Collections and Conservation Intern (UNPAID)

Job Description

Job Description

The Strong owns and cares for the world’s most comprehensive collection of toys, dolls, board games, video games, books, documents, and other historical materials related to play, and offers programs for individuals of all ages to learn about the power and importance of play in their lives. The museum’s internship program provides opportunities for participating in all aspects of museum work within dynamic teams and interacting with staff across the institution and the public. The program offers an educational and operational experience, as well as the opportunity to build a network of professional contacts.

All museum staff and interns are expected to cooperate with one another in furthering the museum’s general objectives and in completing museum projects. Similarly, all staff and interns consistently maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude, act with integrity and in accordance with the highest ethical standards, and demonstrate a loyalty to the museum in all public contacts. Guests and colleagues deserve our best efforts every day.

Our Collections and Conservation team is seeking two (2) interns (undergraduate or graduate) who are interested in a multi-disciplinary learning opportunity between both teams, following the academic calendar: 

• Spring semester (application due by October 15)
• Summer (application due by February 15)
• Fall semester (application due by June 15)

Application Requirements:

Please ensure that you attach your Resume and provide a Cover Letter detailing what you hope to get out of this internship, what learning objectives you would like to achieve and how you believe your contributions will support The Strong's mission and goals.

Summary of Internship

• Assist in a variety of supervised projects including, but not limited to: cataloging, data entry, digitization, preventative care including environmental monitoring and pest management, disaster preparedness planning, incoming/outgoing loans, general collections care, conservation treatments and related documentation, rehousing/storage, and maintaining exhibition spaces including lighting and cases. 
• Network with other museum professionals within the museum and local institutions.
• Write a blog, which will be published on the museum’s website.
• Attend team and related meetings, as appropriate, including exhibit development and planning.
• Complete museum trainings.
• Interns may have the opportunity to assist or shadow other museum teams on a limited basis, depending upon interest and project opportunities. 
• Interns may focus on a specialized project(s) with a small genre of the collection, such as inventorying, rehousing and condensing digital and related collections materials, exhibit preparation of collections materials for an upcoming gameshow-based exhibit, and/or cataloguing and housing board game collection.
• Other related duties, as assigned.

Essential Duties:

The specifications described here are representative of those that must be met by the intern to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment :

Work is performed primarily indoors in a professional office environment, climate-controlled collections storage areas, and throughout exhibit galleries. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, and copiers. The noise level in the environment is usually low to moderate but may be more significant when operating various equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the intern may be exposed to dust, dirt, mold, mildew and other allergens, insects, and sharp edges.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job:

This position regularly requires full range of mobility in upper and lower body; the ability to reach overhead; the ability to work in various positions, including stooping, standing, walking, bending over, sitting, kneeling, and squatting for extended periods of time; the use or operation of objects, tools or controls; the ability to climb ladders and three flights of stairs; and the ability to talk, hear, and smell. This position frequently requires the ability to lift, pull, push, and carry weight up to 25 pounds to complete assigned job tasks.

This position requires frequent sitting in front of a computer and using repetitive typing motions.

Visual acuity to see object details at close range and operate computer equipment is required. Specific vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus are important for this role.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

Must consent to and pass a drug screen and criminal background check as conditions of internship.

Equal Opportunity Statement: 

The Strong is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of The Strong to provide equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, military, or marital status. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all aspects of the internship relationship, including but not limited to: recruitment, selection layoff, recall, transfer, and termination of internship.