United States Embassy, Lima - 2009 Museum Internship Program

For the seventh consecutive year, the U.S. Embassy in Lima is undertaking a series of programs to support cultural preservation under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Cultural Patrimony between Peru and the United States. In support of the MOU, the Embassy promotes an internship program for American graduate students of museum studies and conservation programs to be held from July through August 2009.

The objective of this program is to enable well-qualified graduate students the opportunity to do field research in Lima, Arequipa and Lambayeque. It will also support museums that house rich art collections, but are greatly in need of skilled professionals.

These internships will provide an excellent opportunity for Peruvian and American colleagues to exchange ideas on new techniques related to conservation, marketing, and exhibition planning, with long-term possibilities for collaboration.

Select museums have presented projects and provided detailed outlines of the work to be performed. Professional museum staff will closely supervise each intern and costs will be shared among all parties. The Embassy will be the link between the universities and the Peruvian museums and will provide required materials. Each museum will provide in-kind support and lodging. Also, the university or the intern will be responsible for international transportation and health insurance. The Embassy provides a small stipend to cover living expenses such as meals and incidentals.

All applicants must be U.S. citizens, must have at least intermediate oral Spanish skills (unless otherwise indicated in the project description), must be willing to complete the full course of the internship, and must be enrolled or have recently completed a graduate program in museum studies or related fields.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter with the following information:
• Name of applicant,
• Name of specific internship program,
• Name of current graduate program,
• Honest assessment of Spanish ability which may be corroborated in a phone interview

Please also attach current curriculum vitae, a one-page essay explaining the student’s interest in the internship, and a letter of recommendation by a professor.

Send the above information to the attention of Vanessa Wagner de Reyna, email
wagnerv@state.gov, fax: 011- (511) 434-1299, before March 30, 2009. Students will be notified if they have been accepted by mid April. The Embassy will then provide additional information regarding travel, visas, and other requirements to the selected interns. Please note that this information is also available on line at: http://peru.usembassy.gov/internship.html

Should you have questions please do not hesitate to contact us at the above email or by phone at 011- (511) 618-2080. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Paul G. Degler
Cultural Affairs Officer