
4220 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, MD  20746

For more information please call: 301-238-1415 after January 15th or email:
kaminitzm@xxxxxx



Marian A. Kaminitz
Head of Conservation
National Museum of the American Indian
Cultural Resources Center
4220 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, MD  20746
phone: 301-238-1415 (as of 1/15/05)
fax: 301-238-3201
email:   kaminitzm@xxxxxx


Susan Heald
Senior 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