Of Africa Summer Internship (3-month contract)

Royal Ontario Museum • Toronto, ON

67d • Onsite

About The Position

As the "Of Africa" Intern, you will support the Department of Art & Culture in advancing research initiatives related to the Global Africa collection. Working under the supervision of the Curator of Global Africa and in collaboration with collections staff, you will contribute to research projects that deepen understanding of objects within the collection and help address historical knowledge gaps resulting from earlier collecting practices.
This summer internship offers hands-on experience in collections research, critical object analysis, and museum scholarship. You will support research on heritage musical instruments and royal objects while contributing to a literature review on the repatriation of African cultural heritage. The role provides valuable exposure to curatorial research methodologies and collections-based scholarship within a collaborative museum environment.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in or recently completed a BA, MA, or PhD in African Art History, African History, Museum Studies, African, Black or Caribbean Studies, Anthropology, Ethnomusicology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated interest in African material culture, museum collections, or critical heritage studies supported by academic coursework or research experience.
• Strong research, analytical, and writing skills with the ability to synthesize complex information.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Comfort working with research materials and contributing to scholarly projects.

Responsibilities

• Assist with research to support the updating and development of interpretive information for heritage musical instruments within the Global Africa collection.
• Support research initiatives focused on royal objects connected to African kingdoms, contributing to expanded object knowledge and contextual interpretation.
• Contribute to the development of a literature review examining repatriation discourse related to African cultural heritage.
• Assist with reviewing, organizing, and synthesizing research findings to support curatorial projects and collections initiatives.
• Provide support for collection-related activities, including artist engagements, workshops, tours, and other research-driven initiatives as required.
• Collaborate with curatorial and collections staff on additional research projects and priority tasks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree