Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Photography Research Undergraduate Intern
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
The Lane Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is renowned for the depth of its holdings of 20th-century American modernist photographers, including Charles Sheeler, Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, and Imogen Cunningham. Gifted by the late Saundra B. Lane, a longtime Trustee, friend, and supporter of the MFA, this unparalleled collection numbers more than 6,000 prints and ranges across the entire history of western photography. The Department of Photography is fully committed to cataloguing, organizing, housing, and making the Lane Collection more readily available for exhibition and study, especially as it represents, in several instances, the most significant holdings of these artist’s works in any public institution in the U.S. In order to access and share this material, both online and in person, with students, scholars and visitors in the future, there is research and documentation that still needs to be accomplished (e.g. more exact dating and measuring of objects; identifying sitters and subjects; expanding bibliographies; and recording provenance and ownership histories).
The Department of Photography is seeking an undergraduate level intern to work with the Lane Curator and assist with updating online database records and reorganizing collection photographs and archival materials, (slides, snapshots, invoices, correspondence, etc.) The Lane Collection is an unusually personal one—with most of the work acquired directly from the photographers or their families—something that makes documentation, not just of the individual pieces in the collection, but their acquisition histories, of critical importance as well. This internship will involve helping to research and record this information, especially as it relates to the work of Charles Sheeler (1883-1965) and Edward Weston (1886-1958), both of whom are represented in the collection by more than 2000 prints apiece.
The intern will be under the supervision and mentorship of the Lane Curator of Photographs, but their time will be structured to enable them to gain practical museum experience and learn from colleagues in both Photography and Prints and Drawings responsible for the acquisition, study, conservation, and display of works on paper of all kinds.
Ideal candidates must be able to commit to work onsite 10 to 12 hours weekly, mostly within 9am-5pm Monday-Friday from Sept 13 through Dec 13, 2024. Additionally, interns must attend orientation on Fri, Sept 13, (10am-3:30pm), and the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on the following Fridays: Sept 20; Sept 27; Oct 4; Oct 11; Oct 18; Oct 25; Nov 1; Nov 8; Nov 15; Nov 22; Dec 6; and Dec 13.
The intern will be paid at a rate of $16.80 per hour and will receive a $90 per month transportation subsidy. (*The subsidy is subject to taxes.)
As we amplify our efforts toward becoming a truly inclusive institution, ensuring that diversity, equity, and access are lived values, we actively encourage candidates from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply to the program.
Essential Functions:
Work directly with members of the Department of Photography to ensure first-hand experience of Museum curatorial work in generalConduct library, internet, and primary archival research on artists and objects in the Lane CollectionAssist with updating database and adding provenance and bibliographic information to TMS recordsHelp with organization and documentation of Lane Collection archival materials*Prepare and offer a 3–5-minute final synoptic presentation of the internship as part of the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course.Qualifications:
Enrolled in an undergraduate program, (art, history, art history, or a related field), concurrent with the internship periodDemonstrated interest in museumsStrong curiosity for the field of photographyProven ability to act as part of a team as well as a capacity for independent workAttention to detail and good organizational skillsDemonstrated research, writing, and communication skillsUnderstanding of the need for confidentiality in managing sensitive informationAbility to commit to work onsite 10-12 hours per week (within Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm parameters), from Sept 13 through Dec 13, 2024, including attendance at the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on the following Fridays: Sept 20, Sept 27, Oct 4, Oct 11, Oct 18, Oct 25, Nov 1, Nov 8, Nov 15, Nov 22, Dec 6, and Dec 13Ability to attend orientation on Fri, Sept 13, 2024, 10am to 3:30pm.
How to ApplyCombine your cover letter and resume into a
single document , (Word or PDF). The cover letter must includeall of the following:
the title of the internship for which you are applying (one internship per application)how the named internship fits into your academic and/or career goalswhy your specific skills/experience/interests qualify you for the internshipany periods when you are not available for an in-person interviewyour contact information including e-mail and daytime phone
*do not include additional documents unless specifically requested within the descriptionUpload the single document
as your resume
via the ADP portal Internships | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
ASAP before Aug 16 .
Do not include any additional documents unless explicitly requested in the description.Candidates may apply for no more than two internships per season and must submit a separate cover letter/resume document for each position.
**Direct any/all questions to: intern@mfa.org
before
submitting your application. Applications not conforming to these guidelines
may be deemed ineligible .
The Department of Photography is seeking an undergraduate level intern to work with the Lane Curator and assist with updating online database records and reorganizing collection photographs and archival materials, (slides, snapshots, invoices, correspondence, etc.) The Lane Collection is an unusually personal one—with most of the work acquired directly from the photographers or their families—something that makes documentation, not just of the individual pieces in the collection, but their acquisition histories, of critical importance as well. This internship will involve helping to research and record this information, especially as it relates to the work of Charles Sheeler (1883-1965) and Edward Weston (1886-1958), both of whom are represented in the collection by more than 2000 prints apiece.
The intern will be under the supervision and mentorship of the Lane Curator of Photographs, but their time will be structured to enable them to gain practical museum experience and learn from colleagues in both Photography and Prints and Drawings responsible for the acquisition, study, conservation, and display of works on paper of all kinds.
Ideal candidates must be able to commit to work onsite 10 to 12 hours weekly, mostly within 9am-5pm Monday-Friday from Sept 13 through Dec 13, 2024. Additionally, interns must attend orientation on Fri, Sept 13, (10am-3:30pm), and the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on the following Fridays: Sept 20; Sept 27; Oct 4; Oct 11; Oct 18; Oct 25; Nov 1; Nov 8; Nov 15; Nov 22; Dec 6; and Dec 13.
The intern will be paid at a rate of $16.80 per hour and will receive a $90 per month transportation subsidy. (*The subsidy is subject to taxes.)
As we amplify our efforts toward becoming a truly inclusive institution, ensuring that diversity, equity, and access are lived values, we actively encourage candidates from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply to the program.
Essential Functions:
Work directly with members of the Department of Photography to ensure first-hand experience of Museum curatorial work in generalConduct library, internet, and primary archival research on artists and objects in the Lane CollectionAssist with updating database and adding provenance and bibliographic information to TMS recordsHelp with organization and documentation of Lane Collection archival materials*Prepare and offer a 3–5-minute final synoptic presentation of the internship as part of the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course.Qualifications:
Enrolled in an undergraduate program, (art, history, art history, or a related field), concurrent with the internship periodDemonstrated interest in museumsStrong curiosity for the field of photographyProven ability to act as part of a team as well as a capacity for independent workAttention to detail and good organizational skillsDemonstrated research, writing, and communication skillsUnderstanding of the need for confidentiality in managing sensitive informationAbility to commit to work onsite 10-12 hours per week (within Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm parameters), from Sept 13 through Dec 13, 2024, including attendance at the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on the following Fridays: Sept 20, Sept 27, Oct 4, Oct 11, Oct 18, Oct 25, Nov 1, Nov 8, Nov 15, Nov 22, Dec 6, and Dec 13Ability to attend orientation on Fri, Sept 13, 2024, 10am to 3:30pm.
How to ApplyCombine your cover letter and resume into a
single document , (Word or PDF). The cover letter must includeall of the following:
the title of the internship for which you are applying (one internship per application)how the named internship fits into your academic and/or career goalswhy your specific skills/experience/interests qualify you for the internshipany periods when you are not available for an in-person interviewyour contact information including e-mail and daytime phone
*do not include additional documents unless specifically requested within the descriptionUpload the single document
as your resume
via the ADP portal Internships | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
ASAP before Aug 16 .
Do not include any additional documents unless explicitly requested in the description.Candidates may apply for no more than two internships per season and must submit a separate cover letter/resume document for each position.
**Direct any/all questions to: intern@mfa.org
before
submitting your application. Applications not conforming to these guidelines
may be deemed ineligible .