Conservation Intern
About The Position
The Preservation Society of Newport County offers an annual Conservation Internship to emerging professionals, designed to provide dedicated time and resources for projects relevant to the organization’s current needs in areas such as fine art, decorative art, architecture, textiles, and preventative conservation. The Internship is an opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience and training outside of the traditional academic environment. The Preservation Society of Newport County protects, preserves, and presents a remarkable collection of eleven historic house museums spanning the history of Newport from the Colonial period through the Gilded Age. Our properties include Hunter House (c.1748), Kingscote (1841), Chateau-sur-Mer (1852), Green Animals Topiary Garden (c.1860), Chepstow (1861), Isaac Bell House (1883), Marble House (1892), The Breakers (1895), The Breakers Stable and Carriage House (1895), The Elms (1901), and Rosecliff (1902). Housed within these architectural masterpieces are more than 60,000 artworks from all around the globe, dating from ancient times to the modern era. The 2026 Summer Internship in Conservation will collaborate with Textile Conservator, Collections and Conservation Departments in support of surveying textile collections within several of the Preservation Society’s historic properties. The Intern will work closely with the textile conservator, survey the condition of items currently on display, propose a priority list for items most in need of conservation treatment, develop treatment options for top listed items, and complete a conservation treatment on an exemplary piece.
Requirements
- Be currently enrolled in or recent graduates of a recognized master’s program in textile conservation or have equivalent training and expertise
- Be able to identify basic textile construction and material components
- Demonstrate exceptional visual and manual aptitudes and research skills
- Successful authorship of technical documentation such as condition, treatment and analytical reports
- Proven ability to work independently, organize and manage projects, and meet rigorous deadlines
- Strong research and writing skills
Nice To Haves
- Deep understanding of material culture analysis
- Experience working with textiles
- Experience handling objects
- Ability to understand and compile technical information about materiality, damages, and manufacturing of textiles
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with Textile Conservator, Collections and Conservation Departments in support of surveying textile collections within several of the Preservation Society’s historic properties
- Work closely with the textile conservator
- Survey the condition of items currently on display
- Propose a priority list for items most in need of conservation treatment
- Develop treatment options for top listed items
- Complete a conservation treatment on an exemplary piece
- Produce written documentation relating to the survey and treatment in a concise and transparent manner, including supportive digital photography
- Undertake work with and without supervision
- Study primary and secondary source materials to support the overall understanding of the object selected for treatment
- Perform additional tasks within the Conservation Department as needed
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
