About the Organization

For the seventh consecutive year, the U.S. Embassy in Lima is undertaking a series of programs to support cultural preservation under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Cultural Patrimony between Peru and the United States. In support of the MOU, the Embassy promotes an internship program for American graduate students of museum studies and conservation programs to be held from July through August 2009. The objective of this program is to enable well-qualified graduate students the opportunity to do field research within different cities in Peru. It will also support museums that house rich art collections, but are greatly in need of skilled professionals. These internships will provide an excellent opportunity for Peruvian and American colleagues to exchange ideas on new techniques related to conservation, marketing, and exhibition planning, with long-term possibilities for collaboration. Select museums have presented projects and provided detailed outlines of the work to be performed. Professional museum staff will closely supervise each intern and costs will be shared among all parties. The Embassy will be the link between the universities and the Peruvian museums and will provide required materials.

Job Description

Announcement for 2009 projects: MuseumInternshipProgram_2009

Since 2003, PAS has promoted a successful internship program for well-qualified U.S. students at Peruvian museums, to give them the opportunity to develop professional skills and work with Peruvian patrimony. This is also an excellent occasion for Peruvian and American colleagues to exchange ideas on new techniques related to conservation, marketing, and exhibition planning.

In 2003, PAS received a total of two interns for the Sican Museum, who worked on an exhibition planning and design internship to renovate the temporary exhibition. In 2004, three interns participated in the program, two at the Santa Teresa Monastery in Arequipa, and one at the Sipan Museum in Lambayeque. In Arequipa the interns worked on the conservation of colonial paintings and sculptures, while in Lambayeque, the intern focused on the restoration of the metal collection.

In 2004, a total of three interns participated in the summer program in the field of conservation. Two registered for the Santa Teresa Museum in Arequipa and one for the Tumbas Reales de Sipan Museum in Chiclayo.

In 2005 the Embassy offered three internships at the recently opened Machu Picchu Museum in Cusco, and the Santa Catalina Monastery Museum and the brand new Santa Teresa Monastery Museum in Arequipa. In Cusco, the intern had the opportunity to help in the final set-up of the museum’s exhibitions including cleaning pre-Hispanic objects and placing them in designed cases. In Santa Teresa the student helped prepare detailed documentation of mural paintings in the Bethlehem Chapel, specifying the different conditions affecting the paint and plaster layers, assessing the structural and environmental conditions, and recommending future treatment. In Santa Catalina they worked uncovering and conserving the original mural painting in the Lower Choir.

In 2006 five interns applied their knowledge and gained practical experience in four Peruvian museums. Two interns worked at the Museo Nacional Sicán, Ferreñafe, Lambayeque on marketing and cataloguing projects. Two students worked on a registration and cataloguing internship at the Museo Tumbas Reales Sipán in Lambayeque, and the Machu Picchu Site Museum in Cusco, while an expert in conservation spent two months in the Yachaywasi Conservation Institute inLima.

In 2007, four interns were accepted in the program. One at the Sican Museum in Lambayeque on registration and cataloguing; two at the Santa Teresa Museum in Arequipa for cataloguing, and one at the Yachaywasi Conservation Center in Lima that then moved to the Larco Museum for marketing.

This year (2008), four graduate students from the U.S. have traveled for summer internships in three different museums throughout Peru. During their stay, the interns are completing projects in conservation, registration, marketing, and web design. They are learning about Peruvian art and culture while gaining experience in their fields. All worked closely with museum staff and directors.

# of Positions per term

Several

Start Dates

July - August

Duration of Internship

2 Months, Summer only

Academic Background

Graduate Student in: Art Conservation, Collection Management, Registration and Inventory Management, Architecture, Geography, Geology, Museum Studies, Archeology, Marketing, Design and Museum Scripts, Art Restoration, Historic Preservation, Fibers, Metalsmithing, Printmaking, Sculpture, Visual Design, Ceramics, Painting, and related fields

Skills/Experience

Prior work experience strongly preferred

Language Ability

Most internships require that students are proficient in the Spanish language (completion of 3rd or 4th year university level Spanish). Some specific sites are able to accommodate students with little or no Spanish. See description for 2009.

Other Requirements

All applicants must be U.S. citizens, must have intermediate oral Spanish skills (unless otherwise indicated in the project description), must be willing to complete the full course of the internship, and must be enrolled in a graduate program in museum studies or related fields.

IE3 Global Internships will accept complete applications, including on campus interview, through February 28, 2009.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter with their IE3 Global Internships Application with the following information:

• Name of applicant

• Name of specific internship program

• Name of current graduate program

• Honest assessment of Spanish ability which may be corroborated in a phone interview

Please also attach a letter of recommendation by a professor.

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE₃ Program Fee

The program fee for the first term of any internship is $2,750 - $2,950. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
International Travel	$1200-$1500
Visa Fees
Recommended Immunizations	$500

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	included
Food	$100-$150
Local Transportation	$75
Recreation	$100
Personal Expenses	$100

Compensation

The Embassy provides a small stipend to cover living expenses such as meals and incidentals in the range of $300-$700 total, depending on the particular internship. The museum provides in-kind support such as lodging.

Additional Expense Information

Interns should budget $500-$600 total for living expenses not covered by the stipend. It is also highly recommended that interns budget additional funds for personal travel prior to or after the internship period.

2008_interns

MuseumInternshipProgram_2009

note: information for summer 2010 will be posted in January 2010