AAMD Provenance Research Internship

Title: AAMD Provenance Research Internship

State Role Title: Paid Internship

Hiring Range: $15.00-$16.00/hour

Pay Band: 1

Agency: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Location: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Agency Website: https://vmfa.museum

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

With training and mentoring from key museum staff, the intern will:

-Learn first-hand about art museum work and obtain a comprehensive overview of Collections Management activities, responsibilities and career paths, and how provenance research plays a part in many museum processes such as acquisitions, loans, and exhibitions.

-Assist in expanding collections provenance information available to the public and scholars through the TMS (The Museum System) collections management system and ultimately via an upcoming new museum website.

-Learn how to update exhibition records, bibliographic references, and provenance data, following museum industry standards and cross-referencing resources including catalogues raisonnés, auction catalogues, and scholarly publications. 

-Gain provenance research skills, working with resources across multiple departments including but not limited to Collections Management, Registration, Curatorial, Archives and Library.

-Assist with administrative duties including photocopying and scanning materials for ongoing research and reference.

-Attend and participate in departmental and cross-departmental meetings.

-Provide a presentation/report on their research work at the end of the internship.

Minimum Qualifications

-Undergraduate students (sophomore-senior level), whose studies or interests include Art History, Archeology, Anthropology, Arts, or Humanities.

-Curious to explore career pathways within the art museum world, especially within the areas of provenance research and cultural property.

-Highly detail-oriented with strong organizational skills. 

-Research experience.

-Comfortable working independently while managing multiple tasks.

-Basic Microsoft Office Suite experience.

Additional Considerations

This position is being funded through a grant from the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD). The selected candidate must pass a criminal history background check and be vetted by AAMD.

The position is for 420 hours with a schedule of 20-24 hours per week through the summer and fall of 2025. The position can begin as early as May 25, 2025, and must be completed by the end of December 2025.

Included in this position is a professional development opportunity such as attending a conference or other provenance-related museum training and/or a one-year student membership in a professional organization in a related field.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Applicants should include contact information for three professional or educational references in the spaces provided in the application or in their cover letter or résumé.

Applicants are encouraged to submit unofficial transcripts and a brief writing sample (such as an excerpt from a class research paper).

Contact Information

Name: Kim Frola

Phone: 804.340.1461

Email: kim.frola@vmfa.museum

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.