10-week summer internships - 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 5 - August 11, 2006

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 exhibits at the NMAI's Mall Museum in the early 2007.  One
exhibit highlights dresses and accessories from the Northern and Southern
Plains.  The other involves two communities, Blackfeet and Apache, for
rotations into the "Our Peoples" gallery, a permanent exhibit focused on
historical events of Native American cultures.

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, 2006 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, 2006.  The 10-week internships
include a stipend of $450/week; adjustments are made to the stipend if
housing is provided by NMAI.  Dates for the internships are June 5 - August
11, 2006.

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 or email: kaminitzm@xxxxxx