Applebaum Internship

Motown Museum • Detroit, MI

27d

About The Position

The Collections Intern will support the work of the Curatorial and Collections Department by assisting the Team with the care, organization, and documentation of the museum’s holdings. The intern will gain hands-on experience working with three-dimensional objects, uniforms, and archival materials, while contributing to collections projects that support storage improvements, documentation, and exhibition preparation. The intern will work directly within the Curatorial and Collections Department. This internship is part of the Applebaum Family Philanthropy Internship Program providing opportunities for young people to inspire entrepreneurship, independence, and leadership. This program is part of the 2026 cohort, where the intern will have opportunities to engage with other Applebaum interns across the metro Detroit region.

Requirements

• Current undergraduate student in a Michigan college or university and reside in the southeast Michigan area for duration of internship.
• Please note that recent graduates or graduate-level students are not eligible to apply for the Applebaum program.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Interest in museum collections, archives, and cultural preservation.
• Ability to work carefully with historic objects and archival materials.
• Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Excel, Word, and SharePoint.
• Coursework or practical experience in collections care or museum studies.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Curatorial and Collections team with the organization and care of museum objects and archival materials.
• Support collections documentation by recording and updating object locations and related information in internal tracking systems.
• Assist with handling, cleaning, and basic preservation care of artifacts following museum collections standards.
• Work with three-dimensional objects and uniforms within the collection.
• Support preparation of objects for conservation, storage, relocation, or exhibition.
• Assist with collections inventories and organization of storage areas and vaults.
• Maintain orderly digital and physical records related to collections management.
• Provide general support to departmental projects related to collections care, preservation, and access.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees