Chesterwood Summer Curatorial Intern (Paid)

Description:

Chesterwood, a Historic Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a Massachusetts and National Historic Landmark, in Stockbridge, MA, seeks a curatorial intern for summer 2016 (June 1st – August 31st). Local and regional college students with an interest in art, history and museum work are encouraged to apply.  A stipend of $2,000 will be awarded for this internship (funded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation).

 

Responsibilities

The curatorial intern will work closely with the Executive Director on exhibition preparation, collections care and management of the permanent collection, special events, educational programming, and other tasks relating to the interpretation of the site.

 

The intern will:

  • Assist with organizing Chesterwood’s annual outdoor contemporary sculpture show, Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood, including working with contemporary artists on scheduling sculpture installations, loan agreements, publicity, marketing and programming. This year the sculpture show will be curated by Jim Schantz of the Schantz Galleries in Stockbridge, MA.  Glass will be the primary medium of the sculpture show.
  • Help coordinate and staff special events, such as lectures, sculpture demonstrations, and VIP parties.
  • Update database on contemporary artists who have exhibited at Chesterwood.
  • Assist with collection management projects, such as researching, cataloguing, and photographing collections.
  • Answer correspondence relating to the art and life of Daniel Chester French and his family as well as Chesterwood’s fine art and decorative arts collections.
  • Write and/or edit object descriptions for our internal collections management database.
  • Act as an interpreter or guide by leading tours or answering questions from the public.
  • Additional responsibilities and long-term projects can be tailored to fit your interests.
  • Summer internship is full-time, five days a week.  Some nights and weekends will be required to assist with special events and programming.
  • Start date and exact length of internship to be determined by the Executive Director and the intern.
  • College or graduate school credit can be offered if you make the necessary arrangements with your school.  (Final decision as to whether credit will be provided is at the discretion of your school.)

 

Located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Chesterwood is the country home, studio and gardens of America’s foremost sculptor of public monuments, Daniel Chester French (1850-1931). The Site consists of 10 buildings and 122 acres, including French’s recently rehabilitated Studio. Best known as the sculptor of the Minute Man in Concord, MA, and Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, French lived and worked at Chesterwood nearly every summer for over thirty years.  Chesterwood holds one of the largest collections of work by a single American sculptor and has hosted an outdoor contemporary sculpture show since 1978.  For more information, please visit www.Chesterwood.org.

Chesterwood is a Historic Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation helps people protect, enhance, and enjoy the places that matter to them.  Learn more at www.savingplaces.org.

Qualifications:

  • Undergraduate (junior or senior preferred) or graduate student majoring in art, art history, communications, history, and/or historic preservation.  Post graduate students are also welcome to apply.
  • Excellent research, writing and verbal skills.
  • Ability to work independently, set priorities, meet deadlines, and manage a number of concurrent projects in a timely and efficient manner.
  • Excellent computer skills, including thorough knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and use of digital photography.
  • Must own or have access to a car.  (Chesterwood is a relatively rural site.)

How To Apply:

Please send your cover letter and resume to Lisa Reynolds, Office Manager at lreynolds@savingplaces.org by April 28, 2016.  Address your cover letter to Donna Hassler, Executive Director, Chesterwood.

 

In your cover letter, please specify when you are available to begin your internship and how many hours a week you can work. Due to the anticipated volume of applications, we will respond to your correspondence in a timely matter only if you are potential candidate for an internship.  We appreciate your interest in Chesterwood.

 

Application Deadline:  Please apply via email by April 28, 2016.  In the subject line of your email, please write:  “Chesterwood Paid Curatorial Internship Summer 2016.”

Apply by:
April 28, 2016

Salary:
$2,000.00 stipend