Folklife Intern

Overview
Department: Curatorial
Intern Supervisor: Curator and Folklife Center Manager
Length of Internship: 12 to 15 weeks, to begin May 31, 2022 or later
Intern Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Interns may be asked to be present on evenings
and/or weekends when specific special events are scheduled and will be permitted time off during
the week to off-set these hours.
Stipend: Internship requires a commitment of 40 hours per week and includes a weekly stipend of
$600
Housing: Housing is not provided

Scope and Learning Opportunities:
The purpose of the internship is to support the activities of CBMM’s Regional Folklife Center,
including: assessment and planning for digitization/transcription of existing folklife collections;
performing background research and developing interview questions for oral histories; researching
and writing interpretive text for material culture related to folklife; updating and cataloging
folklife collections using CBMM’s collections management software; assisting with the
implementation of folklife programming and workshops; facilitating outreach to community
organizations and potential partners; and completing administrative tasks such as sending and
recording release forms.

Candidates will have the opportunity to identify potential narrators, and will receive training and
guidance to conduct oral history interviews under the guidance of the curator. The intern’s work
will contribute to collection, research and planning efforts related to a folklife exhibition CBMM
will install within the next two years.

Other learning opportunities include an exposure to all aspects of folklife work within a museum
context, and may include working with the CBMM collection of over 75,000 items in a collections
management context. Interns will be invited and encouraged to take advantage of a rich variety of
programs and hands-on experiences at CBMM and in the community outside of the regular work day.

About the Museum
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is dedicated to preserving and exploring the history,
environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and making this resource available to
all. As an educational institution, staff fulfill CBMM’s mission, goals, and vision, working
individually and collaboratively to encourage the public’s access to our collections, programs, and
resources.

Situated on 18 waterfront acres in the historic town of St. Michaels, Maryland, the Museum offers
exhibits, demonstrations, boat rides on the Miles River, and annual festivals that celebrate
Chesapeake Bay culture, boats, seafood, and history.

The Museum’s floating fleet of historic Chesapeake Bay watercraft is the largest in existence and
its small boat collection includes crabbing skiffs, workboats, and log canoes. The Museum’s working
boatyard highlights restoration of the Bay’s traditional vessels.

Nearly 70,000 people visit the museum each year, including more than 20,000 children and adults who
participate in numerous educational and boatbuilding programs offered at the Museum.

About the Internship
Intern Goals and Responsibilities:

  •  Advance folklife center goals by facilitating and conducting documentation, providing improved
    access through inventory and access, and building community partnerships through outreach
  •  Enhance interpretation of folklife at CBMM through research and analysis of museum collections
  •  Develop an understanding of how to promote folklife interpretation and programming in a museum
    setting and suggest strategies to further that effort

 

Required Skills and Experience:

  • The ideal candidate is a graduate student or advanced undergraduate with at least one year of
    study in folklife or related field (anthropology, history, American Studies, or other arts and
    cultural fields).
  • A strong background in oral history, traditional arts and culture or community-based cultural
    experience.
  •  Ability to work pro-actively and independently on multiple tasks while maintaining high
    standards, professional practice and meeting deadlines
    Enthusiastic, and customer satisfaction oriented personality

To Apply
To apply, please send your resume and a thoughtful cover letter which includes how the Chesapeake
Bay Maritime Museum internship fits with your background and career goals and what you hope to
achieve from the experience, as well as what you believe you can contribute. Also required for
consideration are a copy of your most recent transcript, and a letter of recommendation. Please
send to hr@cbmm.org with “Summer_ Internship_ Your Name” in the subject line.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum values diversity in its workplace. We will consider all
qualified applicants for our internship program without regard to race, color, religion, national
origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity or expression, disability,
status as a covered veteran or any other characteristic protected by law.