Resources for Museum Studies

The following resources have been identified by Hampshire students, staff, faculty and alums, and compiled by students at the Career Options Resource Center. This is one of several Resource Guides geared towards students in popular concentrations. It is by no means a comprehensive list.

LOCAL

 * Children’s Museum at Holyoke
 * http://www.childrensmuseumholyoke.org/opps/index.html
 * Various internship opportunities range from working with children to working in an administrative office. Semester, summer and yearlong internships available. 413-536-7048


 * Emily Dickinson Museum
 * http://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/
 * Paid positions as summer tour guides and museum assistants for museum located in downtown Amherst. June-August. Deadline: March. Cindy Dickinson, 413-542-8429

GENERAL

 * Smithsonian Institute
 * http://www.si.edu/ofg/internopp.htm
 * Internships at the Smithsonian. Also has links to museum internships throughout the country.


 * The Guggenheim Museum
 * http://www.guggenheim.org/
 * Offers a variety of internships for undergraduates, recent graduates, and graduate students in art history, administration, conservation, education, and related fields.


 * The Metropolitan Museum of Art
 * http://www.metmuseum.org/education/er_internship.asp#sum
 * Interns work in one of the Metropolitan's departments—curatorial, education, conservation, administration, or library. Most projects require a strong knowledge of art history.


 * The Art Institute of Chicago
 * http://www.artic.edu/aic/jobs/internships/musedintern.html
 * Intern will develop relationships, which promote discovery, appreciation, and enjoyment of works of art at the Art Institute and nearby culturally rich areas.


 * Most museums accept interns or volunteers. Contact specific museums for more information.**

Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants

 * American Museum of Natural History
 * http://research.amnh.org/
 * Offers grants to graduate students and for postdoctoral study in the area of natural history.


 * Hagley Museum and Library
 * http://www.hagley.lib.de.us/grants.html
 * Offers grants for people completing scholarly research at the Museum and Library.


 * The J. Paul Getty Trust
 * http://www.getty.edu/grants/research/scholars/index.html
 * Grants and fellowships for scholars working on dissertations or improving work for publication. Must relate to the Getty’s annual theme in order to be considered.


 * Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program
 * http://www.si.edu/ofg/Applications/SIFELL/SIFELLapp.htm
 * Offers fellowships in fields that are actively pursued by the museums and research organizations of the Institution (History of art, especially American, contemporary and more).

Resources for Minority Students

 * The J. Paul Getty Trust
 * http://www.getty.edu/grants/education/
 * Offers two paid 10 week internships for undergraduate minority students, one in Los Angeles art museums and the other at the Getty. Deadline: March. 310-440-7320


 * Guggenheim Museum Summer Internship for Diversity in the Museum Profession
 * http://www.guggenheim.org/
 * Summer internship funding for two outstanding candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to museum careers. Encourages applicants from African-American, Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic and Pacific Islander backgrounds.


 * Smithsonian Institute Minority Internship Program
 * http://www.si.edu/ofg/Applications/MIP/MIPapp.htm
 * Full time paid internships for undergraduate and graduate students offered throughout the year for research and study in a field represented by the Institute’s museums.

On Campus

 * Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
 * http://www.picturebookart.org/
 * Volunteer, Work Study (through Hampshire), and Intern positions are available.


 * National Yiddish Book Center
 * http://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/
 * The Book Center hires work study students to guide tours and work in the book repository.

General

 * Hadley Farm Museum
 * http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/2199022
 * 208 Middle Street, Hadley, MA 01035; 413-584-3120


 * Historic Deerfield
 * http://www.historic-deerfield.org/
 * Old Main Street, Deerfield, MA 01342; 413-775-7214


 * Historic Northampton Museum and Education Center
 * http://www.historic-northampton.org/
 * 46 Bridge Street, Northampton, MA 01060; 413-584-6011


 * Strong House Amherst History Museum
 * http://www.amhersthistory.org/
 * 67 Amity Street, Amherst, MA 01002; 413-256-0678

Graduate School Programs

 * Bard College Center for Curatorial Studies and Art in Contemporary Culture
 * http://www.bard.edu/ccs/
 * Offers an innovative two-year graduate program leading to an MA in curatorial studies. Students take courses in the history and theory of contemporary art and other specialized topics. The Center houses a research center, exhibition spaces, an extensive library, and the Marieluise Hessel Collection of late-20th-century art.


 * NYU Graduate School of Arts &amp; Sciences
 * http://www.nyu.edu/fas/program/museumstudies/index.html
 * For almost thirty years, the Program in Museum Studies at New York University has offered an innovative course of study in the contemporary theory and practice of museum work.


 * University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Public History Program
 * http://www.umass.edu/history/ph/index.html
 * Prepares graduate students for entry-level positions in museums, archives, and historic preservation.

Faculty and Staff Contacts

 * Karen Koehler, Associate Professor of Art and Architectural History, kkoehler@hampshire.edu
 * Has curatorial experience. Karen researches the interaction of architecture and other forms of artistic expression from a diversity of times and places.


 * Sura Levine, Associate Professor of Art History, slevine@hampshire.edu
 * Has experience exhibiting, working in and writing catalogue entries for museum exhibitions.


 * Frazer Ward, Assistant Professor of Art, fward@email.smith.edu,
 * Teaches courses on the history of contemporary art and architecture. Interests include performance art of the 1960s and 1970s, the implications of new imaging technologies, and the status of art in contemporary public spheres.


 * Marla Miller, Director of UMass Public History Program, Associate Professor, mmiller@umass.history.edu
 * Teaches graduate level courses that are great for students interested in history museums.


 * Kevin Sweeney, Professor of History and American Studies, Amherst College, ksweeney@amherst.edu
 * Spent nearly a decade working in history museums. Teaches courses on material culture and American history.


 * Susan Tracy, Professor if American Studies and History, Dean of HACU, stracy@hampshire.edu
 * Knows a lot about local museums and archives. [NOTE: She often refers students to programs at UMass, so check out UMass’s website and course offerings]