Sandra D. Rapp Curatorial Internship
Overview
Maine Maritime Museum (MMM) is an independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to celebrating Maine’s vibrant maritime culture. Because this culture includes different backgrounds, perspectives, and voices—and because our museum welcomes visitors from around the world—our institution is firmly committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. If you believe in museums’ important role to reveal the past, to inform the present, and to shape the future, we invite you to join our team. You will join us on the beautiful banks of the Kennebec River, on a twenty-acre campus where collaboration and creativity are encouraged.
Position Summary
The 2023 Sandra D. Rapp Curatorial Intern will join Maine Maritime Museum’s Curatorial Department. This graduate-level internship will support departmental and institutional objectives to advance new and ongoing initiatives to collect, preserve, and share Maine's maritime stories, with a focus on increasing access and engagement with the museum’s collections and exhibitions. Collections and exhibitions include 18 historic buildings and structures across over a 20-acre campus, including the Percy & Small Shipyard, a Victorian shipbuilder’s home, and the Nathan R. Lipfert Research Library. As part of an immersive learning opportunity, the Rapp Intern will participate in professional development opportunities, mentoring, and experience reflections. Reporting to the Director of Curatorial Affairs, the 2023 Sandra D. Rapp Curatorial Intern will collaborate closely with staff, interns, and volunteers.
Specific Duties
- · Gain experience and familiarity with the day-to-day functions and operations of a mid-sized museum, collaborating closely with the Curatorial Department to participate in assigned projects, meetings, and initiatives
- · Support exhibition development under the guidance and direction of the Exhibition Coordinator by advancing research, planning, and management with exhibition coordination with installation, maintenance, and deinstallation
- · Develop and/or refine skills with museum collections under the guidance and direction of the Collections Manager, including handling, management, and research by supporting ongoing work to preserve and share museum collections
- · Gain experience engaging the public and collaborating with museum volunteers, including supporting functions and operations of the Nathan R. Lipfert Research Library
- · Broaden understanding and experience with museum operations, historic sites, and historic preservation by actively and enthusiastically collaborating across departments, gaining dynamic experience engaging with museum staff, volunteers, and visitors
- · Refine and/or hone skills in teamwork and collaboration to create and distribute printed or digitally published resources to directly and indirectly support engagement, awareness, and use of collections and exhibitions
- · Document, reflect, and share experiences with structured internship reflections, as well as a culminating presentation of internship experience
Qualifications
- · Candidates must be in the process of completing a graduate-level or terminal degree or have recently completed a graduate-level or terminal degree in Museum Studies, Public History, Historical Administration, or related field
- · Strong written and oral presentation skills
- · Strong time- and project-management skills
- · Ability to work independently or in close collaboration with teams
- · Desire and openness to learn, apply, and refine new skills and methodologies
- · Commitment to advancing Maine Maritime Museum’s mission and organizational values
Terms & How to Apply
This internship opportunity is part-time position for a period of 10 weeks, June 4-August 11, 2023. Internships are hourly positions and will not exceed 40 hours/week. Compensation for this opportunity is $17/hr and includes off-site housing, at no cost to the intern. Transportation to and from the museum is not provided.
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references as one document or one PDF to hr@maritimeme.org. The cover letter should clearly articulate how this opportunity will enrich and support academic and/or career goals for the applicant. Email subject line should note “Sandra D. Rapp Curatorial Internship.” Review of applications will begin March 10, 2023.
Maine Maritime Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, protected genetic information, status as a parent, marital status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
February 2023