Association of Art Museum Directors Intern

The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) Intern will work alongside Sydney Pursel, curator for public practice on the Native Fashion exhibition scheduled to open at the Spencer Museum of Art in August 2024. A successful candidate will enjoy working collaboratively and will demonstrate flexibility, creativity, initiative, and dedication to social justice. They will work alongside a team of Indigenous advisors to implement the exhibition and related fashion show to ensure Indigenous voices are included and elevated. The work will be highly collaborative and will involve event planning and logistics for the fashion runway show, including working with local and national designers, artists, a team of advisors, venders, and community partners. The Intern will also assist with planning the opening reception, events, programs, panel discussions, and workshops. They will give tours of the Native Fashion exhibition to K-12 and university classes, museum staff, board members, docents, and community groups. The AAMD Intern will serve as an interface between the Spencer Museum and surrounding Indigenous communities in Lawrence and across Kansas to deepen and sustain connections with the museum and foster a sense of belonging. The Intern will participate in a full range of professional staff activities and assist with a variety of departmental duties to gain a broad understanding of museum operations. They will also spend time shadowing Saralyn Reece Hardy, Marilyn Stokstad Director and Dr. Dee Ann DeRoin, Friends of the Art Museum Board Chair to learn about and participate in leadership activities. The AAMD Intern is also eligible for a $3,000 travel stipend to attend two professional development opportunities. The Intern has the option of attending the American Alliance of Museum's conference taking place May 16 - 19, 2024, in Baltimore, MD or the Association of African American Museum's conference taking place August 13 - 16, 2024, in Baltimore, MD. The travel stipend can be used to cover a one-year student membership at either or both organizations, conference registration costs, and transportation and lodging during the conference. Additional funds can be used for another professional development opportunity with the possibility of attending the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Santa Fe Indian Market August 17 - 18, 2024.