Textile Conservation Graduate Intern
Conservation and Scientific Research – Summer 2025
The department of Conservation and Scientific Research is an integral part of the Museum’s stated purpose to hold its collections in trust for future generations. Members of the department promote the long-term preservation of artworks through development of conservation treatments, study of materials and techniques, scholarly research and documentation. The department follows internationally established standards to document and maintain the aesthetic and physical integrity of works of art through six conservation disciplines, an analytical facility, and close collaboration with collections management colleagues responsible for safe exhibition, storage, transport, and the collections database.
The Gabriella and Leo Beranek Textile Lab, responsible for the care, documentation, and treatment of textiles, costumes, fiber art, and contemporary art, seeks a conservation graduate intern, for 8-10 weeks in summer 2025, to assist with condition checking for exhibitions, loans, and acquisitions, conservation treatment, gallery rotations, and rehousing for storage. Intern will gain experience in exhibition preparation, communication between different departments, use of the MFA’s database system, as well as handling, housing, and treatment. Intern will be assigned to activities that further develop practical skills in documentation, examination, treatment proposals, and execution of treatments under supervision. Intern will be expected to carry out tasks in support of the functions and operations of the Lab. Intern will be supervised by the Head of the Textile Conservation, and may interact and collaborate with conservators from other disciplines, collections care specialists, curators, and others across the institution.
The intern must commit to work onsite 35 hours per week, within Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm parameters), from June 16 through Aug 22, 2025, including attendance at the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course on days to be announced at the orientation.
The intern will be paid at a rate of $19.95 per hour, and will receive a $90 per month transportation subsidy and a housing subsidy totaling $1,500 for the summer months. (Both subsidies are subject to taxes.)
As we amplify our efforts toward becoming a truly inclusive institution, ensuring that diversity, equity, and access are lived values, we actively encourage candidates from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply to the program.
Essential Functions:
- assisting in the conservation of works of art in the MFA’s collections
- conducting and documenting examinations
- undertaking research necessary to support conservation treatments
- executing treatments under supervision of staff conservators
- preparing written and photographic documentation for exhibitions/loans
- assisting with exhibitions, installations, preventive conservation, and the processing of loans
- performing other duties as appropriate
Requirements and Qualifications:
- graduate student currently enrolled in a recognized art conservation training program with basic conservation knowledge in ethics and theory
- experience with two- and three-dimensional textiles and costume preferred (please provide portfolio)
- excellent attention to detail
- good hand skills
- ability to perform tasks in professional manner and with discretion when working with confidential records
- Ability to commit to work onsite 35 hours per week, within Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm parameters), from June 16 through Aug 22, 2025, including attendance at the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course on days to be announced at the orientation.
- Ability to attend orientation on Mon, June 16, 2025, 10am to 3:30pm.
How to Apply
- Combine your cover letter and resume into a single document, (Word or PDF)
- Save your document file as (LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_POSITIONTITLE_Summer2025)
- Upload the single document as your resume via the ADP portal Internships | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston ASAP.
- Please also submit portfolio or instructions to access online portfolio.
- Additionally, one letter of recommendation is required and must be sent separately to conservation@mfa.org by the author indicating clearly the applicant’s name and the Textile Summer 2025 Internship position.
- Please contact conservation@mfa.org with any questions.
- Candidates may apply for no more than two internships per season, and must submit a separate cover letter/resume document is required for each position.
- *Applications not conforming to these guidelines will not be accepted nor considered.