Rufus Porter Museum

Rufus Porter Museum Internship Program, Summer 2010

Summer 2010 positions have been filled. Check back for 2011!

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Dates: June 20 to late August, actual dates are flexible
Availability: 2 interns, 40 hours per week
Posted Date: December 31, 2009
Closing Date: April 1, 2010 (acceptance earlier if suitable applicant is found)
Pay Status: $1800 stipend for 10 weeks
Housing: Provided on museum property, vehicle required

The Rufus Porter Museum and Cultural Heritage Center opened in June, 2005 in Bridgton, Maine. It is based in a 1789 Federal style house with Rufus Porter School 1828 original murals in one room and hallway. The Museum focuses on the achievements of Mr. Porter as an itinerant painter of wall murals and other art, plus his scientific career as an inventor and founder of the Scientific American magazine in 1845. We celebrate the art and history of Western Maine in the 1800s.

Additional exhibit space in downtown Bridgton houses a set of 15 Porter murals, dated 1838 and signed by Rufus Porter and his son, Stephen Twombly Porter. These murals, recovered from the Francis Howe home in Westwood, Massachusetts, are considered to be the premier example of his work.

The Rufus Porter Museum is presenting a special exhibit in 2010 on “Schoolgirl Arts Ð Theorems and Watercolors.”

The Museum is seeking two interns this season to assist us by:

Maintaining the Museum operations.
Conducting tours of the Museum at two locations.
Developing and presenting educational programs for children and adults.
Expanding the research center of Rufus Porter materials and murals. Researching and documenting current owners of homes containing Rufus Porter School Murals.
Assisting with the Cultural Heritage Series classes and house tour July 5-11, 2010.
Maintaining historical gardens.
Assisting in the improvement of Museum exhibits.
Developing acquisition and accession inventory procedures.

In addition, the intern will plan and implement a specific project based on museum needs to be established and guided by museum staff. If the internship is for degree credit, the project(s) will be guided by degree requirements.

A prior requirement is to read Rufus Porter, Yankee Pioneer, by Jean Lipman.

Our calendar is flexible for the 10-week internship. We are open from June 23 until October 10, (closed on Sundays & Mondays), with visitor hours from 10:00 to 5:00 PM, Wed. to Sat. Intern hours are from 9-5.

Bridgton is located one hour’s drive northwest from Portland, Maine, and one hour’s drive east from Mount Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We are referred to as the “Lakes Region” as lakes and ponds are found in abundance. Our winter population of 5,000 grows to 30,000 plus in the summer and offers extensive recreation and cultural opportunities.

This internship is for those majoring in or who have a career interest in museum studies, folk art, history, art history, historic preservation or the conservation and restoration of decorative and fine arts. Preference will be given to those with a demonstrated interest in folk art.

How to Apply

Email resume/CV and cover letter stating your reasons for interest and dates of availability to Julie Lindberg, Director at j.k.lindberg@att.net.

Please include:

Is this internship is for university credit? If yes, please provide the professor’s name and contact information.
Your level of expertise with the Microsoft family of Office products (PC or Mac)
Your level of expertise with Past Perfect software.
Your experience, volunteer or paid, in working with the general public.
Your museum and academic background.
Your level of interest in folk art and Rufus Porter.
What you wish to accomplish with an internship this summer.