Summer Conservation Internship

Description

Summer Internship in Conservation 2025

The Preservation Society of Newport County is accepting applications for an 8-week Summer Conservation Internship focused on the treatment of eighteenth and nineteenth century furniture selected for an upcoming collection catalogue. Projects will be tailored around the candidate’s experience and interests and could include a variety of wood finishes such as gilding, polychromy, ebonizing and transparent varnishes as well as furniture with marquetry, japanning and Asian lacquer. All treatments will include condition reporting, photo documentation and some degree of material and methodology testing. The intern will also assist with other department projects and treatments as required.

The Preservation Society’s collection consists of 11 historic museum buildings (seven designated National Historic Landmarks) and 60,000+ collections objects dating from antiquity to the mid-20th century. For more information about the Preservation Society of Newport County, please go to www.newportmansions.org.

Work hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm. Expected start date is June 9, 2025. The internship is open to individuals with an undergraduate degree and those currently enrolled in an art conservation degree program. Applicants should have substantial coursework in art history, design, photography, and/or studio art, and demonstrate interest in a career in conservation or the museum field, although no previous museum work experience is necessary. 

This is a paid internship with an hourly rate of $20/hr. 

Deadline for applications is May 1, 2024.

Please submit resume, brief cover letter, and one professional reference. 

Requirements

The internship is open to individuals with an undergraduate degree and those   currently enrolled in an art conservation degree program. Applicants should   have substantial coursework in art history, design, photography, and/or   studio art, and demonstrate interest in a career in conservation or the   museum field, although no previous museum work experience is necessary. 

Duties to include condition reporting, photo documentation, material and methodology testing, and treatment.