Jobs and Internships

Established in 2017 through the extraordinary gift of Peter and Paula Lunder, the Lunder Institute for American Art at the Colby College Museum of Art exists at the crossroads of scholarship and creative production, seeking to challenge received ideas and expand interpretive communities in the fields of American art history and creative practice. Our programs, partnerships, and initiatives forge connections and opportunities for scholars and artists that also benefit and enrich the Colby College community. Integrated into the academic mission of the College and the Museum, the Lunder Institute is a unique forum for supporting and convening visiting scholars and artists, Colby faculty and students, and local and global communities.

Reporting to the director of the Lunder Institute, the Manager of Operations and Special Projects manages and executes all administrative and operational aspects of the Lunder Institute’s day-to-day work and its full array of artist and scholar programs. The incumbent creates and implements effective project management and procedures for the Institute’s many programs to support its goal of being a leading voice in the fields of American art history and creative practice. The incumbent also identifies opportunities and develops processes to engage local and regional individuals and institutions whose work aligns with the mission of the Lunder Institute. We encourage inquiries from candidates who will contribute to the diversity of our College, including its cultural and ethnic diversity.

FMI visit: 

https://www.colby.edu/administration_cs/humanresources/employment/manager_ops_special_proj_1_2020.cfm

The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center seeks historical interpreters for the upcoming season. Interpreters share history in a fun, humorous yet thought-provoking way with visitors of all ages, creating a memorable museum and farm experience. Interpreters deliver Journey into History educational programs primarily for school children and also provide tours for people of all ages during special events. Norlands’ interpreters teach history by doing, using living history techniques to share accurate information about the historical buildings, the Washburn family, agricultural methods and the way people lived in the 1800s. 

Ideal candidates have a passion for learning and sharing historical material and period activities, enjoy people of all ages, and have the ability to engage all types of audiences, especially school children. Interpreters must be able to stand for several hours at a time and be able to perform light to moderate physical work (with training) such as cooking on a woodstove and/or farm chores. Previous teaching or interpretation experience, a plus.

This is an ideal position for someone looking for a flexible schedule.  These are on-call, as needed positions.  Hours worked per week depend on the season and as programs are scheduled.  April – June and October - December are the heavier-scheduled months.

Even if you only have one day per week available, if this position interests you please contact us. 

To learn more or to apply, email a letter of interest, resume and contact information for three references to Sheri Leahan, director, at Sheri.Leahan@norlands.org.  

FMI: visit www.norlands.org.

The Penobscot Marine Museum seeks a contract archivist for 575 hours in 2020. The position will fulfill our goal to make our archives searchable online by creating finding aids and web catalog descriptions for our online collections catalog. This is an excellent opportunity for professionals looking for short-term work. The Project Archivist will have the skills and expertise to complete the project, consulting with the Curator on Penobscot Marine Museum’s cataloguing conventions and institutional history of the archive. The Contract Archivist will work with a veteran team of Archives volunteers to complete task and will report to the Curator.

Duties:

Contract Length and Dates:

Qualifications:

Compensation

Review of applicants will begin February 15th, 2020 and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three letters of recommendation to Cipperly Good, cgood@pmm-maine.org.

The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center seeks a Live-In Caretaker for historic 19^th-century museum and farm. This is a year-round position averaging 15-18 hours per week in exchange for rent-free housing in a 1-bedroom apartment, utilities included. The Caretaker is responsible for animal care, general housekeeping and maintenance, event set-up and clean-up, seasonal farm work, and overall site cleanliness and safety.

The ideal candidate has experience working with farm animals and maintaining or restoring old homes, loves animals, has a passion for history, has a strong work ethic and positive attitude, and is a self-starter. He/She must have the ability to meet the physical demands of the position. This includes lifting a minimum of 50 pounds; standing for long periods of time; walking over uneven ground; and working outdoors in all types of weather. 

While there are daily responsibilities, the hours are flexible leaving time during the day or evening for classes or other paid work. A paid position as a Norlands historical interpreter may also be available for interested candidates. Some restrictions on the use of the buildings/grounds apply. No pets or smoking allowed.

For more information about this unique opportunity or to apply, email a cover letter with resume and contact information for three references to the executive director Sheri.Leahan@norlands.org.   

www.norlands.org

Fort Western Living History Museum and National Historic Landmark (1754), is Maine’s and New England’s oldest surviving wooden fort – a reminder of the great contest of cultures that dominated New England life 250 years ago.  We are currently seeking intermittent part-time historical interpreters to deliver educational programming to adult and youth audiences at the Fort and throughout Maine.

Successful candidates must enjoy working with the public, possess outstanding (speaking and listening) communications skills and have a sincere interest in history.  Previous classroom teaching, training, or interpretive experience is a plus.  A minimum of a high school diploma is required plus one year or equivalent of college.

This is a seasonal (April – Nov) part-time, non-exempt position with a minimum of hours during the off season (Dec-March).  Hours will vary widely depending on scheduled programming.  Interpreters are exposed to a variety of temperature and weather conditions. Interpreters should be able to do moderate lifting and physical activities associated with 18^th century manual work. Some examples are: cooking over an open fire, hauling water, sawing and splitting wood, loading and firing muskets and cannons, etc.

Starting pay is $12.00 per hour.

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter with three current work-related references to Human Resources Department, City of Augusta,

16 Cony Street, Augusta, Maine 04330 or HR@augustamaine.gov.

Applications will be reviewed as received, but deadline is no later than

March 2, 2020

The City of Augusta is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

The Rufus Porter Museum is accepting applications for the Dorothy W. Sanborn Summer Internship Program. Dotti Sanborn was an accomplished writer and teacher in Bridgton, and was a mentor to her students into their adulthood. Her life was a continual mingling of her many arts talents (quilting, painting, drawing) and her background in natural history (she wrote weekly columns in several papers). Dotti also had a keen interest in local and regional history.

Founded in 2005, The Rufus Porter Museum features the history of a remarkable 19th century New Englander, Rufus Porter (1792-1884).  Porter is well-known in the folk art community for his landscape murals and miniature portraits, however, Porter was more than just a painter.  He was the founding publisher and editor of the magazine Scientific American as well as inventor, writer, teacher and more.  

Open seasonally from mid-June to mid-October, the Rufus Porter Museum’s campus consists of two historic buildings – the Webb House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Nathan Church House, which contains murals in situ in the style of the Rufus Porter School. The museum offers changing exhibits, lectures, classes, and special events that embrace Porter’s use of both art and science, oftentimes interchangeably.

Internship Guidelines

The focus of each internship will take into consideration the intern’s interests and educational requirements in conjunction with the needs of the museum. The intern will create a project of his or her design, with Museum approval, that is aimed at an educational goal. The intern will work under the supervision of the Executive Director. In addition to work on a special project, the intern will give tours of the Museum, including the special exhibit, assist with public events and programs, learn the management practices of the Museum store, and participate in the general operations of the Museum. This position offers a hands-on opportunity for an intern to experience working on all aspects of a small museum. At the completion of the internship, an exit interview will be conducted to discuss initial goals, the results of his or her project and overall experience, and recommendations for future projects and/or goals for the Museum. The intern will present his or her finished project both orally and in written form.

Qualifications 

Graduate student or college junior or senior majoring or minoring in an appropriate field or have a demonstrable record of interest in a field connected to the mission of the Rufus Porter Museum.

HOW TO APPLY

Email resume/CV, cover letter and three references (at least one academic) to: Karla Leandri Rider, Executive Director, at director@rufusportermuseum.org

DATES: June 1^st to August 10^th (dates are flexible)

AVAILABILITY: Maximum of 30 hours per week

PAY STATUS: $12/hour

HOUSING: N/A

The Penobscot Marine Museum seeks a high school or early college student interested in a part-time internship for summer 2019. This internship provides hands-on work experience in the daily operations of a medium-sized museum. The intern will actively participate in multiple departments including visitor’s services, education, curatorial, marketing, and photo archives. This is an excellent opportunity for a student with a great sense of curiosity who would like to learn more about what goes on behind-the-scenes and the unique jobs available in the museum field. This internship will include professional development field trips to four other Maine museums.

Internship Duties:

• Assist with public programming
• Attend daily front line staff meetings on scheduled work days
• Assist with 4 one-day children’s camps
• Contribute to PMM’s Facebook and Instagram accounts
• Assist with special events
• Complete a short-term curatorial project such as cataloguing, numbering, and rehousing new acquisitions or identifying objects and writing interpretive labels for the 2020 exhibit
• Complete a short-term photo archives project such as scanning and cataloguing a selection of the Kosti Ruohomaa Collection

Internship Length and Dates:

• 240 hours
• Up to 40 hours a week
• Flexible start and end date, completed sometime between May and September, 2019
• July 4th is a work day
• Work some nights and weekends

Qualifications:

• Desire to learn & good sense of humor
• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a high school or undergraduate program
• Interest in museums and/or maritime history
• Experience or interest in working with children
• Experience or interest in working with the public
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and social media a plus
• Must be willing to work some weekends
• Must be at least 16

Compensation

• $12.50/hour

Review of applicants will begin February 15 th , 2020 and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit a paragraph expressing your interest in the position, resume, writing sample, transcripts (official or unofficial), and one letter of recommendation to Jeana Ganskop at jganskop@pmm-maine.org.

The Penobscot Marine Museum seeks two full-time museum interns for summer 2020. These are general museum internships providing hands-on work experience in the daily operations of a medium-sized museum. Interns will actively participate in multiple departments including visitor’s services, education, curatorial, marketing, and photo archives. This is an excellent opportunity for a student who would like to learn more about the variety of jobs available in the museum field and also can be tailored for a more specific experience. About 40% of the internship will be public programming and the remaining 60% will be spent on other projects. These internships will include professional development field trips to four other Maine museums.

Internship Duties:

• Lead daily public programming 3 days a week
• Attend daily front line staff meetings
• Assist with or lead 4 one-day children’s camps
• Contribute to PMM’s Facebook and Instagram accounts
• Assist with special events which could include helping to plan, market, set-up for, and/or staff activities during the speaker series, special event weekends, holidays, and the biannual gala
• Complete a short-term curatorial project such as cataloguing, numbering, and rehousing new acquisitions or identifying objects and writing interpretive labels for the 2021 exhibit
• Complete a short-term photo archives project such as scanning and cataloguing a selection of the Kosti Ruohomaa Collection
• In the second half of the internship, complete a larger project in the department of the intern’s choosing
• Open and close the Savage Education Center
• Staff the PMM outreach booth during local festivals

Internship Length and Dates:

• 8 weeks
• June 17 - August 11, 2020 (some flexibility if needed)
• July 4 th is a work day
• Work some nights and every other Saturday
• Usually scheduled 35-40 hours/week

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an undergraduate program or graduate program in museum studies, history, public history, archival studies, library science with concentration in archives and special collections, education, material culture, or related field
• Coursework in history and/or education
• Interest in museums and/or maritime history
• Experience working with children
• Experience working with the public
• Excellent computer skills
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and social media
• Familiarity with PastPerfect a plus, training available
• Must be willing to work some weekends

Compensation

• $4,100 stipend paid in biweekly installments
• PMM will provide assistance locating housing, if desired. On-site housing may be available.

Review of applicants will begin January 31st , 2020 and will continue until the positions are filled. Please submit cover letter, resume, writing sample, transcripts (official or unofficial) and one letter of recommendation to Jeana Ganskop at jganskop@pmm-maine.org.

Job Summary 

Under the direction of the Curator/Registrar and Assistant Curator, the Collections Management Assistant is responsible for helping the staff of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum move, rehouse, and document a large portion of the Arctic Museum’s permanent collection into a new climate controlled storage facility. This individual will be involved in packing and unpacking artifacts and objects, writing condition reports, cataloguing, photographing, and rehousing objects, and entering pertinent collection information into the Museum’s collections management database.

This is a grant-funded position; funding available for up to 2 years. The position will exist only so long as grant funds are able to support it fully.

Education/Skills Requirements         

The successful candidate will have at least a BA in anthropology, archaeology, history, art history, museum studies, or related disciplines and object handling experience in a museum or gallery setting.

Occasionally must be able to lift 50 lbs., frequent bending, reaching, and lifting.

Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents

Cataloguing, object photography, and experience working with collections management systems preferred. Attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, and capacity to work as a member of a team are desirable.

Standard Work Days and Hours        

Standard working hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Occasional evening and weekend work required.

To Apply

https://careers.bowdoin.edu

SENIOR PREPARATOR Colby College Museum of Art Full-Time, Exempt, Salaried, Administrative Staff Appointment The senior preparator is a multifaceted, multi-skilled position, entrusted with the physical care and handling and installation of the museum’s art collection and exhibition loans. The senior preparator is responsible for the handling, movement, preparation, matting, framing, installing, and packing of artwork in the collection of the Museum and on loan to the Museum. The position requires a high level of responsibility and skillful prioritization, and the senior preparator must be able to multi-task effectively and manage several projects at once. Working closely with colleagues on the collections and curatorial and engagement teams, this position will be called upon to help with all matters pertaining to the physical production of an exhibition as well as ongoing stewardship and daily care of the collection. The senior preparator is responsible for identifying, hiring, and training a skilled crew of part-time art handling personnel and effectively coordinating teamwork on installations and collection care. Founded in 1959, the Colby College Museum of Art is a teaching museum, destination for American art, and a place for engagement with local and global communities. Located on the Colby College campus in Waterville, Maine, the Museum holds more than 10,000 works of art and offers more than 38,000 square feet of exhibition space. Major works by American artists including Albert Bierstadt, Winslow Homer, James McNeill Whistler, Mary Cassatt, and William Merritt Chase form the core of the historical collection, along with significant holdings of American folk art. The modern movement is represented by artists including John Marin, Marsden Hartley, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jacob Lawrence, Joan Mitchell, Isamu Noguchi, and Alma Thomas. The Museum also maintains a significant collection of contemporary American art including works by Alex Katz, Agnes Martin, Sol LeWitt, Maya Lin, Kara Walker, Elizabeth Murray, Martin Puryear, Terry Winters, and Julie Mehretu. Other principal areas of the collection include Greek and Roman antiquities, European prints and drawings, and early Chinese art.  Works in the collection strengthen the Museum’s mission to offer Colby students new perspectives on their classroom studies and expand their understanding of diverse subjects through art. The recent donation of more than 1,500 artworks from Paula and Peter Lunder expands that scope, and the creation of the Lunder Institute for American Art enhances the Museum’s engagement with scholarly and creative production. The Museum welcomes more than 3,500 Maine school children each year and offers a vibrant calendar of family and public programs that are free and open to all. In addition, the Museum serves as a key contributor to the revitalization of downtown Waterville through its membership in Waterville Creates! and its active participation in the programmatic initiatives of Colby College.  Established in 2017, the Lunder Institute for American Art supports innovative research and creative production that expands the boundaries of American art. The Lunder Institute invites visiting artists, scholars, and fellows to engage across disciplines with Colby faculty and students, the College’s network of institutional partners, leading experts, and other creative collaborators. Through incubator grants, fellowships, and symposia addressing regional and global concerns, the Lunder Institute amplifies marginalized voices, challenges convention, and provides a platform for generative dialogue through art and scholarship.  The Colby Museum is deeply committed to strengthening diversity, inclusion, and equity across all strategic and programmatic areas of the Museum, actively building a multiplicity of perspectives and backgrounds represented on our staff and Board of Governors, outreach to diverse audiences, inclusive exhibitions and programs, and a broad-based, expansive collection. We encourage inquiries from candidates who will contribute to the diversity of our college, including its cultural and ethnic diversity. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Preparation, matting and framing, basic collections care, and basic cleaning of objects in the museum collection Design and fabricate archival mounts, boxes, trays, etc. for the long-term storage of artworks in the collection With registrar for collections, manage correct housing of collection objects and packing/crating for shipment Maintain accurate storage location of artwork, reporting daily to the registrar for collections on the movement of each artwork to be entered into the database Perform all duties related to exhibition preparation including, but not limited to, framing, preparing, hanging, moving of heavy sculpture, installation, de-installation, packing, shipping, and receiving artwork Consult as needed on exhibition design elements; work with artists and museum team on site-specific installations Move object cases and other exhibit furniture, install art in all media – mount vinyl text, object labels, photographs and other didactic exhibition material; design and fabricate museum mounts for small objects Coordinate necessary part-time staff and materials for gallery preparation, supervising, training, scheduling, and hiring part-time art handling staff Order supplies and materials for the framing and packing shop and budget costs for exhibitions and permanent collection supplies and operational expenditures Assist with budget preparation and tracking of installation/deinstallation-related expenses Maintain inventory of exhibition furniture, crates, and frames and arrange transportation of frames, furniture, and crates from offsite storage to Museum Occasional travel with objects required for exhibitions and installations Perform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience 3-5 years of experience with the care and handling of fine art objects in a museum setting Knowledge of museum standards and best practices for the care and handling of objects and materials used for housing and installation Manual dexterity and care in the handling of art objects and ability to carefully follow established procedures Experience cutting mats, hinging, and framing works on paper; framing canvases; basic carpentry skills and tools Knowledge of standard tools, practices, and methods in painting, rough and finish carpentry, and cabinet work as well as use of materials such as various kinds of lumber, fabrics, plastics, mechanical fasteners, and adhesives Experience in safe operation and maintenance of hand and power tools, hydraulic lifts, and specialized equipment Ability to interpret and produce work from architectural/design plans and fabrication shop drawings Excellent organizational skills; ability to see projects through to completion; ability to apply creative methods to solve installation problems with an attention to detail Valid driver’s license required and must meet the College’s Fleet Safety Policy requirements Proven ability to work independently and as a member of a team, exercise discretion, and work collaboratively as a member of a diverse community KEY RELATIONSHIPS: The senior preparator reports to the manager of registration and collections and works closely with the director of operations. The senior preparator also works directly with museum curators, the manager of exhibitions and publications, registration staff, and other related staff on the installation, deinstallation, and travel of exhibits. The senior preparator works closely with the academic programs staff to provide access to the collection for the faculty and students and assists other museum colleagues on various projects as needed. WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to perform the essential functions. General open office and campus environment. Ability to climb ladders and scaffolding, ability to lift up to 75 lbs., and stand for long periods of time. Ability to use eyes and hands to examine and handle delicate objects. Work outside of normal business hours and more than 40 hours during periods of installation/deinstallation. Position involves sitting, although frequent movement is necessary. Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary. For more information and to apply visit: http://www.colby.edu/administration_cs/humanresources/employment/senior_preparator_9_2019.cfm