Internships in the Conservation Department 2013

Conservation has a skill base that covers a diverse range of talents, including craft skills and restoration. It is constantly adapting to changing priorities of society and new discoveries in research. The Victoria & Albert Museum is an acknowledged centre of excellence in conservation and as such internships and other work placements in the department are in continual demand.

Internships or other unpaid work placements in the V&A Conservation Dept are possible in all the conservation specialisms, including conservation science and administration. If you wish to apply for a conservation internship, please note:

• All types of work placement in the Conservation Department are unpaid and undertaken on a voluntary basis.
• The duration of an internship can be from three weeks to six months, full time.
• You must be considering a career in conservation, or, be enrolled as a student on a recognised conservation course, or, be a qualified conservation professional.
  

Interning in the conservation department

V&A Conservation interns are usually taken on full time and may expect to work on a variety of daily assignments that can include administrative tasks and research projects as well as public-facing projects on behalf of the museum. Usually:

• The intern will be allocated one day per week for study-time, which may be used to attend seminars, visits or engage in private study.
• Studio visits will be arranged periodically so that interns will have a chance to meet and discuss their work as a group.
• Holiday leave will be pro-rata to the length of your internship
• Towards the end of period the intern may be encouraged to give a short presentation of previous work and work in the Department.
• The intern will be required to write a short report (up to 500 words) on her/his experience.

Applying for conservation internship

1. Read the Guidelines for Conservation Internship (PDF file, 35 KB)
2. Fill in the Internship Application Form (Word file, 59 KB)
3. Include a copy of your CV/Resume
4. Include a short account (500 words) of recent relevant conservation project work experience
5. Provide two references. These can be either from an employer, a sponsor, or a tutor from a previous educational establishment. (References may be emailed separately to conweb@vam.ac.uk – see the Guidelines)

NOTE: If you are unable to download the Application Form and Guidelines from this page, please email: conweb@vam.ac.uk putting 'Your Name. Intern Application Form Request. Your specialism' in the email subject line.

For applications to be processed successfully

• All applications must indicate one choice of conservation specialism.
• Applications must be received at least six months before the intended starting date of the internship as some studios may be booked up to two years in advance.

We regret we do not have the resources to consider or respond to applicants who:

• have not already completed a recognised programme of conservation training
• have not indicated their one choice of specialism clearly
• if the application form is not fully complete
• have not shown their educational background and previous work experiences clearly
• who do not have the required visa or funding arrangements in place

If you are applying from outside the UK - VISAS and entry requirements

If you are coming from a country outside the European Union regulations require that you must check with the British Embassy in your country, regarding visa and entry requirements. We strongly recommend that you check these details before you apply for an Internship. It will be your responsibility to make all subsequent arrangements regarding work or study visas. The V&A Museum is not in a position to give assistance with this.

Further information is also online at the UK Border Agency website: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Annual guideline application deadlines

Summer Internship March–June–September: Apply by January 31
Winter Internship October–December–March: Apply by August 31

Please email complete applications to: conweb@vam.ac.uk. Applications can only be accepted by email, we can accept good quality scanned forms. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to respond to all applicants. If you have not heard from us within one month, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

All other enquiries regarding jobs or voluntary work at the V&A should be made to our Human Resources department via: hr@vam.ac.uk. Further information is also available on the V&A website from the job opportunities page.

For general information on careers in the conservation profession, please request our pamphlet:
’Careers in Conservation’ or visit the Institute of Conservation’s website: http://www.icon.org.uk/

All data is held in accordance with the V&A’s Privacy Policy and the V&A operates a policy of equal opportunities.