Fall 2025 Collections (Paid) Intern

Description

Internship: Collections (Paid)

For application deadlines and internship dates, please visit: Countrymusichalloffame.org/support/get-involved/internships.

Museum Overview: Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum documents and interprets the history of country music—a musical genre and culture central to the identity of the city, the state, and the nation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Museum proudly combines subject expertise, ambitious research, and preservation of an unparalleled collection with expressions of creativity in music, art, and history. The Museum collects artifacts that illustrate the evolving history and traditions of country music and provides diverse learning opportunities through educational programs, publications, and exhibitions. The core exhibit follows the story of country music from its folk beginnings through its evolution as a commercial art form. Rotating exhibits examine a broad range of topics, from country classics to contemporary and emerging artists in American Currents. The Museum owns Hatch Show Print, a letterpress print shop opened in 1879, and it operates Historic RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley and many others recorded.

Internship Program Overview: The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum offers paid internships to full-time college students (undergraduate and graduate) that advance the educational goals of the intern and help to promote the Museum’s mission. The Museum’s internship program offers work-based learning opportunities that introduce college students to museum-related careers and other professions found in large cultural organizations. Internships are designed for a maximum commitment of 25 hours per week for 12 weeks with consideration given to individual university requirements. Additional adjustments to the 12-week, 25-hour schedule will be at the discretion of the internship supervisor. Educational programs which operate on a quarterly basis may be accommodated. Motivated students who are seeking hands-on experiences in a team-oriented environment will find excellent opportunities at the Museum.

The application process for prospective interns includes the submission of:

• An online application for the specific internship you are applying for via our internal hiring system
• A resume
• A one-page cover letter; it is recommended that your cover letter explain how your education and experience will contribute positively to this internship and how this internship relates to your academic pursuits and/or career goals

What We Offer Interns:

• The hourly rate for this position is $15/hr. for students pursuing a bachelor's degree; $18/hr. for students pursuing a master's degree or higher
• Free 24/7 downtown parking or WeGo bus pass
• Complimentary admission to the Museum for yourself
• Two complimentary Museum admission passes for friends and family use
• Free guided tour of Hatch Show Print, Historic RCA Studio B, and the Museum’s galleries
• Discounts at Museum stores and restaurants 
• Free or discounted entry to local venues including: National Museum of African American Music, the Opry, Ryman Auditorium, and more! 
• Fun, friendly, and supportive learning environment

Field Forward Stipend: Field Forward is a living and relocation stipend, offered to select candidates in addition to the paid internship, that supports students who identify as traditionally underrepresented in cultural arts careers and students with demonstrated financial need. Field Forward’s goals are to encourage diverse student engagement with the Museum and the broader museum field and to promote educational and professional experience and training to students historically underrepresented in museum and other cultural arts professions. Students must submit an additional application and demonstrate financial need (if applicable) to be considered. To learn more, including important deadlines, please visit: Countrymusichalloffame.org/support/get-involved/internships.

Departmental Overview: In direct support of the mission statement of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Museum Services Division preserves and protects the Museum’s collections using best practices, while incorporating emerging technologies to provide access to these collections. Within Museum Services are teams of registrars, collection specialists, librarians, archivists, exhibit managers, and curators.

Collections Internship Overview: Collections internships are designed for a commitment of 12-18 hours per week for a minimum of 12 weeks depending on availability, with consideration given to individual university requirements. The supervisor and intern will schedule internship hours during available working hours (Monday - Thursday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CT). Additional adjustments to this schedule will be at the discretion of the internship supervisor.

The goal of this internship is to learn the necessary skills to provide exceptional care to artifact collections, as well as the importance of proper collections care within a museum setting. The Collections intern will work closely with the team of registrars who focus on collections processing and will assist with organizing, photographing, and cataloging artifacts in the Museum’s collection, including, but not limited to, awards, clothing and accessories, document collections, and memorabilia. The intern will also learn and use collections and digital content management software, providing qualitative improvements to collections information and improving its accessibility for prospective researchers. Additionally, this work may also include research projects aimed at improving information found in these systems.

Prior to the start of this internship, registrar staff will meet with the Collections intern to assess goals and further focus internship duties to include skills most applicable to the intern’s educational objectives, as well as most beneficial to the collection’s needs at that time.

Specific Internship Duties:

• Create artifact inventories
• Photograph artifacts as needed
• Catalog artifacts using collections management software, specifically PastPerfect 
• Label, pack, and house artifacts according to museum standards
• Assist with collection software maintenance, such as updating records and photographs
• Assist with interdepartmental projects as needed

Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

• Working toward a master’s degree or higher in public history, museum studies, history, library and information science, or another related field

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience with PastPerfect or a similar collections management software
• Experience handling fragile and rare archival materials
• Basic knowledge of photography and photography equipment
• Basic knowledge of best practices in collections management policies, such as labeling artifacts, properly packing artifacts, and inventorying collections
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to organize diverse materials and to identify subject matter of value
• Ability to self-motivate and work independently on projects, as well as to collaborate with a team to achieve long-term goals
• Basic knowledge of country music history, or willingness to learn

Conditions of Internship:

• Lift 25 lbs. or less 
• Internship must be completed for course credit

Note to Applicant:

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is an equal opportunity employer. We respect the varied attributes, characteristics, and perspectives that make each person unique. The museum promotes an environment of respect, communication, and understanding, while actively providing opportunities for all employees of all backgrounds the skills, experience, and information necessary to succeed. The museum does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, political affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information or characteristics, age, membership in an employee organization, military or veteran status, or other non-merit factor. The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. 

We are a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer that welcomes all qualified candidates to apply for open positions. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its staff and visitors. All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and employment verification, including federally mandated E-verify processes, as required for position.

Due to the high volume of applications received for this position, hiring managers will only contact candidates they are interested in scheduling for an interview. Please refrain from calling to inquire about the status of your application. 

Please upload a resume and cover letter when applying for the position.

Applications are only accepted online on our career page: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/careers