Diversity Internship Program
In the summer 2006, after several years of planning, the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations (PFMHO), the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) and two partner museums, the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) and the Independence Seaport Museum (ISM) began the Diversity Internship Program for Pennsylvania Museums.
The premises of the Diversity Internship Program are:
- To encourage students from diverse backgrounds to enter the museum field; and
- To expect the encounter between the intern and the museum staff to result in positive institutional change.
Funded by a $25,000 legislative grant secured by the Honorable James R. Roebuck, Jr., State Representative, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and a member of the board of directors of PFMHO, the partners decided that 2006, the first year of implementation, should serve as a model program. And, a very successful model program it proved to be.
The legislative grant allowed for stipends for five students and a small amount of money for field trips as part of their learning experience. The students were chosen from a number of applicants.
That first year, two students, Chanelle Rivers, of the University of the Arts, and Jennifer Xiaoquian Fan, of the University of Pennsylvania, held their internships at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the Marketing/Public Relations and the Development Departments respectively. At the Independence Seaport Museum, Carrie Guay, of Villanova University, worked in the Curatorial Department while Martin Rodriguez, of Shippensburg University, served in the Education Department. The fifth intern, Rachel Jones Williams, of Elizabethtown College, held her internship in the Curatorial Department of The State Museum of Pennsylvania.
In their twelve week internship, each intern had a project or projects assigned to them with a mentor working with them often on a one-on-one basis. A supervisor oversaw the process, and the interns interacted with other museum staff as well. Their final project presentations took place on August 9 and 10 in Philadelphia. The five interns met with museum professionals at other museums in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh as part of their field trip experience. In addition, there were several meetings with the Diversity Internship Programs patron, State Representative James R. Roebuck, Jr.
Since 2006, the program has thrived as students from a diverse array of backgrounds learn about the challenges and rewards of the museum field as a career.
Summer 2009 internships will be offered at PHMC facilities in Harrisburg or one of its 25 field sites; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center; and two additional Philadelphia Museums -- The African American Museum and the Atwater Kent Museum. The application deadline is January 23, 2009.
There is more information on the PHMC website about the Diversity Internship Program for Pennsylvania Museums. Or you can send an email PHMC (ra-phmcinterns@state.pa.us)
