Internship Opportunities

Related Exhibitions

IWWL participants on a field trip with program staff and volunteers.

Photo by Museum staff

The National Building Museum, created by an act of Congress in 1980, is America's leading institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning. Because it is a relatively young institution, interns enjoy a special opportunity to learn about a museum in a dynamic growth phase. The Museum strives to give interns meaningful, hands-on activities that lead to tangible results.

The Museum accepts interns for the spring, fall, and summer semesters. Schedules can be flexibly arranged depending on the Museum's needs and the intern's schedule. During the summer, interns can learn about all areas of Museum operations through a weekly enrichment program. This program includes behind-the-scenes visits to other cultural institutions in Washington, D.C.

Available Internships

Collections

Research and assist with cataloging holdings in the Museum's archives. The current collection contains approximately 40,000 photographic images, 68,000 architectural prints and drawings, 100 linear feet of documents, and 2,100 objects documenting America's built environment. Assist with the organization and documentation of the Museum's staff library.

There are no Collections internships available at this time.

Education

Assist with the development of and participate in youth and family programs, developing interactives, outreach programs, and adult programs.

Family Programs Internship
Summer 2010

Valuing its role as an informal learning enviroment and cultures community partner, the Museum has a history of offering everyday activities in the Museum for learners of all ages to enjoy as well as a Summer Camp for grades 3-5. The Family Programs Intern will take an active role in helping with both the Buildling Zone (A gallery space for ages 2-6) as well as the Summer Camp.

Evaluation

Conduct structured observations of how young children interact and learn in the Building Zone, our hands on exhibition for early learners ages 2-6 and their caregivers. Record these observations and contribute to an evaluation report.
Assist in further development of learning tools in the space including visual documentation.
Research other early learner programs at local and national Museums.

Curriculum Development

Prepare lesson plans and activities to accompany a Summer Camp field trip for 3rd-5th graders.
Develop appropriate resources for aftercare and recess activities during camp.

Adminsitration/Support:

Organize and maintain supplies for the Family Tool Kits and The Building Zone
Assist with Summer Camp (for grades 3-5) logistics (food, supplies, newsletter) and help plan special field trips, oversee lunch and occasionally substitute teaching during aftercare.
Assist with Building Literacy series and additional Family Workshops as needed.

Qualifications:

Required: an interest in Early Childhood education and family learning; Preferred: Degree or pursuing a degree in education or museum studies.
Enthusiasm for working with a diverse group of families and visitors.
Exceptional organizational skills.
Experience with MS Office applications. Experience with design software such as Photoshop and InDesign a plus.

Investigating Where We Live Internship

Summer 2010

Youth programs at the National Building Museum inspire students to examine the people, processes, and materials that create buildings and places. The Museum's education programs teach young people about design processes, allowing them to identify problems or needs, imagine solutions, and test them before building a suitable design.

The Investigations Where We Live (IWWL) intern supports one of the Museum's award-winning youth programs, which offers 12-16 year old youth hands-on opportunities to learn about the design process. Interns will act as team leaders and will work directly with students as they develop skills in digital photography, creative writing, and exhibition design. In addition to their classroom responsibilties, which include project management and lesson facilitation, interns will have the opportunity to participate in program planning and evaluation.

Responsibilities:

Act as a team leader for a group of 8-10 teenagers. Develop weekly plans, neighborhood visits, and group discussion topics.
Provide students with guidance in photography, creative writing, exhibition design, critical thinking, and teamwork concepts.
Work cooperatively with IWWL project team to coordinate, develop, and teach curriculum.
Research project-related neighborhoods and set up site explorations.
Prepare, organize, and maintain classroom, including set-up, clean-up, and replenshing supplies.
Assist with program logistics, including taking attendance, transportation, food, and ordering supplies.
Learn IWWL curriculum and oversee final exhibition creation and installation.
Attend weekly project team meetings.
Attend mandatory planning, training, and evaluation sessions.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Available June 15-August 5, 2010; Monday-Thursdays. This includes all training, the IWWL program, and evaluation.
Direct experience working with teen audiences.
Knowledge of digital photography, creative writing, exhibition design, the design process, the built enviroment and/or museum studies.
Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills.
Experience with MS Office applications (Word, Excel) knowledge of databases and office equipment.
Experience with design software such as Photoshop and InDesign a plus.

Development

Assist with the Museum's fund-raising efforts. Research prospective donors using the Internet and other sources, help prepare grant proposals, draft membership appeal letters, assist during fundraising events, and perform administrative tasks as necessary.

Exhibitions

Assist Museum curators with exhibition research and development. Responsibilities include database and spreadsheet management; independent research at the Library of Congress, local libraries, and museums and archives; inquiries to museums and historical societies regarding collections; image scanning; and administrative assistance with loan requests, reproductions and permissions, and correspondence.

Curatorial Internship

Spring 2010

The Museum is seeking an intern with an interest in curatorial research and writing to assist in the development of an exhibition entitled Designing for Disaster. This exhibition will alert visitors to the strategies and technologies that today's engineers, designers, planners, and communities are investigating and adopting to diminish the impact of natural disasters. Visitors will explore the risks and effects of earthquakes, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanic activity and wildfires. By showcasing innovative research, demonstrating cutting-edge materials and technologies, and illuminating complex planning strategies and policy issues, the exhibition will encourage visitors to take a second look at their built environment and think about the issues related to disaster planning and prevention.

Responsibilities:

Work with curator to locate and review background research materials
Conduct image research.
Travel to off-site locations, such as the Library of Congress and other DC area institutions for content and image research.

Qualifications

BA required. Pursuing an advanced degree in Architecture, Engineering, Museum Studies, or related subjects, preferred, but not required.
Experience conducting independent research.
20 Hours per week preferred, minimum two days per week.

Marketing & Communications:

The Marketing and Communications department at the National Building Museum is responsible for promoting the Museum's mission to the general public. Some of the department's main responsibilities are management of all printed materials, oversight of the Museum's web site and on line strategy, press outreach, and brand management. The internship provides the opportunity for hands-on work in a busy marketing department and the chance to manage your own projects, from start to finish.

Marketing & Communications Internship
Summer 2010

The Museum is seeking an intern with an interest in learning more about marketing for non-profits. A main component of this internship will be working with the Museum's Convio system, a content management system used to manage the Museum's website.

Responsibilities:

Work with staff on writing press releases; press calls, various Web 2.0 initiatives, including but not limited to social media, research, developing multimedia for the web, and writing online articles about Museum events and mission-related topics.
Various office management projects.

Qualifications:

Pursuing a degree in Marketing, Museum Studies, Website Management/Development, or related subjects.
Prior experience with web 2.0 technology, in particular Convio, preferred, but not required.
The minimum time commitment is 30 hours.

Graphic Design Internship

Summer 2010

The designers in the National Building Museum's Marketing and Communications Department create brochures, postcards, posters, exhibition graphics, web graphics, advertisements, and publications for the various departments within the Museum. The designers work closely with internal clients to create high quality creative design solutions that fit within the Museum's established brand and style guidelines and meet project needs.

The National Building Museum is seeking an intern to work with the Museum's designers to create designs for various print and web materials. The intern will work closely with the Senior Graphic Designer on production techniques, specifications, and coordination as well as design archiving. The internship provides the opportunity for hands on design work across a variety of media in addition to mentoring in the museum fields.

Responsibilities:

Design web graphics within the National Buildling Museum brand guideline.
Design print pieces such as postcards, flyers, and posters as well as web graphics within the National Building Museum brand.
Update electronic and physical file archive of design projects.
Assist with production coordination.

Qualifications:

At least two years of progress on a degree in graphic design.
Experience using Adobe Creative Suite (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.)
Knowledge of print design and web design.
Available Monday- Friday
Strong communication skills.
Ability to work well in a team enviroment.
Knowledge of architecture, construction, design, engineering, or the built enviroment a plus.

Preferred Characteristics:

Creativity.
Problem solving skills.
Open mindedness.
Please provide a sample portfolio of work with the Internship application.

Museum Shop

Assist management and operation staff to conduct analytical review of the Museum Shop's performance.

The National Building Museum intends to leverage its existing Museum Shop operations to raise the national profile of the Museum and to enhance the visitor's experience. The Museum Shop seeks to undertake a business process re-engineering of its operations in order to attain additional growth in sales. The Museum Shop intends to evaluate the operational performance, merchandise assortment, store layout and design, marketing, work force structure and management to identify specific and obtainable goals to provide the Museum with a greater return on this investment.

The National Building Museum's Museum Shop has been recognized nationally by the Washington Post, Niche Magazine, US Local Business Association, and the National Geographic Intelligent Traveler as one of the best museum stores in the region. The Museum Shop plays an integral role in the success of the Museum's mission and has become a destination location for visitors from around the world.

Museum Shop Internship

Summer 2010

Responsibilities

Design financial analytical report.
Assist with the development for merchandising strategies and sales analysis;
Update electronic database.
Analyze financial data, marketing programs and sales strategies.

Qualifications:

At least two years of progress on a degree in business or museum management with prior experience in retail a plus.
Experience using Excel worksheet and/or Access data software programs.
Knowledge of print design and web design
Available Monday-Friday during hours of museum operation.
Strong communications skills
Ability to work well in a team environment
Knowledge of architecture, constructions, design, engineering or the built environment a plus.

Visitor Services

Assist with the development and implementation of Museum tours. Research and assist writing tour scripts for the museum's docent program. You can also explore a different side of museums by assisting our museum operations department during events, programs, and festivals.

Visitor Services Interns: Junior Docents

Summer 2010

The National Buildling Museum is currently seeking a student intern to assist the Director of Visitor Services with the preparation and training of the Museum's Junior Docent Program. Hours of the Intern position are Monday- Friday, 9:00-5:00pm, may require some weekend availability.

Responsibilities:

Assist with the Junior Docent Program duties which include but are not limited to:

Assist with the creation of inquiry-based activities to be used during training.
Assist with classroom preparation for training.
Provide ongoing support to our junior docents during training and practice tours.
On an as-needed basis staff the Museum's information desk; assist visitors with information regarding the Museum's current exhibitions, ongoing programs and mission
Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Characteristics and Experience:

Strong writing skills
Has worked with teens.
Self- starter.
Creative.
Problem-solver.
Works independently.
Ability to work well in a team enviroment and good communication skills.
Starting June 2010.

Visitor Services: Operations Intern

Summer 2010

The National Buildling Museum is currently seeking a student intern to assist coordination of the audio visual needs of the National Building Museum and assist the Visitor Services Department with other duties as assigned.

Responsibility and Functions: Operation Program

Assist with set-up and break down of Museum events.
Create Audio Visual equipment inventory.
Create a labeling system for Audio Visual equipment.
Other administrative support as needed.

Commitment:

30-40 hours/per week
Monday-Friday; 9am-5pm, start date June 2010.

Preferred Characteristics:

Self-starter.
Creative.
Problem solver.
Works independently.
Must be able to lift 20 lbs.

Volunteer and Tour Internship

Summer 2010

The National Building Museum's Volunteer and Tour program is a diverse and active program with over 200 volunteers and provides over 10,000 visitors with tours. The intern reports directly to the Volunteer Manager and is responsible for assisting with the tour program. The intern's primary responsibility is to assist with marketing the Museum's group tour program and to lead Discovery Cart tours for youth and family groups.

Responsibilities:

Manage group tour operations such as:
Calling groups to confirm their visit and payment.
Following group tour visitors with a thank you letter and evaluation form.
Assist with marketing tours.
Lead Discovery Cart tours for families and youth groups.
Assist with other duties when necessary.

Commitment

30-40 hours/per week
Monday- Friday; some weekends
Estimated start date: June 2010

Qualifications

Ability to take directions and work with minimal supervision.
Ability to communicate effectively with others.
Knowledge of basic Microsoft Office.
Prior experience with web 2.0 technology, in particular Convio, preferred but not required.
Creative.

Visitor Services Internship

Summer 2010

Internships in the Vistor Services Department at the Museum provide institutional training and experience to students interested in pursuing a Museum career. Working closely with professional staff in the department, the intern will participate in the on-going work of the department and complete a project. Possible projects are analysis of trends in attendance at the Museum and within the galleries; tracking and analyzing satisfaction levels of visitors; developing solutions to problems uncovered in the analysis; and assisting with the ongoing training and development of incumbent Visitor Services Representatives.

Qualifications:

Consideration will be given to students with a spring 2010 undergraduate degree. Preference will be given to applicants who are bilingual and enrolled in a graduate program or are recent MA/ MFA or other related fields. Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Commitment:

30-35 hours/week
Monday- Friday (flexible schedule)
Start Date: June 2010

Benefits

National Building Museum internships are unpaid. College or university credit (based on school's requirements) may be given. Museum interns receive complimentary Museum membership (includes subscription to the Calendar of Events, invitations to exhibition openings, and a discount in the Museum Shop), and free admission to public programs. Weekly enrichment programs are organized for summer interns.

How to Apply

Internships are open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants should have a strong interest in the subject areas covered by the National Building Museum's mission and in museum work in general.

Internship application deadlines are as follows:

Fall internships (September through December): DEADLINE August 15
Spring internships (January through April): DEADLINE December 15
Summer internships (May or June through August): DEADLINE March 15

Prospective interns are required to complete the Intern application form. In addition, the following items are required for consideration. Final decisions will not be made until the supporting information is received:

A recent writing sample (at least two pages)
An interview (in person or over the phone)
Two letters of recommendation from professors
Your most recent official academic transcript

Please mail or email items listed above to:

National Building Museum
Attn: Volunteer Manager
401 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Please click here to apply.

Questions? Please contact the Volunteer Manager at 202.272.2448, ext. 3302 or e-mail volunteer@nbm.org.