Americana Foundation Bayou Bend Collection Intern [Museum of Fine Arts, Houston]

About Bayou Bend:

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, house museum for early American decorative arts and paintings. The Bayou Bend Collection is considered one of the finest of its kind in the country, comparable to those found in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Winterthur. The objects are displayed in the home of legendary philanthropist and collector Ima Hogg (1882–1975), who gave her estate to the MFAH in 1957. Situated on fourteen acres, Bayou Bend’s twenty-eight rooms reflect America’s historic and stylistic periods from 1620 to 1876. Bayou Bend’s overall annual attendance exceeds 100,000; educational programs for adults and families are offered throughout the year. The renowned Bayou Bend docents provide individual, group, and school tours six days a week. An 18,000 sf education and visitor center houses exhibits, orientation films, and a non-circulating American decorative arts research library.

About the Internship:

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, has received a generous grant from the Americana Foundation to support an approximate 9-month, 30/hr/wk internship at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens with an expected duration of September 2015 through May 2016, although specific hours and range of months can be modified by mutual agreement.

Responsibilities:

The Americana Foundation Bayou Bend Collection Intern will work collaboratively with staff in the Bayou Bend Curatorial Department and the MFAH Conservation Department to compile and research information on collection acquisition priorities, assist with collection management and curatorial projects, participate in preventive maintenance and treatment of collection objects, and conduct conservation-oriented research.

1) Development of Bayou Bend’s collection acquisition priorities

• Collaborate with Bayou Bend’s curatorial staff to review and analyze the Bayou Bend collection acquisitions plan and undertake revisions to plan for future growth
• Assist curatorial staff with compiling, comparing and consolidating older priority lists with newer priorities.
• Conduct market research into prices of comparable pieces to allow for cost projections as Bayou Bend seeks to grow its collections.

2) Support of other curatorial department projects

• Assist with ongoing collection management duties
• Conduct preliminary research and planning for an exhibition and publication showcasing a private collection of Texas silver.
• Plan and budget for appropriate framing for works of art on paper

3) Support of conservation department projects

• Participate in preventive maintenance program for collection objects on display at Bayou Bend
• Assist with historical research and conservation of a clock from Bayou Bend’s Belter Parlor, and observe other object treatments
• Research historically accurate flower arrangements and help determine best practices to reduce the potential for damage to collection objects used for, or nearby, the displays.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Broad knowledge of Western and European art history
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Willingness to engage in a broad introduction to the interpretation process at a museum, rather than a focused research experience
• Basic fluency in the application of digital resources for learning and research a plus
• Familiarity with some aspect of museum work or learning theory as it relates to museum audiences desired

Education and Experience:

• Required: B.A. or M.A. degree in art history, museum studies, or related field
• Preferred: background or demonstrated interest in early American material culture or in American decorative arts
• Required: Intending to pursue, in the process of pursuing, or having just completed graduate study in art history, museum studies, or related field [stage of graduate study not a decision factor]
• Preferred: Intending to pursue, in the process of pursuing, or having just completed graduate study in early American material culture or in American decorative arts [stage of graduate study not a decision factor]
• Expects to develop a career in museum work.